Get To The Desktop Without Minimizing Applications

Q. Sometimes, when I’m working in Excel, the program window is so big that the very top is off the screen. That happens when I adjust the screen resolution from 1024 x 768 to 800 x 600. Then I can’t get back to the controls menu—Close, Restore, Minimize, Move, Size, Maximize. Sometimes I get so frustrated, I simply close out the application and start again. Any ideas?

A. You could, of course, go back to 1024 x 768. But that doesn’t really address your concerns. You obviously went to a large-size resolution for a reason, and you want to able to see the full screen—especially the controls on top. There is a way. Try using the keyboard to access the control menu. For example, while in Excel, press Alt+Spacebar (Alt and the Spacebar simultaneously)—that will take you to the menu. Then press the letter R to restore the Excel window to its mid-range size. If you press X, the window will be maximized.