Using the Common Tasks menu in Windows XP

The Common Tasks menu is a panel on the left of every open folder window that lists common tasks. It makes it much easier to do the most commonly performed tasks, like copying and moving files and folders, and renaming, deleting, printing and e-mailing files. 

Showing the Common Tasks menu

If your computer does not show a menu of common tasks on the left-hand side of every open folder, perform the following steps (you only need to do this once).

1.  Open any folder by double-clicking it (e.g. the My Documents folder on the desktop).

2.  Pull down the Tools menu

3.  Click on Folder Options.

4. Click where is says "Show common tasks in folders" at the top.

5. Click OK.  Windows applies this setting to every folder.  

Note: You only have to do this once.  Windows will remember this setting.

Using the Common Tasks menu

To perform one of the tasks listed, just click it and Windows will perform this task.  The tasks that are listed will change depending on the types of files in the folder and whether you have one or more files selected.

•	To select a file, click on it once, so that it is highlighted.  
•	To select two or more files, click once on the first file, then hold down the Ctrl key (lower left corner of the keyboard) and click on the other files that you wish to select while holding hold down the Ctrl key.  All the selected files will be highlighted.
•	To select all the files in a folder, pull down the Edit menu and click Select All.

So, for example, if you want to rename, or delete, or print a file, select the file (by clicking on it once) and then click Rename this file, or Print this file, or Delete this file in the common tasks panel.  

For another example, to move a file to another location (i.e. to another folder or disk), select the file (by clicking on it once) and then click Move this file in the common tasks panel.  Windows displays a box in the middle to the screen that asks you to select (click on) the place (folder or disk) where to want the file moved, then click the Move button to complete the task.  You can also move folders this way.  

Changing the folder type for photo and music files

Pull down the View menu and select Customize this folder.... Click the pop-up menu at the top ("What kind of folder do you want?") and select "Pictures" or "Music" and click OK. This setting will change add Picture Tasks or Music Tasks to the top of the common tasks.
Tom O'Haver, February 2005