The Computer Corner
By Charles Miller, July 28, 2006


The amazing right-click

The amazing thing to me as a computer professional is that there are PC users who have perhaps used their Windows computers for years and never knew their mouse even had a right button. Mac users are excused.

The fact of the matter is that the Windows mouse does have left and right buttons, and in some homes the right button has atrophied because the users have never learned all of the things it can do.

A complete listing of the functions available with the right-click is beyond the scope of this column. In truth, I doubt if a comprehensive and complete list could ever be assembled, anyway.

If you have never used the right mouse button, the best suggestion I can make is to take it slowly. There are so many different functions available by right-clicking that one can be overwhelmed by the possibilities.

A lot of the functions available by right-clicking are shortcuts to things the left button can do. In other words, one right-click can take the place of several left-clicks.

Start with your Windows desktop. Right-click on a blank area of wallpaper and you will get a context menu. On this menu are options to rearrange the icons, make a new icon and, at the bottom of the context menu, is “Properties” to take you directly to the dialog box where you control the desktop wallpaper, screen saver and appearance of that desktop you right-clicked on.

Now, right-click on an icon and you will get a different context menu. On this menu are options pertaining to that icon. You can open (run) it, copy it, delete it or, by clicking on “Properties,” make changes to that icon you right-clicked on.

If you right-click on a blank area of the taskbar (on the same level with the clock) you will get yet another context menu containing options pertaining to the taskbar.

By now, you are starting to get the idea. Using the mouse, you can right-click almost anything in almost any window or program and bring up a “context menu” of options applicable to whatever you just right-clicked on.

Still on your Windows desktop, if you right-click on the “My Computer” icon and then click on “Properties,” you will take advantage of a shortcut to the “System Properties” windows. This is the same thing as clicking on Start/Control Panel and double-clicking on the “System” icon.

Another option is to right-click on the “Internet Explorer” icon and then on “Properties” to go straight to the “Internet Properties” setup window.

Surely one of the most empowering right-clicks is the ability to create new icons out of thin air. Say you have a spreadsheet you use all the time, hidden three levels down in “My Documents” and named “Expense Records.xls.” Navigate down to that folder and right-click on “Expense Records.xls” then click on Send To/Desktop (create shortcut). You have just created a new icon on your desktop called “Shortcut to Expense Records.xls.” Now, you can click on that desktop icon to open up your “Expense Records.xls” file.

Oh, you did not really want an icon for “Expense Records.xls” on your desktop? No problem. Right-click on that icon and one of the options in the context menu is “Delete.”

Years ago, when I first discovered the right button on my mouse, I went around right-clicking on everything. To some extent I still do that, and you will be surprised at what you sometimes find.


Charles Miller is a freelance computer consultant, a frequent visitor to San Miguel since 1981 and now practically a full-time resident. He may be contacted at 044-415-153-8528 or email FAQ@SMAguru.com.