HOW TO: Create and Edit a Taskpad View in a Saved MMC Console in Windows 2000 (321143)

SUMMARY

This step-by-step article describes how to create and edit taskpad views in Windows 2000. Taskpad views are pages to which you can add views of the details pane of a console and shortcuts to functions both inside and outside a particular console. You can use these shortcuts to start wizards, open properties, perform menu commands, run command lines, open Web pages, and complete other tasks.

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How to Create a Taskpad View in a Saved MMC Console

To create a taskpad view in a saved MMC console:

1. Use either of the following methods to open a saved console in author mode:
   • Right-click the .msc file, and then click Author.
     
     -or-
   • Click Start, click Run, type mmc path\filename.msc /a, and then click OK.
2. In the console tree, click a snap-in item.
3. On the Action menu, click New Taskpad View.
4. Follow the instructions in the New Taskpad View Wizard.
5. If you want to create tasks immediately after you create the taskpad view, select the Start New Task Wizard check box on the final page of the wizard.

NOTE: You can also create a taskpad view in a new console, but you must first add the new snap-in to the console.

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How to Create Tasks for a Taskpad View in a Saved MMC Console

1. Use either of the following methods to open a saved console in author mode:
   • Right-click the .msc file, and then click Author.
     
     -or-
   • Click Start, click Run, type mmc path\filename.msc /a, and then click OK.
2. In the console tree, click the item that is associated with the taskpad view that you want to add tasks to.
3. on the Action menu, click Edit Taskpad View.
4. On the Tasks tab, click New.
5. Follow the instructions in the New Task Wizard.

NOTES:

• If you are creating a new taskpad view and want to add a task, select the Start New Task Wizard check box on the final page of the New Taskpad View Wizard to start the New Task Wizard.
• If you cannot view all items in the console tree after you click Tree item task in the Command source box on the Shortcut Menu Command page of the New Task Wizard, expand the console tree manually before you start the New Task Wizard.

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How to Edit a Taskpad View in a Saved MMC Console

To edit a taskpad view in a saved MMC console:

1. Use either of the following methods to open a saved console in author mode:
   • Right-click the .msc file, and then click Author.
     
     -or-
   • Click Start, click Run, type mmc path\filename.msc /a, and then click OK.
2. On the Action menu, click Edit Taskpad View.
3. Click the General tab, and then perform any of the following steps to configure the taskpad view:
   • To change the name for the taskpad view, type a new name in the Name box. The name appears in the upper-left corner of the taskpad view and on the tab on the bottom of the taskpad view.
   • To change the description for a taskpad view, type a new description in the Description box. The description appears under the name in the upper-left corner of the taskpad view.
   • To change the list format or to configure the taskpad view to contain tasks only, either click a new list format or click No list in the Style for the details pane section.
   • To configure task descriptions, click Text or InfoTip under Style for task descriptions section. Text descriptions appear to the right of a task. InfoTip descriptions appear in popup windows when a user points to tasks with the mouse.
   • To change the size of the list, click a new size for the width (Vertical list) or height (Horizontal list) of the list in the List size box.
4. Click Options, and then perform any of the following steps:
   • To associate the taskpad view with only the currently selected item in the console tree, click Selected tree item.
   • To associate the taskpad view with all of the items in the console tree of the same type as the currently selected item, click All tree items that are the same type as the selected tree item.
   • If you click All tree items that are the same type as the selected tree item and you want the taskpad view to appear instead of the view on the Normal tab by default, select the Change default display to this taskpad view for these tree items check box.

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How to Edit Tasks in a Taskpad View in a Saved MMC Console

To edit tasks in a taskpad view in a saved MMC console:

1. Use either of the following methods to open a saved console in author mode:
   • Right-click the .msc file, and then click Author.
     
     -or-
   • Click Start, click Run, type mmc path\filename.msc /a, and then click OK.
2. In the console tree, click an item that is associated with the taskpad view.
3. On the Action menu, click Edit Taskpad View.
4. Click the Tasks tab, click a task under Display these tasks, and then perform one of the following steps:
   • To move the selected task up the display list in the taskpad view, click Move Up.
   • To move the selected task down the display list in the taskpad view, click Move Down.
   • To delete the task from the display list in the taskpad view, click Remove.
5. Click Modify, and then perform any of the following steps:
   • To change the name of a task, click the General tab, and then type a new name in Task name.
   • To change the description for a task, click the General tab, and then type a new description in the Description box.
     
     Depending on how you configure the taskpad view, the description appears either to the right of the task or in a popup windows when a user points to the task with the mouse.
   • To change the icon for the task, click the Task Icon tab, click a new icon, and then click OK.

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