One key Flip 3D shortcut for Vista
Windows Vista is the most elegant operating system to come from Microsoft with its transparency effects, Flip 3D view mode, revised Alt-Tab mode and numerous security enhancements. This applies to Vista Home Premium, Business, Ultimate and Enterprise; Windows Vista Basic users will not be able to take advantage of anything in this post or the aforementioned features. That’s why I don’t (no one) recommends buying Vista Home Basic unless the computer is ancient.
You are probably launching Flip 3D in one of two ways by Windows Key + Tab which flips through it or by Ctrl + Windows Key + Tab which keeps it on the screen and gives you time to select the application you want either by flipping through it with the keys or using the scroll wheel on your mouse.
I would like to know why Microsoft thought it would be necessary to make you press three keys in order to keep the 3D Flip view mode up so you can scroll through it. For example, right now I have iTunes, two Firefox windows, Microsoft Word and Excel, PhotoShop and Windows Live Writer Open. I don’t know which window is which sometimes. It’s easier to identify them by what they look like hence Flip 3D.
There is an easier way to use Flip 3D and that is to create a shortcut on the Desktop to activate it and add it to the Quick Launch bar. Here’s how to do that courtesy of Steve Sinchak from Tweak Vista.
Right click a blank space on the desktop and select “New†then “Shortcutâ€, copy RunDll32 DwmApi #105 and paste it into the “Location†box, click next, then just give your new shortcut a name, I called it Flip 3D. There is one additional but completely optional step and that is to assign it an icon (besides the blank one Windows gives it). To do that, right click the Shortcut you just created, go to Properties and click the “Change Icon†button.
In the “Look for icons in this file†box, click browse and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll and simply select an icon of your liking. Press OK and OK. If your Quick Launch bar isn’t visible, right click the taskbar and go to Properties, go to the Toolbars tab and select Quick Launch which will probably be populated with things you don’t want, simply right click the entries and delete the ones you won’t use.
Now drag your Flip 3D icon into the Quick Launch bar, I put it as the first one next to the start button. At this point you can delete the one off the desktop if you wish. All you need to do to launch Flip 3D now is click the icon in the Quick Launch bar. I honestly think this feature should have been built-in but at least you can create it yourself.
April 14th, 2007
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April 14th, 2007
that feature is inbuilt to my windows Vista and is next to my start menu!
April 14th, 2007
Nathan has a point, after looking through the default icons in the quick launch on another system, it is there by default. However, I went on a deleting rampage on both my quick launch bars and deleted it. There doesn’t seem to be an easy way to get it back except to create the shortcut again. If someone knows of or finds an easier way drop a line in the comments.
April 14th, 2007
Hi,
I haven’t seen Vista yet. How does Flip 3D compare to Expose’ on OS X with ease of identifying windows?
s.
April 14th, 2007
Well… the Expose feature is slightly superior but I can also understand why Microsoft wouldn’t want to copy that exactly. Using this shortcut (note you won’t have to go through these steps if you don’t accidentally delete it from the quick launch bar) it is quite effective, I can easily identify one firefox window from the other and IMO is far superior to Alt + Tab.
I’d suggest (if possible) checking out a Vista enabled PC in a store to see if you like it. Remember Windows Key + Tab or Alt + Windows Key + tab will invoke it if you don’t see the icon on the quick launch bar.
Personally, I like it… it’s good but not great… Expose on OSX is superior but Vista offers something that works… not as good but it works.
April 15th, 2007
http://www.otakusoftware.com/topdesk/
When the last time MS did anything ?
Dont be to fast with song and praise
April 15th, 2007
Or was it Wigets oops I mean Gagets
http://widgets.yahoo.com/win/
April 15th, 2007
I am aware of TopDesk but it is an Expose-like program for XP, while this feature would be appreciated in Vista I would say it is not necessary and I certainly wouldn’t pay anything to add it in…
April 15th, 2007
Widgets were introduced into Vista called Gadgets, you can install them in the Sidebar if you wish.
April 15th, 2007
It’s already on the shortcut bar
April 16th, 2007
Read the comments, the reason I had to do this was because I accidentally deleted it NOT realizing it was already there when I went on a deleting spree.
