Understanding Properties

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 4, 2021)

Windows uses objects to represent logical or physical items, such as files, printers, or disk drives. The characteristics of an object are known as properties. Windows allows you to control different properties for different types of objects. The properties that are available for any given object are always displayed in a dialog box. The easiest way to display the properties for an object is to right-click on the object and then choose Properties from the Context menu.

For example, if you right-click on the icon for a file and choose Properties, you see a Properties dialog box for the file. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Properties dialog box for a file.

Remember that different objects possess different properties. Some may have only a couple of properties, while others have quite a few. The Properties dialog box for a file allows you to set quite a few properties, as evidenced by the tabs at the top of the dialog box. As you change properties, you affect any of several things:

  • The way that the object functions or behaves
  • The way that Windows behaves in relation to the object
  • The way that the object can be used by you or by other parts of Windows

As you seek to customize Windows or make it behave in the way you prefer, you will spend a lot of time working with properties. If you are not already familiar with them, you may want to take some time to look at various properties for different objects.

 This tip (10862) applies to Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Hiding Columns Not within a Date Range

Want to automatically hide some columns that don't meet a date criteria that you set? You can't do it automatically, but ...

Discover More

Determining if Calculation is Necessary

When processing a worksheet with a macro, it may be helpful to periodically recalculate the worksheet. Wouldn't it be ...

Discover More

An Automatic Two Spaces after a Period

Should you put two spaces after a sentence or just one? Ask different people and you will get different answers. To Word ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Clipboard History

Windows has had cut and paste functionality for years. Windows 10 improves the Clipboard functionality by including a new ...

Discover More

Differences between Hibernate and Sleep

If you want to conserve energy or preserve your laptop's battery life, you should know about hibernate and sleep. There ...

Discover More

How to Choose between 32- and 64-bit Windows

Windows currently comes in two flavors: 32-bit and 64-bit. While there are typically some performance advantages ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is seven more than 5?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

Newest Tips
Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.