Windows Jumplists: programs with a convenient context menu

After right-clicking on the taskbar icon some programs show commands that lead quickly to important functions. COMPUTER BILD shows 22 suitably programmed tools.

Since Windows 7 brings the taskbar with extended functionality: Unlike XP / Vista counterpart they assist is being drawn (attachment) and moving icons. With the latter action, it does not matter if the programs of the icons are loaded. Another advantage is that thanks to the default is hidden program name and pure symbol display, the taskbar space is better filled. On the quick launch bar, Microsoft – with Vista was standard, easy to activate in XP. Equally important: The Windows 7 taskbar provides jumplists for the first time. You can open such Jump Lists by right-clicking on program icons: Whether loaded or not, you will see useful entries for quick function calls to the program.

Onboard tools and tools with Jumplist

The heavily upgraded Windows 7 taskbar gave it the name of Superbar – a parallel to superphones that refer to high-end smartphones. If a programmer plans it, call up a list of additional entries in the enhanced context menu by right-clicking on a taskbar icon. They go beyond the closeness known from previous generations of Windows – and lead into a particular program section, displaying most-visited or recently-closed web pages. Depending on the program, the most recently used files are often noted; click again to load them in the program.

Windows 10: Jump lists upgraded

This is only possible with Windows 7: If you move the mouse pointer to an entry on the left in the start menu, you will see tasks proposed in the Jumplist function right next to it. You recognize such enrichments by the fact that a program entry is provided with an arrow symbol. With Windows 10, Microsoft expanded the Jumplist integration: Right-clicking on a Start menu tile in the right-hand Start menu area displays a list menu – in addition to options such as “Resolve from Start” or “Resize”. The same taskbar icons continue to provide jumplists, as Windows 7 and 8 do, depending on the programmer.

Deactivate jump lists

If you do not mind the jump lists, use the shortcut to open the taskbar context menus of XP and Vista. Hold down the Shift key when right-clicking. Then you’ll even see entries that hide the jumplist-based shortcut menus: “Restore,” “Move,” “Resize,” “Minimize,” and “Maximize” (as well as “Close,” but jumplists depict “Close Window” ).

Few programs cause jumplists

It does not seem to be fashionable to provide programs with jumplists. So, many programs reviewed by COMPUTER BILD did not bring any special menu items with them. At most, they show the most recently opened files – this is what Windows does. For example, Paint, Editor, and Photoshop Elements list the most recently loaded files. In the above list, such semi-useful jumplist programs rarely appear, but rather those that exploit all the potential with exclusive built-in commands.

The last Jump List program is the Jumplist Launcher, You create your own jumplists without any programming knowledge: You place the program symbol in the taskbar, which from then on contains the entries compiled via its own interface. They enrich arbitrarily selectable symbols. Thanks to parameter input, it is conceivable to enter your own browser bookmarks (browser path and specify a URL as a parameter).