For many, Windows Explorer is an essential tool to managing a significant number of data files.  Chances are that Windows Explorer's "Details" view is used to help sort through all of the files.

While the "Details" view is an improved way to look at data files, Windows XP offers another view that, in many circumstances, can make it even easier to manage collections of data files, the "Show In Groups" view.

To enable the "Show In Groups" view, follow these steps:

1. Launch Windows Explorer
2. Go to View | Arrange Icons By | Show In Groups

This view setting divides Windows Explorer's displays into sections with headers that correspond to the sort option selected.  For example, if files are sorted by Name, XP will group them alphabetically by letter.  If files are sorted by Date Modified, XP will group them by time, such as Yesterday, Earlier This Week, Last Week, etc.  The group sort order can be easily changed by clicking a different column header.

Many software companies design their programs so that they run a tray program in the System Tray (the area near the clock in the bottom, right-hand corner of Windows XP) to increase accessibility to (and visibility of) their products.  Although programs with tray icons can offer a convenient way to access and control programs, many of these System Tray icons may not be used frequently and they may needlessly take up space in the System Tray.

The Windows XP System Tray has an option that lets inactive icons be hidden.  However, the constantly changing icons in the System Tray can become annoying.

Users can configure which icons the System Tray displays.

The System Tray icon display can be customized to a certain degree by following the following steps:

1. Right-click the Taskbar
2. Select Properties from the menu
3. Select the "Hide inactive icons" check box
4. Click Customize.  This will present a dialog box that includes the icons currently in the System Tray as well icons that installed applications placed there.
5. For each icon in the System Tray, select one of three states:
   • "Hide when inactive"
   • "Always hide"
   • "Always show"

Select "Always Show" to configure the icons desired to be available in the System Tray.

Select "Always hide" for icons that are not desired to appear automatically.

The System Tray will still display the clickable arrow that displays all of the icons installed on the computer.

Whenever a new application that adds a System Tray icon is installed these steps must be repeated to reconfigure the System Tray.
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