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

Printing Reversed Images

Ever need to print the mirror image of your document? This tip explains how to reverse your image so it can be used for ...

Discover More

Protecting an Entire Folder of Workbooks

Want to protect the Excel information stored in a particular folder on your system? There are a number of ways you can ...

Discover More

Rotating a Page of Text

You can rotate a page of text by using the Far East language support built into Word. This tip shows how easy it is to ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Renaming and Deleting Icons

Want to change the name of a desktop icon or get rid of it entirely? It's easier to do than you probably think!

Discover More

Performing a Factory Reset

Executing a factory reset is the final option if your computer is not working correctly. This tip shows you how to reset ...

Discover More

Minimizing All Open Windows in One Step

There may be times when you need to minimize all of your open windows in one quick step. Windows provides a few methods ...

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 eight more than 1?

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.