April 16th, 2007
[...] One key Flip 3D shortcut for Vista Windows Vista is the most elegant operating system to come from Microsoft with its transparency effects, Flip 3D view mode, revised Alt-Tab mode and numerous security enhancements. This applies to Vista Home Premium, Business, Ultimate and Enterprise; Windows Vista Basic users will not be able to take advantage of anything in this post or the aforementioned features. That’s why I don’t (no one) recommends buying Vista Home Basic unless the computer is ancient. You are probably launching Flip 3D in one of two ways by Windows Key + Tab which flips through it or by Ctrl + Windows Key + Tab which keeps it on the screen and gives you time to select the application you want either by flipping through it with the keys or using the scroll wheel on your mouse. I would like to know why Microsoft thought it would be necessary to make you press three keys in order to keep the 3D Flip view mode up so you can scroll through it. For example, right now I have iTunes, two Firefox windows, Microsoft Word and Excel, PhotoShop and Windows Live Writer Open. I don’t know which window is which sometimes. It’s easier to identify them by what they look like hence Flip 3D. There is an easier way to use Flip 3D and that is to create a shortcut on the Desktop to activate it and add it to the Quick Launch bar. Here’s how to do that courtesy of Steve Sinchak from Tweak Vista. Right click a blank space on the desktop and select “New” then “Shortcut”, copy RunDll32 DwmApi #105 and paste it into the “Location” box, click next, then just give your new shortcut a name, I called it Flip 3D. There is one additional but completely optional step and that is to assign it an icon (besides the blank one Windows gives it). To do that, right click the Shortcut you just created, go to Properties and click the “Change Icon” button. In the “Look for icons in this file” box, click browse and navigate to C:WindowsSystem32imageres.dll and simply select an icon of your liking. Press OK and OK. If your Quick Launch bar isn’t visible, right click the taskbar and go to Properties, go to the Toolbars tab and select Quick Launch which will probably be populated with things you don’t want, simply right click the entries and delete the ones you won’t use. Now drag your Flip 3D icon into the Quick Launch bar, I put it as the first one next to the start button. At this point you can delete the one off the desktop if you wish. All you need to do to launch Flip 3D now is click the icon in the Quick Launch bar. I honestly think this feature should have been built-in but at least you can create it yourself. Source:VISTA.BLORGE.com » Blog Archive » One key Flip 3D shortcut for Vista [...]
April 23rd, 2007
If the ignorant who wrote this article feels free to say no one recommends buying Vista Home Basic unless the computer is ancient, then I also feel free to say everyone knows Vista Home Basic, with its security, search, performance and compatibility features, is still better than any other OS that not Vista,
April 23rd, 2007
Then let’s take a look at all the things Home Basic glass. For me the biggest one is Aero Glass, no fancy GUI there, minor to some people, is a major issue for me. It lacks DVD authoring tools present in, oh… every other version… it does not have XBOX 360 networking, lacks media center, does not have flip 3D, lacks scheduled backups, does not support tablet PCs or touch displays.
Out of that, no support for the XBOX 360, no media center, no (built-in) backup tools are biggies right next to no Aero Glass. It’s not so much about being ignorant as coming to the realization that Home Basic lacks so much, it’s just not worth buying (or owning).
The reason to install it on low end computers is because low end computers (some of them) won’t support Aero Glass and if it won’t support Aero Glass then that is a good reason to go with Home Basic or just get Home Premium and disable Aero Glass if you want the other features that Basic lacks.
June 15th, 2007
Vista basic is better for gaming.
October 28th, 2008
i made a program so you can flip through windows in the Vista 3D window switcher
by clicking the scroll button on your mouse
i looked everywhere to do it but ended up having to make a program
so if you want it, just download it on the megaupload link and put it in your start up files
i just though i’d put it up since i wanted to do it and couldn’t find it anywhere.
link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FO4CXGOE
October 28th, 2008
i made a program so you can flip through windows in the
Vista 3D window switcher
by clicking the scroll button on your mouse
i looked everywhere to do it but ended up having to make a program i thought i’d put it somewhere so someone will be able to find it unlike i could.
so if you want it, just download it on the megaupload link and put it in your start up files
link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FO4CXGOE
November 30th, 2008
i find this is useful for my mouse’s extra buttons. assign one to run the command “RunDll32 DwmApi #105″ and its one click flip3d anywhere. i like it at least.
February 14th, 2009
@ hampson:
Not very bright, are you? You can already do that anyway. Kinda makes your little app useless.
But yes the “RunDll32 DwmApi #105? method works just fine for restoring the Flip3D icon. Used it once a while back.