Maximize? Minimumize? Sanitize?

XP Pro, SP3, current updates, Lenovo T60p laptop at about 2 ghz.

A long time ago I got the idea that minimize and maximize were opposite things. I finally found out that was wrong, but ever since then I have remained confused what they are supposed to mean. Memory block I suppose.

So I can't really describe my problem accurately. But it goes like this.

When I use WordPad (or almost anything) there are two screen modes clickable from next to the red X in the upper right corner of the window. One is full screen. For lack of correct buzzwords I'll call the other "part screen."

Here's the rub. In every other app with adjustable windows you can drag the "part screen" to a size you like and if you have enough configuration storage room that size will be remembered for that window (assuming you've chosen that method).

Not so with WordPad. At least not here. I can drag the window to the size I want and it will stay that size for 3 or 4 openings, then it will revert to some kind of default, small size.

The result is that unless I change it constantly I can have either the (too) small size or full screen, but not the size that fits my needs.

Does anyone know if there is a way to make this thing act normally? Or is this a WordPad bug? I don't have this problem with any other program or utility.

 

There is an option in your Folder View settings to remember each window size. With wordpad open, and sized the way you want it, open Windows Explorer. Click on Tools, the Folder Options (I don't run Vista so I have to assume it is at the same location as XP). Click on the View tab. In the Advanced Setting box, scroll down towards the bottom and Remember each folder's view settings needs to be checked/ticked.

If it is already selected, unselect it. Close both itmes, reboot and open WordPad and Windows Explorer and go thru the selection steps again.

 

Thanks. I have a question.

Since I referred to this option {Quote: the size will be remembered for that window (assuming you've chosen that method)} and my post is based entirely on the fact that I have used this option for years and have found WordPad to be, as I said in the OP, the only exception, won't turning off the setting undo all the hundreds of window settings I already have accumulated? (For my laptops' small screens I have long used individual settings and make all windows as small as possible.)

It seems to many people to be completely unbelievable that starting XP in so called "Safe" mode actually destroys most of these window settings. Such people automatically assume I have not been "into" computers since the late 1970's and either have no idea what I'm saying or am making it up. But I learned years ago that after starting in "safe" mode (in more than one XP system) I had to spend weeks or months resetting most of these window settings back as I want them.

I do not want to risk having to do that again merely to find that WordPad still is the only one not respond as it should to the stored settings I have used successfully for years with everything else.

 

I don't know. I've never turned the option off to see what happens and if everything else is lost. I also don't use WordPad so I have no experience with the window forgetting its size. If the risk is too great, then don't uncheck and recheck the save settings button.
Do you use any cleaner, like CCleaner? Maybe there is something in there erasing your WordPad settings. Something could be undoing your WordPad choice of size.

As far as losing settings in safe mode, about the only experience I have there is once back in normal mode my desktop icons are scattered not where I want them. I've solved that problem by using a 3rd party program Iconoid in which I save my desktop placement then open the program and click something that will put them back.

I found this

Which leads me to think that maybe something cleaning your registry is changing settings.

This is what you can go:
1. Set the Wordpad window the way you want it
2. Open the registry, find the settings and save them to the desktop as a .reg file (wordpad_settings.reg might be a good title)
3. If wordpad gets screwed up, click the .reg file on your desktop and merge it so the wordpad goes back to what you want.

This is a workaround until we can determine what might be altering or even removing the wordpad registry settings.

About the "assume" thing... most people, especially the young "geeks" in the local computer stores assume I'm an idiot because a) I'm female and b) I'm a senior citizen so what could I possibly know! I learned to get over that a long time ago. Life is to short to worry about what others think about you and what you know or don't know.

 

It took me awhile to find anything but this path
HKLM_/Software/Classes/Wordpad.Document.1
but nothing I see relates to the size of the window.
Sorry.

 

Well, I found another workaround but I don't know if it will work on Wordpad. When you close Wordpad, hold down the shift key while you click the X in the top right corner.
Let me know if that does anything.

I've opened Wordpad a few times today, even though I never use it, and mine has stayed at the same size I set it. I can tell by looking at the ruler across the top.

I found another thing. It is for Win 7 but seems to work in XP
http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/8801-make-windows-7-remember-window-positions-size-20.html

 

Open WordPad and drag the sides of the window to what ever size and position you want, then EITHER:

Click the very top left button on the Title bar and in the menu click Close. Or use Alt + F4

OR:

Click the button below the one that I mentioned above and in the drop down menu click Exit.

That should save the size and position of the new window.

dave

 

I've used a number over the years. If that's the problem they all have it.

I was just in there. There are scores if not hundreds of Wordpad entries. I don't know if I can sort them out or not.

I don't care all that much about what anybody thinks, but I get really tired of wasting days or weeks getting past the assumptions to real information - as opposed to rote answers based on the assumption you are either stupid or lazy or both.

 

Those are some interesting comments and a very interesting point of view.

Even the top super geeks start with the basics when troubleshooting a problem. I think we have all jumped to looking at advanced settings and fixes only to find something basic was causing a problem. People trying to help you are checking that all of the basics were looked at before moving on to advanced portions and that insults you and wastes your time?

You might want to consider something less time wasting like a really good private computer tech who you can ask. Doing your own troubleshooting and asking on free forums is very time consuming. Finding an answer to an obscure problem on a general board is going to depend on that one in million person who had the same issue. Hit or miss, could be months.

