Using and Modifying Sidebar

Windows Sidebar is a cool new feature introduced with Windows Vista. Sidebar displays a number of small programs called gadgets that provide dynamic content (up-to-date information or entertainment) on a transparent vertical bar. Initially, Sidebar displays a large analog clock, a newsreader, and a slideshow display of the contents of your Pictures folder. (If you purchased a new computer with Windows Vista already installed, the OEM might have added other gadgets to Sidebar.) You can move, change, resize, or delete any of the default gadgets, and you can add other gadgets that come with Windows or new gadgets that you download from the Internet.

Sidebar opens by default in certain editions of Windows Vista and must be manually started in others.

In this exercise, you will change the appearance of the analog clock, display news headlines and open an article, and then add a gadget to Sidebar. There are no practice files for this exercise.

1.	If Sidebar is not open on your desktop, point to All Programs on the Start menu, click Accessories, and then click Windows Sidebar. Sidebar opens on the right side of your screen, displaying the default gadgets.
2.	Point to the Clock gadget to display the gadget controls, and then click the Options button, labeled with a wrench icon. Gadget controls The Clock dialog box opens, displaying an example of the current clock.
3.	In the preview area, click the Next button to display an alternative clock face. Next A different clock face style appears in the preview area.
4.	View the six other clock face options, and then return to the one you like best.
5.	In the Clock name box, type My Clock. Select the Show the second hand check box if you want the analog clock to display the passing of seconds, and then click OK. Your personalized clock appears on Sidebar.
6.	If headlines aren't already shown in the Feed Headlines gadget, click View Headlines to load current news headlines. News headlines cycle through the Feed Headlines gadget four at a time. You can move back or forward through the headlines by clicking the arrows at the bottom of the gadget.
7.	Click any headline that interests you. A window displays a synopsis of the associated article. You can view the entire article by clicking the headline at the top of the synopsis window. [View full size image]
8.	On the Sidebar control at the top of Sidebar, click the Add button (labeled with a plus sign). Sidebar control The Gadgets window opens, displaying the available gadgets. (Your Gadgets window might include more than those shown here.) [View full size image]
9.	Drag a couple of gadgets you think might be useful from the Gadgets window to Sidebar. Then close the Gadgets window. Tip You can download other gadgets supplied by Microsoft and other companies by clicking Get More Gadgets Online. For the purposes of this exercise, we've chosen the Stocks gadget, which you can use to quickly check stock prices, and the Weather gadget, which displays the current temperature and a photographic representation of the current weather conditions for any area you choose. Feel free to choose any other gadget that interests you; if you're feeling adventurous, you can click Get More Gadgets Online, in the lower-right corner of the window, to browse and download other gadgets from the Microsoft Web site. Troubleshooting Hundreds of gadgets are available from the Windows Vista gadget gallery. Very few of these were officially created by Microsoft, and therefore Microsoft does not offer guarantees or provide product support for any of these gadgets you choose to download.
10.	Right-click the Slide Show gadget, and then click Detach from Sidebar. The Slide Show moves to the upper-left corner of your screen, and appears in a larger window.
11.	Point to the Slide Show gadget to display controls to its right and on the gadget itself. On the gadget, click the View button (the right-most button, which has a magnifying glass icon). The currently displayed picture opens in Windows Photo Gallery. The slide show continues behind the photo gallery. [View full size image]
12.	Close the Windows Photo Gallery window.
13.	Right-click the Slide Show gadget, and click Attach to Sidebar. Then drag the reattached gadget to the bottom of Sidebar. The other gadgets move up to make room for the Slide Show.
14.	Right-click an empty area of Sidebar, and then click Properties. The Windows Sidebar Properties dialog box opens.
15.	Experiment with the Sidebar properties, clicking Apply to see the effects of different settings. When Sidebar is configured the way you want it, click OK.