Simple Notepad Tip

[Carol M]

The Windows Notepad comes in handy to quickly jot down notes or reminders that you can store on your Windows Desktop. Right click a blank area of the Windows Desktop, point to New and click Text Document. An icon appears on your Desktop called New Text Document.txt. Double click it and the Windows Notepad opens. Type in your note or reminder and click the Close ("X") button. Windows will ask you if you want to save the changes. Click Yes. If you right click the New Text Document.txt icon you can rename it, print the contents or delete it. And since your notes are now in a handy Notepad file, it's easy to make changes. Just double click the icon to open the file and make your edits.

[Facts Curator]

An even easier method is to create a shortcut key to Notepad, and drag it to the taskbar on your desktop. Then you can access Notepad without minimizing any windows. (I use it all the time when I'm on this website - very convenient).

[MaKa]

Please provide further details on how this Notepad works.
The icon is on the taskbar, and I can write a message and
save it. When I open the screen again, there is just a blank
field.
Thanks for more details.
MaKa

[HARLEY]

There are many easy shortcuts,but to me all you have to do is right click on an empty spot of your desktop and choose>new>text document!

Name it whatever you want to and then save it to a folder of your choice!

[MaKa]

Thank you for your reply, Harley. I have the icon(s) on my
desktop and write a message and name and save it. Then,
when I open Notepad again, I just have a blank field. Have
to go to 'My Documents' to open the message. Is that how this works?
MaKa

[Victoria]

Maka
Follow Carols instructions and when u have the shortcut on your desktop, right click, chose rename, name it what u want.....
when you want to use it, just double click, it will open..add what
u want, when u are finished , click the X or go to file and click
on exit (your choice), when the window pops up that says do you want to save the changes, click "YES". Next time you open this, you SHOULD
NOT see a blank page, but will see whatever you put there....
Harley says to save it to a folder, that is an option, but does
not have to be saved as such...I think that is where your confusion
is happening. You can just leave it on you desktop if u so wish.

[MaKa]

Thanks for your additional help, Victoria. It's working now-goody!
I had created a ' Shortcut to Notepad' icon, and that requires
going to 'My Documents' to access the memos. Also, when
putting the icon on the taskbar, one also has to leave a copy of it on the desktop, otherwise it says 'Missing Icon' when
clicked from there ---
It's great to be able to store all the phone numbers and
messages without the endless slips of paper. Guess I'll get
a bunch of different Notepad icons to put into a folder.--
All your help is much appreciated!
MaKa

[BookLady]

Great hints except I use WordPad instead of NotePad. It holds bigger files and has more editing options.

[MaKa]

Hello, BookLady; Would you please explain how to get
a WordPad icon. I tried the same procedure as above
and named the icon WordPad and it opens as Wordpad-Notepad.
Thanks a lot.
MaKa

[BookLady]

First be sure you have Wordpad.exe on your computer. I thought it was part of my Win98 OffPro97 package, but I have been using it so long I may have brought it from another office app off my old computer. MS may not be including it in the newer packages.

You may be creating a shortcut to Notepad and calling it Wordpad. It should open "Document - Wordpad" until you name the document. I have "txt" files associated with it and "doc" files with the regular MS Word program(which I hate with a passion because it is soo complicated).

My apologies for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused.

[MaKa]

Thanks, BookLady; My system has Notepad, Wordpad and
Word 2000. I placed a shortcut icon to Wordpad on the Desk-
top, but it isn't the same kind of screen as the Notepad.
Don't know whether or not one can choose one or the other
only or both and how to do it. A friend told me that when
Notepad gets full, it automatically switches to Wordpad.
I'm afraid that this is somewhat above my head, at the
moment.
Regards,MaKa

[BookLady]

MaKa no one has really answered your inquiry about opening with a blank screen. When you click on the icon you open the program with a blank document. To open a document you have named and saved you must click on File which will open a menu with Open on it and down toward the bottom a list of the most recent documents you have saved. Click the name if it shows up there or click Open and find the name. Going to My Documents also works as you have discoverd.

I suggest you try all three and see which one suits you the best. MS almost always has several ways to do any one thing and trying them all is part of the fun :rolleyes:

[MaKa]

I think I've figured out how to use the Notepad shortcut icon.
Had a shortcut before which saved to 'My Documents'.
Now it's working as it should.--
I possibly misunderstood you when you said you preferred
Wordpad. It doesn't work like a memo site the way Notepad
does, or I haven't figured it out. Word is great for the
documents, and I use it all the time, but this little Notepad
tip is just neat!
Thank you, BookLady, for your diligence in explaining things.
MaKa

[hal9000]

Here's a notepad that allows unlimited document size.

http://liquidninja.com/metapad/

[MaKa]

Thanks, Hal; I shall explore this further. I have Me and
don't have the know-how to correct problems, if they
should arise. Will check it out with the techies in the family.
MaKa

PS Welcome to WordStart!

[hal9000]

Yeah, I basically know more about little word processing programs and other writing and reading oriented things.

Seems there's quite a few very knowledge people here, and I can tell you that people like Sonny--who just joined--has over 30 years computing experience. He's very knowledgeable and quick to respond to questions for help as well as Justine who just joined.

Thanks for welcoming me.