N
Noozer
Is it possible to change the font and icon sizes on the All Programs menu on
the Start button in Windows XP?
the Start button in Windows XP?
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
L
Leonard Grey
Yes -- but it's a hack. If you're comfortable with a hex editor and are
prepared for the risk I believe you will find software on the internet
that will do the deed. Backup, needless to say.
prepared for the risk I believe you will find software on the internet
that will do the deed. Backup, needless to say.
N
Noozer
Tried Google without much luck.
Any hints to where I can find this info?
Any hints to where I can find this info?
L
Leonard Grey
Sorry - I've never been interested in trying that so I can't be of much
help to you.
One thing I've learned about web searches: The difference between a good
one and a bad one is all about the search terms used.
help to you.
One thing I've learned about web searches: The difference between a good
one and a bad one is all about the search terms used.
W
Wesley Vogel
Is it possible to change the font and icon sizes on the All Programs menu
Yes.
Start Menu Icon sizes.
For the XP Start Menu...
Right click the Taskbar | Properties | Start Menu tab | Customize button |
General tab | Select Large icons or Small icons | Click OK | Click Apply |
Click OK
Large icons...
[[Specifies that the icons that represent programs and items on the Start
menu are displayed in a larger size.]]
Small icons...
[[Specifies that the icons that represent programs and items on the Start
menu are displayed in a smaller size. You can increase the number of
programs that are displayed in the most recently used programs list by
increasing the number in the Programs box.]]
For the Classic Start Menu...
Right click the Taskbar | Properties | Start Menu tab | Customize button |
Check or uncheck: Use Small Icons in Start menu
Use Small Icons in Start menu checked...
[[Reduces the size of the icons in the Start menu.]]
Use Small Icons in Start menu unchecked uses larger icons.
Step by Step Tutorials for Windows XP: Use Large Icons
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/windowsxp/uselargeicons.aspx
Start Menu Font.
If you select a windows and buttons setting other than Windows Classic, it
will override the above settings, except in some older programs.
Note: In order to fully use this feature you must have your Windows and
buttons setting on Windows Classic.
Windows Classic style in the Windows and buttons list on the Appearance tab
of Display Properties, *NOT* Windows Classic theme on the Themes tab of
Display Properties. These are two entirely different things.
Display Properties | Appearance tab | Windows and buttons |
Set to Windows Classic style
You can change the look of individual items if you select Windows Classic
style in the Windows and buttons list on the Appearance tab of Display
Properties.
You can see what most of the changes will look like in the preview window as
you make changes before applying them.
Right click Desktop | Properties | Appearance tab | Advanced button |
Click the V Under Item: to expand the menu |
Window elements menu:
* Menu
Is the Menu bar; with File, Edit, View, etc. Size is the bar height. Color
1 is the bar background color. Font choice, font color, font size and Bold
or Italic. Changing the font size larger will also change the bar height
larger to accommodate the larger text size.
Besides the text on the Start menu, this also affects right click menus;
File, Edit, View, etc. text on the Menu bar; the text on File, Edit, View,
etc. menus.
Notes:
* Changing the look of individual items is only useful if you select Windows
Classic in the Windows and buttons list on the Appearance tab. If you select
a different option, the theme determines the appearance of your menus,
fonts, icons and other Window elements.
* The Font area will be unavailable for elements in the Item list that do
not display text.
* Note that you must use the same font and size for the Active Title Bar and
Inactive Title Bar items, and that bold or italic selections for either item
are applied to both items. If you choose a desktop theme after you change
fonts or colors, the fonts and colors for that desktop theme override your
selections.
* Sizes are in pixels. Pixel is short for picture element, one spot in a
rectilinear grid of thousands of such spots that form an image produced on
the screen by a computer or on paper by a printer. A pixel is the smallest
element that display or print hardware and software can manipulate to create
letters, numbers, or graphics. A pixel is also called a pel.
* Never a good thing to have the background color and the font color the
same, it makes it tough to read any text.
Also on the Advanced Appearance in Display Properties, you can click on the
different items that are displayed at the top in the preview window and the
corresponding item will be listed in the Item list. For example if you
click on Inactive Window, Inactive Title Bar will be displayed under Item.
Click on the narrow border on the Inactive Window and Inactive Window Border
will be listed. Click on any of the Minimize, Maximize or Close buttons [X]
buttons and Caption Buttons will be listed. Click on Active Window and
Active Title Bar will be listed. Click on the word Normal and Menu will be
listed. Click on the word Selected and Selected Items will be listed.
