Need to jot down a quick note or two and don't want to fool with opening up Notepad, WordPad, or Microsoft Word? Instead, add a "sticky note" Gadget to your Windows Vista Sidebar.

1. Right-click on the Windows Sidebar icon in the tray area of the Taskbar and choose "Add Gadgets".

2. The Gadget Gallery, a list of installed Sidebar Gadgets, appears. Double-click "Notes".

3. Click "X" to close the Gadget Gallery.

Just type in the sticky note to add text; click on the plus button to add a page (you can have up to 10 pages). Clicking the "X" removes a page. Once multiple pages are available you can click on the arrows to move between them.

You can configure the font and the sticky note's color.

1. Move your mouse pointer to the Gadget and a wrench icon should appear to the right - click it.

2. A configuration dialog box appears. Click the pull-down underneath "Font" to change the font to one of the following:

* Segoe Print
* Segoe Script
* Segoe UI

Click the pull-down underneath "Font Size" to change the size from between 9-18 pt.

Click the arrows to choose from one of six Notes colors.

3. When done configuring the Gadget, click "OK" to save your changes.

Print This Tip

Get E-Mail When New Tips are Online

Return to the Windows Vista - Windows Sidebar page.