Personally, I assumed you knew a good amount about the things that you need to do to make computers work for you rather than broad knowledge. I assumed that you don't care about the terms so much but that you understand the concepts. Also, that you are probably a visual learner and can be quite advanced with things you've done hands on. But this is a written board and when answering someone's questions, people take a quick judgment of how in depth to explain based on what the poster has written and maybe their bio. Maybe things are getting over-explained based on the writing. Maybe instead of complaining about the answers you can help make them better by writing a line of how much experience you have at the top of your OP since how you explain doesn't always show how well you understand computers (by not using correct terms). It an imperfect system here, help the other users help you.

So for Wordpad, I have a stupid question for you too. I'm guessing that you have documents set to open in wordpad as a default. Is there a specific file or a specific extension (especially an extension) that you've noticed this behavior from? (could point to a specific registry setting) Is there a reason to use wordpad and not something like openoffice?

 

I'm sure you've heard before about low/fixed incomes. rolleyes

Hmm. In the years I've known about Majorgeeks, I had always thought of it as having the highest level of specific knowledge of any forum I've seen. I guess they do cover a lot of territory by having a lot of sub-forums, but I've seen a lot of very good minds at work in individual categories.

It's more that I used to know a "good amount," not at all that I don't care about the terms. Clear back in 1986 I developed a major "leak" in my gray matter and can't retain much. I have a lot of computer experience but all I can remember long term now are the concepts.

Very astute. I am very visually oriented. But I have also learned it is an absolute necessity to keep a record of problems and solutions in a growing text file. I always remember _that_ I found a solution before to a problem, but I almost never remember what it was. I can barely remember enough to find the right solution among all the others.

Actually I'll make a complaint right here. From what I've seen, people who make the biggest assumptions seldom read or pay attention to all of my OP.

In that regard I've noticed several things.

Some people tend to reply based on the first few lines of an OP, while some look for the bottom line and miss early points.

It seems obvious that a very short OP would avoid both problems, but that doesn't cut it with folks who demand that you posit your issues in a predetermined format using precise terms that you would know if you already knew the answer to your own question. They demand professional questions from non-professional questioners.

Yet if you write a long OP, it is passed over because no one likes to read long posts.

Excellent! I already have a line to add to my OP's.

"I have over 30 years experience with computers, but as an over-cooked senior I can't remember spit for two minutes."

That isn't a joke. I've been into computers since 16K was a large system memory in a personal computer ("PC" hadn't even been coined), but a stroke at age 47 blew much of my thinker to bits.

If that's a stupid question I _love_ stupid questions. Although answering such questions is my favorite way of handling a problem, only a few super-geeks I've been around want to dig in with written questions like they would on the phone, for example.

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

I'll have to research that. Although one specifically troublesome situation involves pure .TXT files, I haven't noticed specifically how it does when I'm using .RTF files for their formatting.

1. Wordpad has exactly the amount of power I need.

2. I can't use word processors well - waaay too much to remember. They overloaded my brain even when I could remember better.

 

So you were chin deep in computers when I was learning DOS and Pascal as the great leap into the technology age. That's impressive. I'm sorry to hear about your stroke. You do mention some disclaimer in the OP's that i've read. I'm sure I'm guilty of skimming and jumping to an answer so I'll take that as a point to remember.

For this problem. I understand using Wordpad, I probably converted to Word only 4 or 5 years ago. There were some overly complicated word processing programs around in the late 80's and early 90's so as soon as I was out of college, too poor to buy them and didn't have to use them anymore, I didn't. Even with the 10+ years of wordpad and so many different computers, I never ran into this issue. (helpful, I know)

I tried creating a few different types of txt files and manipulating them and imbedding objects. I didn't find anything useful.

If it's only for some files and not for all files of an extension, my registry theory won't work.

 

JimLL, was wondering how long this problem has been going on? Did it start after the installation of some program or an update of some kind? Until a solution can be found, you might want to take a look at these: Angel Writer and Jarte as alternatives. My preference is Angel Writer but Jarte is built around Wordpad.

 

Thanks. I'll check those out. I hope they have one thing Wordpad doesn't - "Delete" in the context menu. I've tried Wordpad replacements before, but I could never get them integrated into the system well. If they won't install and integrate themselves fully I don't want to spend weeks trying make them work. I'm just not any good at bits and pieces.

I can't remember a point at which I suddenly noticed the window size wouldn't stick. It seems to have been that way forever, but with all my gray matter moved from where it belongs onto the top of my head what do I know.

 

Aha, now I know the whole problem. The chin deep computers have piled completely over me and I can't see out. :-D

 

This is what I use http://www.editpadlite.com/
I bought the pro version for one computer years ago.
probably since my Win 3.11 days.

 

How do you get all that extra stuff off the screen?

 

Since I don't use the version pictured, I don't have all the "extra stuff". I'd assume you look what is availabble under the Options and the View mentu to trim a program down. Have you looked in Help? Those are the places I look when I try something new.

 

1. I looked everywhere I could find before I asked.

2. That must have been some kind of introduction display. When I loaded existing TXT files later, the formatting tags were no longer there.

 

Just checked and my version is 4.5.4 with a copyright of 1996-2003 (as I mentioned, I've probably been using this since win 3.11 days). My theory, if it works, it doesn't always have to be updated. Generally, I do not need all the bells and whistles that keep being added to programs.

Since it has gotten so fancy in version 6, clearly this isn't a suitable replacement for you. Sorry.