Click where its says Window Text and Window will be listed. Click on the
vertical scrollbar and Scrollbar will be listed. Click on the narrow border
to the right of the vertical scroll bar and Active Window Border will be
listed. Click on the words Message Text and Message Box will be listed.
Click on the OK button and 3D Objects will be listed. Click on the preview
window background and Desktop will be displayed.
How to Change the Font, Size, and Colors of Desktop Items
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310543
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
In Noozer <[email protected]> hunted and pecked:
on the Start button in Windows XP?
Yes.
Start Menu Icon sizes.
For the XP Start Menu...
Right click the Taskbar | Properties | Start Menu tab | Customize button |
General tab | Select Large icons or Small icons | Click OK | Click Apply |
Click OK
Large icons...
[[Specifies that the icons that represent programs and items on the Start
menu are displayed in a larger size.]]
Small icons...
[[Specifies that the icons that represent programs and items on the Start
menu are displayed in a smaller size. You can increase the number of
programs that are displayed in the most recently used programs list by
increasing the number in the Programs box.]]
For the Classic Start Menu...
Right click the Taskbar | Properties | Start Menu tab | Customize button |
Check or uncheck: Use Small Icons in Start menu
Use Small Icons in Start menu checked...
[[Reduces the size of the icons in the Start menu.]]
Use Small Icons in Start menu unchecked uses larger icons.
Step by Step Tutorials for Windows XP: Use Large Icons
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/training/windowsxp/uselargeicons.aspx
Start Menu Font.
If you select a windows and buttons setting other than Windows Classic, it
will override the above settings, except in some older programs.
Note: In order to fully use this feature you must have your Windows and
buttons setting on Windows Classic.
Windows Classic style in the Windows and buttons list on the Appearance tab
of Display Properties, *NOT* Windows Classic theme on the Themes tab of
Display Properties. These are two entirely different things.
Display Properties | Appearance tab | Windows and buttons |
Set to Windows Classic style
You can change the look of individual items if you select Windows Classic
style in the Windows and buttons list on the Appearance tab of Display
Properties.
You can see what most of the changes will look like in the preview window as
you make changes before applying them.
Right click Desktop | Properties | Appearance tab | Advanced button |
Click the V Under Item: to expand the menu |
Window elements menu:
* Menu
Is the Menu bar; with File, Edit, View, etc. Size is the bar height. Color
1 is the bar background color. Font choice, font color, font size and Bold
or Italic. Changing the font size larger will also change the bar height
larger to accommodate the larger text size.
Besides the text on the Start menu, this also affects right click menus;
File, Edit, View, etc. text on the Menu bar; the text on File, Edit, View,
etc. menus.
Notes:
* Changing the look of individual items is only useful if you select Windows
Classic in the Windows and buttons list on the Appearance tab. If you select
a different option, the theme determines the appearance of your menus,
fonts, icons and other Window elements.
* The Font area will be unavailable for elements in the Item list that do
not display text.
* Note that you must use the same font and size for the Active Title Bar and
Inactive Title Bar items, and that bold or italic selections for either item
are applied to both items. If you choose a desktop theme after you change
fonts or colors, the fonts and colors for that desktop theme override your
selections.
* Sizes are in pixels. Pixel is short for picture element, one spot in a
rectilinear grid of thousands of such spots that form an image produced on
the screen by a computer or on paper by a printer. A pixel is the smallest
element that display or print hardware and software can manipulate to create
letters, numbers, or graphics. A pixel is also called a pel.
* Never a good thing to have the background color and the font color the
same, it makes it tough to read any text.
Also on the Advanced Appearance in Display Properties, you can click on the
different items that are displayed at the top in the preview window and the
corresponding item will be listed in the Item list. For example if you
click on Inactive Window, Inactive Title Bar will be displayed under Item.
Click on the narrow border on the Inactive Window and Inactive Window Border
will be listed. Click on any of the Minimize, Maximize or Close buttons [X]
buttons and Caption Buttons will be listed. Click on Active Window and
Active Title Bar will be listed. Click on the word Normal and Menu will be
listed. Click on the word Selected and Selected Items will be listed.
Click where its says Window Text and Window will be listed. Click on the
vertical scrollbar and Scrollbar will be listed. Click on the narrow border
to the right of the vertical scroll bar and Active Window Border will be
listed. Click on the words Message Text and Message Box will be listed.
