[SOLVED] How do I resize the open program notifications on the taskbar in Windows 7?

[Cowboyjake]

About a year ago I read an article explaining how to edit a line item entry in the registry to reduce the length of the items that go to the taskbar once you open a program. I thought I had saved the article but I can;t find it. You people seem to always have the answer I need, so I am turning to you. I am not talking about icons that I can pin to the taskbar. I am talking about the "notice" (failing to have a better name for it") that pops up on the taskbar when you open a program (i.e. Firefox, Word document, etc.) and goes away when you close the program. I remember editing the registry to change the default number given to it by Microsoft. I just don't remember which entry. Thanks.

 

[writhziden]

Is this what you're looking for:

Quick Tip: Change Stacked Window behavior in the Windows 7 Taskbar - TechRepublic
​

 

[Cowboyjake]

Is this what you're looking for:

Quick Tip: Change Stacked Window behavior in the Windows 7 Taskbar - TechRepublic
​

No. That has to do with stacking items on the taskbar. I need the registry item that deals with the length of each item showing on the taskbar. Thanks anyway.

 

[writhziden]

Is this what you're looking for:

Quick Tip: Change Stacked Window behavior in the Windows 7 Taskbar - TechRepublic
​

No. That has to do with stacking items on the taskbar. I need the registry item that deals with the length of each item showing on the taskbar. Thanks anyway.

It's difficult to interpret what you are looking for. Does this link provide any help:

3 Ways to Customize the Size of the Windows 7 Taskbar Icons
​

 

[Cowboyjake]

That isn't it either. I've attached a couple of screenshots to show you what I am talking about.

In the first screenshot, the three items on the right are open on my desktop and are showing on the taskbar as the default size for Windows 7. The remaining items to the left are "pinned" to the taskbar. I don't want to change the size of the pinned items.



In the second screenshot, the five items on the right are open on my desktop and are the size I want them to be. I edited a line item in the registry to make the size change of the open items on the computer where I took this screenshot. I just don't remember how to do it and I can't find the instructions again on the internet.



I hope this helps in explaining myself. Thanks.

 

[niemiro]

I think what you're looking for is right click on Taskbar > Properties > Taskbar tab > Taskbar Buttons > "Always combine, hide labels" ??

 

[Cowboyjake]

I think what you're looking for is right click on Taskbar > Properties > Taskbar tab > Taskbar Buttons > "Always combine, hide labels" ??

No, what I want to do can only be done by modifying a registry entry. If someone can get me to the right area in the registry, I might be able to figure it out myself since I've done it before.

 

[niemiro]

I think what you're looking for is right click on Taskbar > Properties > Taskbar tab > Taskbar Buttons > "Always combine, hide labels" ??

No, what I want to do can only be done by modifying a registry entry. If someone can get me to the right area in the registry, I might be able to figure it out myself since I've done it before.

Are you looking for the hypothetical option "Combine when taskbar is full, hide labels", i.e. what precisely is wrong with the solution I gave above? I don't know the location of this registry key off the top of my head although I can probably find it (either manually or with a monitoring program). Before I start looking though I want to get a really perfectly clear idea of what it is you're looking for.

 

[Cowboyjake]

When you have Windows 7 and open a program, the program temporarily pins to the taskbar. When it does, the length of the icon and wording showing on the pinned program is 1 1/2 inches (3.81 cm). When I changed the registry line item, the length of the icon, etc. showing on the pinned program permanently changed to 9/16th inch (1.42875 cm). If you compare my screenshots in post 5 above you can see the difference. Unfortunately this isn't something where you can just click a square or pick an option. I wish it was that easy. Thanks for trying. I hope this explains it because I don't know how better to explain it.

 

[Tekno Venus]

Try this registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics\MinWidth

 

[writhziden]

I think what you're looking for is right click on Taskbar > Properties > Taskbar tab > Taskbar Buttons > "Always combine, hide labels" ??

No, what I want to do can only be done by modifying a registry entry. If someone can get me to the right area in the registry, I might be able to figure it out myself since I've done it before.

Are you looking for the hypothetical option "Combine when taskbar is full, hide labels", i.e. what precisely is wrong with the solution I gave above? I don't know the location of this registry key off the top of my head although I can probably find it (either manually or with a monitoring program). Before I start looking though I want to get a really perfectly clear idea of what it is you're looking for.

It appears he wants to change two options, one of which he already may have changed. He has the quick launch enabled, and he wants the open programs on the taskbar to essentially resemble the icons he would have with the pinned programs through normal windows 7 behavior.

That requires shrinking the horizontal size of the open program buttons. I'm not sure if that clarifies things. I'd figure it out, but I'm posting from a smart phone while on vacation with family.

 

[Cowboyjake]

Try this registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics\MinWidth

That's the one. AND I OWE AN APOLOGY TO writhziden. In his post 4 he had me check the link "3 Ways to Customize the Size of the Windows 7 Taskbar Icons", which I did. I followed the instructions for editing the registry and it didn't work, but I think I was in my stupid mode that day and didn't do something right.

This time I opened the registry of the computer where I had done it previously and compared it to the computer where I want to do it. I had a string "MinWidth" in my old computer and I did not have one in my new one. So I entered the string and set the value at 54 which is where my old one is set. When I rebooted, it worked. The size was still a little long, so I changed the value to 32 and that is just a little to small for me. So I'll settle on something around 38, I'm sure.

Thanks for the help. Those are the correct instructions for making the change. You may just have to adjust the value to get it just right for yourself.