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:
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.
Think your system might be infected with a virus? How would you know if it was? Here are some quick indicators that your ...
Discover MoreThe Internet always provides a huge amount of information, some of it actually of value. Here's a link to a resource that ...
Discover MoreWhen you first install Windows, it places only a limited number of icons on your desktop. You can, however, tell Windows ...
Discover MoreThere are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments