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The alternative for Windows task switcher - Alt-Tab Thingy

 

How many times did you used the classic Alt+Tab key combination in Windows ? This shortcut allows us to switch faster between applications/windows. It is working great and it's useful enough for most of us however what happens if we need to open a lot of windows at one time ? We will need to press the Alt+Tab key combination until we reach a particular window. This will become annoying when many windows are opened for the same application. For example, if we have 10 Internet Explorer windows we need to "browse" almost all of them until we find the one we need. This is where Alt-Tab Thingy, the windows xp, vista and 7 alt tab replacement comes in to action. Shortly, this application performs the same thing with the classic Alt+Tab key combination in Windows but it offers you a lot of features which makes it more powerful and useful. We are going to install this application, but before starting to be your guide, you will need to download Alt-Tab Thingy here. Make sure to remember the path to where you downloaded the application and open the setup file. The first window informs us that "This will install Alt-Tab Thingy v.4.0.4 on your computer" ( at the time that I wrote this article, this was the current version - you may use another version ). To continue please click on the "Next" button.

 

 

The second window called "license Agreement" informs us that "Alt-Tab Thingy™ (ATT) may be licensed for commercial use by donating $1 CAD" and also the program is "licensed as freeware for non-commercial use" and if you want to "re-distribute this software, please obtain permission". Make sure to read the entire "license Agreement" and if you agree make sure to check the "I accept the agreement" option and click on the "Next" button.

 

 

Another window called "Information" is offering us some important notes, make sure to read them :

 

Note:

This installation does NOT install files to any Windows directories.
All files are placed in the Program Files directory ONLY (or the directory you specify in this installation). This is to safe guard your Windows installation so as not to intefere with normal Windows operation.

Alt-Tab Thingy™ is installed and available to all users via the Start Menu/All Programs list. Desktop and QuickLaunch icons are created for all users. All settings are stored in the registry and are on a per user basis.

 

Upgrading note:
If you are upgrading, be sure to exit Alt-Tab Thingy™ via the system tray icon. You may install this version WITHOUT the need to un-install the old version. This will preserve any settings you have changed.

Un-installation note:
ALL registry entries and ALL files will be erased after un-installation. If you forget to exit Alt-Tab Thingy before un-installing, a restart will be necessary.

As a further note:
Alt-Tab Thingy™ is SpyWare free. No other products will be installed, suggested, or advertised with this software.

 

If you want to continue after reading all of these informations, press on the "Next" button and you will be taken to the next window.

 

 

Now it's time to select the place where Alt-Tab Thingy will be installed, as you can see the default location is in "C:\Program Files\Alt-Tab Thingy v4" ( at the time that I wrote this article, this was the current version -v4 - indicates us the current version, in your case it could be a different number like v5 etc. ). If you want to change the installation to another location, choose "Browse" button and specify a new location for the installation. You can click on the "Next" button in order to continue with the installation.

 

 

You are now being asked about where should setup place the program's shortcuts. You can rename "Alt-Tab Thingy" however we suggest you to leave as it is and continue by pressing the "Next" button.

 

 

Now make sure to check all small boxes if you want to have an icon with this program on your computer desktop, in quick launch and if you want this program to auto-start with Windows. I will suggest you to use only the first option if you don't need the other ones. As you can see I specified here that I want only a desktop icon with Alt-Tab Thingy. If you need more of them, make sure to check all options or only the ones you need. Press the "Next" button to continue with the installation.

 

 

As you can see, you are now ready to install the application, make sure to use the "Back" button if you need to change anything. As you can see in this picture in this small window it shows us the current settings for this installation :

Destination location:
C:\Program Files\Alt-Tab Thingy v4

Start Menu folder:
Alt-Tab Thingy

Additional tasks:
Icons: (all users)
Desktop

 

Press the "Install" button in order to start the installation, the entire installation process should take a couple of seconds.

 

 

Another "Information" window will appear after the installation, these are the notes given by the author and you should read them, after that click on the "Next" button :

Alt-Tab Thingy™ v4
-----------------

What's new?

Completely re-written in C++ v7.1!

 

Now works with all versions of XP & Vista.

 

Dragging and resizing has been amended. The ALT key has been replaced with the CONTROL key. This is to avoid conflicts when using the ALT key with the task list. Also the user must now Double-Click the mouse (holding the 2nd click).

 

Mouse wheel integration: Move the scrollbar with the mouse wheel. Clicking the wheel (middle mouse button) toggles between moving the scrollbar and the highlighted selection.

 

Right-click menu: Sort the task list into different orders: Z-order, Alphabetical, Description, or Window Size. The taskbar and start menu can also be accessed from here. Handy if your the sort of user that has the taskbar on autohide and beneath other windows.

 

Holding the SHIFT key whilst selecting a resizable window (e.g. explorer) toggles between normal and maximized views.

 

The preview pane can now be either to the left (default) or to the right of the task list. Similarly, the caption bar (icon view) can be top or bottom.

 

Clicking the Alt-Tab Thingy™ icon will now open the task list (if there are no tasks running, the settings applet appears). If the Settings applet is already open, clicking the short-cut icon, or clicking Settings on one of the menus will cause it to re-appear.

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I hope you all like Alt-Tab Thingy™. A lot of work has gone into this utility, and I'm always ready for new ideas. Please note: it does not integrate into the Windows system nor does it hook onto other apps. Alt-Tab Thingy™ keeps itself to itself, so should any problem arise, your Windows installation and your other software remains intact and unaware of anything. This is how I want to keep it. For example: if Alt-Tab Thingy™ crashed and you had some apps in the system tray, if you were to restart Alt-Tab Thingy™, it will retrieve those apps. This is why there is an asterix prefix on those apps.

 

Feel free to tell me your gripes or praise. I can take critisism. I helps further development.

And try out the new forum on the web site!

Thank you for downloading Alt-Tab Thingy™.

 

 

This is the final window before launching Alt-Tab Thingy. As you can see you can "Launch Alt-Tab Thingy" by leaving this option checked and pressing on the "Finish" button.

 

 

If you look on your desktop taskbar you should notice a new colored icon, this is Alt-Tab Thingy icon running on your desktop taskbar in your right corner and if you use your mouse you can access through this icon the Alt-Tab Thingy settings ( control panel ) which offers, as you can see a lot of options that will allow you to customize it.

 

 

Also, press the Alt+Tab key combination and you should see that the classic Windows window for this combination has dissapeared and it has been replaced by this application. Don't be scared, you can always return to classic Alt+Tab from Windows by simply uninstalling Alt-Tab Thingy. Here you can see a picture from my computer when using this program.

 

 

This is my alternative for windows task switcher - Alt-Tab Thingy, a free software that works on Windows XP, Vista and 7. The classic Alt+Tab key combination in Windows works for a simple task but it could be more useful and powerful if it's being replaced by this application. You could actually consider it also as an update not only as an alt-tab replacement. Also remember that some people who create similar programs with this one are selling such applications. Being a free software, I would like to remind you that a donation would encourage the author of this application to release future versions for this application. You can find a "Donation" button right in the Alt-Tab Thingy settings ( control panel ). Thank you in the name of the author for any donations.