Updated on 5.5.13 If you open multiple windows and work with multiple programs together on your Windows PC, a better and faster window management system than the default would be very convenient.
With Windows 7 and Windows 8 you can move a window on the right and another on the left to put them, automatically, one next to the other occupying the whole screen that is divided into two parts.
Some small and free window management tools take this feature and improve it by allowing you to customize the way you work with windows on the Windows desktop as you would on a Mac, with Expose or Mission Control.
1) Press for Windows (Windows 7 and Windows 8 only) can be downloaded from the official website by pressing the Download button.
In the installation you can choose whether to install it with administrator privileges using all its features, which is recommended otherwise it remains very limited.
The program is absolutely safe and controlled on VirusTotal, due to its features and its integration with the system, some antiviruses may block it as dangerous; if this happens insert it in the list of allowed files or ignore the warning.
After installation, the configuration screen appears which can be a little confusing at first reading.
Press allows you to configure what to do when you move the moouse towards one of the 4 corners of the screen on which the management tool is based.
For example, you can make sure that when you hover the mouse in the upper right corner the Task Switcher opens so, moving the mouse to the upper right, opens the window selector that appears when you press ALT-Tab.
If you choose to use the " Open Any File " option in Preme, you can set a corner of the window to open a file automatically or you can choose to run a " Shortcut Key " or combination of keys.
Preme advises against configuring particular actions for the lower right corner, the one dedicated to the dektop exhibition in Windows 7.
Hide Active allows you to hide the active window and see what's underneath without minimizing it.
By pressing the Advanced button below on the right, you can set the delay of execution of the chosen action when you move the cursor to the corner of the screen.
Still as advanced options, exceptions can be configured so that the corners of the screen do not work when certain particular programs are open.
In Preme there are also other options including:
- You can configure how to close a program or a window by pressing on the title bar (without therefore using the X) with the mouse wheel on the title or by moving the cursor on the title and moving the wheel downwards.
For the title bar it is also possible to activate the function so you can hold down the left mouse button for a second to force the window to always remain in the foreground.
- the Else section has three options: one for closing applications by pressing Esc twice, one for scrolling on all windows even without clicking on them (very convenient) and the option to point directly to the close button when you right-click on the open program icon in the application bar at the bottom.
Preme is a program for greater control of windows, only for Windows 7 . and later even if the use of Preme for Windows 8 is not recommended because the corners of the screen all have a function in the new Microsoft operating system.
2) A better, similar program is Better Desktop Tool .
Once installed, BetterDesktopTool which remains visible in the background by the icon on the Windows taskbar, resides in the system tray.
Press the icon in the notification center to activate or deactivate the tool, get an overview of the virtual desktops or open windows.
Click on the Better Desktop Tool Settings to customize the tool according to your preferences. The application supports hotkeys, hot corners to perform particular actions when you move the mouse cursor to the corners of the screen .
You can also change the management of windows in a grid and move all windows and view only top-level windows.
In general, it is an extremely feature-rich tool, which works to add options to the Windows desktop, to have multiple virtual desktops and to arrange windows neatly on the screen.
The application is available for free for personal use for Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8.
3) I remember that of similar tools there are also others already described in this blog that also work with Windows XP and Windows 8:
- Overview of all windows as Mission Control on Mac with SmallWindows
- Quick selection of windows from the corners of the screen: Exposè on Windows
- Always keep a window or part in the foreground
- Align Windows windows on a grid by moving them quickly