Click on the OK button and 3D Objects will be listed. Click on the preview
window background and Desktop will be displayed.
How to Change the Font, Size, and Colors of Desktop Items
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310543
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
In Noozer <[email protected]> hunted and pecked:
R
rwilson2
Unfortunately, this isn't the problem... The "menu" font size changes
the font size for the Start Menu (and menu-bar on the top of a
window), but not for the "All Programs Menu". You run into this
problem when you set your DPI settings to something other than 96 dpi.
It looks to me like MS thought of letting you reset your DPI, but they
didn't include a way to make it work right with everything. (I've
noticed a lot of apps that have messed up buttons and window gadgets
because of the DPI changes...)
BTW, this is the same sort of problem you encounter in Outlook when
you increase your DPI setting. Outlook defaults _ALL_ HTML messages to
"medium" font size, and there is no way (apparently) to change this.
You can manually reset each message - while you are reading it - but
as soon as you click off the message and go back to it (in the preview
pane), it gets reset back to "medium" again. This is quite annoying.
Everything looks like it was intended for vision impaired people.
Is there another solution to the "All Programs Menu" font size - that
doesn't include setting your DPI back to 96?
the font size for the Start Menu (and menu-bar on the top of a
window), but not for the "All Programs Menu". You run into this
problem when you set your DPI settings to something other than 96 dpi.
It looks to me like MS thought of letting you reset your DPI, but they
didn't include a way to make it work right with everything. (I've
noticed a lot of apps that have messed up buttons and window gadgets
because of the DPI changes...)
BTW, this is the same sort of problem you encounter in Outlook when
you increase your DPI setting. Outlook defaults _ALL_ HTML messages to
"medium" font size, and there is no way (apparently) to change this.
You can manually reset each message - while you are reading it - but
as soon as you click off the message and go back to it (in the preview
pane), it gets reset back to "medium" again. This is quite annoying.
Everything looks like it was intended for vision impaired people.
Is there another solution to the "All Programs Menu" font size - that
doesn't include setting your DPI back to 96?
D
denis
Hi,
You may setup Vista Start Menu program and use zoom function to
enlarge menu.
http://www.vistastartmenu.com
You may setup Vista Start Menu program and use zoom function to
enlarge menu.
http://www.vistastartmenu.com
Most of the solutions you will find force you to lose the XP theme or don't really get what the problem is. This is another Windows annoyance for sure but rest assured it is doable with just a little work.
All my systems have very high resolution displays so I really should be using high resolution fonts (large fonts) but so many applications, including some of Microsoft's, cannot deal with large fonts properly that (in the advanced display properties settings) I instead do a custom compromise at 115DPI instead of 120DPI which just barely gets by on the rogue programs. When I do that I get the microfonts in the Run Programs menu, though. What to do? I like the silver XP theme and I do not want any of the Win2K themes. So, if you want to stay in the XP style then just go to DisplayProperties - Appearance - Fontsize and change to at least large size. Note that this does not change the DPI setting, it is just a preconfigured appearace setting which includes the All Programs menu missing from the manual advanced appearance page.
Now, this change is is going to mess up all your other individual font settings in the advanced appearance menu. So, go into there and override all of them back to the individual font size settings you like. I guess you should take a peek at All Programs first to see if it looks OK. You can still go to extra large if required although I've never needed it. That's all there is to it. It's not clear why this was not made a manually configurable setting but it is unlikely to ever be fixed at this point.
All my systems have very high resolution displays so I really should be using high resolution fonts (large fonts) but so many applications, including some of Microsoft's, cannot deal with large fonts properly that (in the advanced display properties settings) I instead do a custom compromise at 115DPI instead of 120DPI which just barely gets by on the rogue programs. When I do that I get the microfonts in the Run Programs menu, though. What to do? I like the silver XP theme and I do not want any of the Win2K themes. So, if you want to stay in the XP style then just go to DisplayProperties - Appearance - Fontsize and change to at least large size. Note that this does not change the DPI setting, it is just a preconfigured appearace setting which includes the All Programs menu missing from the manual advanced appearance page.
Now, this change is is going to mess up all your other individual font settings in the advanced appearance menu. So, go into there and override all of them back to the individual font size settings you like. I guess you should take a peek at All Programs first to see if it looks OK. You can still go to extra large if required although I've never needed it. That's all there is to it. It's not clear why this was not made a manually configurable setting but it is unlikely to ever be fixed at this point.