Best way to manage Multiple Windows?

Question

I am doing Java web development on WindowsXP. At any given time, I will have open all of the following windows: Eclipse, Outlook, Firefox (with 3-4 tabs), IE (with 3-4 tabs), Putty, 2-3 File Explorer windows, SqlDeveloper, 1-2 View Source windows, SmartSVN, a music player, an IM client, Google toolbar, etc., etc.

I use all the area on dual monitors, but I still find myself having to switch windows often. I have been getting by using the Windows taskbar and Alt-tab. It just seems like there must be a better way.

Any good software/suggestions for managing multiple windows on WindowsXP? I have seen people who use virtual desktops, but to me it seemed like eye candy rather than a productivity tool.

Answer 1

1. Get a third monitor, either via another display card, or if you have a second PC handy, use its monitor plus Synergy to share the keyboard and mouse.
2. Use a music player app that can minimize to the system tray.
3. For Outlook, set it to minimize to the system tray for email notifications, and use Outlook on the Desktop for viewing your calendar and other folders.
4. Replace all those Windows Explorer windows with one that supports tabs. This article has a nice roundup of Explorer alternatives.

Answer 2

Multiple desktops and good window management features (always on top, always on bottom, display on all desktops, etc) do wonders for productivity.

Keeping small utility windows Always On Top when not minimized is far easier than moving them around so that they are not overlapped by the currently active window. Keeping the most used primary window(s) on all desktops means you can have subsets of other applications on each desktop. Putty and SVN and Explorer #1 and a View Source window go on one desktop, SQL Explorer and an IE window and Eclipse go on another, etc.

The idea is to minimize the amount of time you spend doing manual window management. Every time you have to click on your taskbar or hit alt-tab* you are losing time, and every time you have to move a window you are losing a lot of time (relatively).

*exception, when you are using the keyboard and alt-tab is the optimal way to move the focus

Answer 3

Microsoft provides the Virtual Desktop Manager (MSVDM) Power Toy for Windows XP, which you can download for free from microsoft.com.

I heard about it from the book "The Productive Programmer" by Neal Ford, and I installed it about a week ago. It is not perfect, but it helps immensely.

I love the virtual desktops built into Ubuntu and other Linux distributions.

I also use VMware Server a lot, which also helps with managing multiple windows/sessions/desktops, etc.

Answer 4

I constantly have a dozen or so programs running while I'm working, and here are a few things I do to help me:

1. Dual monitors is essential. I haven't ever tried three monitors, as I get by with two just fine. My monitors at work are 20" widescreens and they make my 19" non-widescreens at home feel small (I work from home three days a week).
2. I use Taskix to freely rearrange my taskbar buttons, so that the order I open programs doesn't dictate how my taskbar is organized. Being able to organize the taskbar how I want makes it effective at letting me access the different programs I have open (which is what it was designed for, after all). With my main programs always in the same place on the taskbar I don't have to fish around to get to where I want to go.
3. I recently found a really cool program called WinSplit Revolution that lets you organize the programs on your desktop to your heart's content with easy hotkey access. This is one of the coolest utilities I've ever used, and I'm somewhat of a utility geek. Moving windows around manually is a major PITA. This little program makes a huge difference for me.
4. I use Winamp in windowshade mode so that it is nice and small but always on top so I can see what music is playing and have easy access to it.
5. I have several programs that I have open all the time (Windows Explorer, browsers, dev environment, sql environment, task-related programs) and then programs that I close as soon as I'm done using them (compare windows, remotes into other computers, extra explorer windows). This lets me keep the number of programs I have open relatively constant and it doesn't get out of control.
6. I use NotePad2 very liberally to keep notes and todo's and snippets handy.

The above things have made the most difference for me. Hope they help.

---

Forgot to mention I'm a fan of the QuickLaunch bar, and I undock it from the taskbar and put it on the side of my monitor with auto-hide. As mentioned, I work from home three days a week now, and using the QuickLaunch in this manner in conjunction with Remote Desktop doesn't work very well, so I'm still evaluating how to deal with this.

Answer 5

1. TaskSwitchXP is a turbo version of the Windows Alt-Tab manager. Allows you to see a preview of windows and switch to them with mouse/keyboar.
2. Launchy is a Quicksilver clone for Windows that allows you to start applications, websites and other stuff (using plugins). This will save you the need for using the Desktop, Quick Launch and Start Menu in 99% of the times.
3. PyGo-Y is a Launchy extension that can switch to an already opened window by searching it (I am the author of PyLaunchy).

Answer 6

You can reduce the number of windows open and boost your productivity using Mylyn or Tasktop. Mylyn lets you access your issue tracker right from Eclipse so there's no need to switch to your browser. Change notifications in Eclipse show you what's changed for your issues, so you don't need email notifications for this. With Tasktop, you can even browse the web in Eclipse and integrate your calendar too.

Answer 7

You could group windows together using WindowTabs (written by me) or one of alternatives like WinTabber or Jedi Window Dock.

This is useful for the same reason tabbed browsing is useful, you can group related windows together and just minimize them when your not using them. It un-clutters your Taskbar and your ALT+TAB list.

Answer 8

I use Multimon Taskbar to get a separate task bar for the second monitor and unclutter the taskbar itself which I find really helpful. There are other applications around that create a second task bar which might work better for you. Plus TaskswitchXP which has been mentioned already.