Almost every object in Windows has a Properties dialog box full of information about its contents and settings. Items with properties include files, folders, disks, documents, programs, hardware devices, the taskbar, the Start menu, the desktop, and My Computer.To display an item's properties: Right-click the item; then choose Properties (Figure 1.46 ).
Figure 1.46. You can choose an item's properties from its shortcut (right-click) menu. The Properties command usually is bottommost on the menu.
or Select (highlight) the item; then press Alt+Enter.or Hold down Alt; then double-click the item. Figure 1.47 shows Properties dialog boxes for a Word file and a hard disk. Windows lets you change some properties; you can rename the file or compress the hard disk. Many properties are read-only, however, meaning that Windows sets them and you can't change them. You can inspectbut not changea hard disk's capacity or a file's creation date, for example.
Figure 1.47. The properties information shown is appropriate for the item you select. Here are properties for a Word document (top) and a hard disk (bottom).
TipsA read-only property usually is shown as black text on a gray background; a modifiable (read-write) property is set in a text box, check box, list, or similar control. If it's not obvious whether you can change a property, try to click it or tab to it.Some dialog boxes have a button labeled Restore, Restore Defaults, Defaults, or Reset. Clicking this button changes your current settings back to Windows' factory-installed settings. Be careful, because you (or the programs that you've installed) have probably made more changes than you rememberor even know about.Some programs let you add file properties such as comments and custom name-value attributes. In the Properties dialog box of a Microsoft Word document, for example, click the Custom tab (or choose File > Properties inside Word itself).To see how much disk space a group of files or folders occupies, select their icons; then display the properties for the selected group.