I'm a right clickist. I'm addicted to the right click. Ah, the power of the "right click" function in the Windows user interface. It makes me happy in a way that only "Praline Dream" ice cream from Baskin Robbins can make me. RightClick is a program that will allow you to configure and skin the menu you get when you right click on your desktop background, and therefore makes me giddy with delight and also makes me crave ice cream. Currently RightClick is only available as part of ObjectDesktop, which can be purchased here. You cannot buy it by itself, and you cannot get a free version of it. Sorry! But I think it is a cool program, and wanted to yap about it. It is also still in beta, which means that technically the program is unfinished, and they are still working out some kinks, although I haven't had any problem with it.

Find RightClick in Stardock Central. When you double click on it or click on it once and select "run" nothing appears to immediately happen. In fact what has happened is that if you right click on your desktop you will get a different menu than you usually get. Go on and try it; your right click menu should now look something like this:

When you started the program RightClick automatically put an icon in your system tray that will allow you to access and configure the menu. You'll notice that clicking on it does nothing. You must right click on the icon to access the RightClick program. A bit of humor from the RightClick authors no doubt.

For the newbie: check out the picture below. The yellow arrow points to the system tray.

When you right click on the icon you get this interface:

This is the RightClick Menu Editor. At the top you'll notice 3 tabs labeled "Content", "Skins" and "Hotkeys". The first screen is the "Content" screen. In this screen you can configure your RightClick menu options, adding or removing things to the menu. You can also configure those items that you have added. For example, I added a link to www.WinCustomize.com on my RightClick menu. Now if I want to go to WinCustomize I merely right click on my desktop and choose that option. You can also add shortcuts to frequently used files or programs to make your life a little easier. You can also configure these options a little bit

The second tab is "Skins", and if you click on it you will have the power to change what your RightClick menu looks like. This is so cool! Yet another way to customize my desktop there are some neat options there, and also an option to use the WindowBlinds skin you are running.

The last tab is "Hotkey", where you can change which keyboard key will bring up the RightClick menu, assuming you don't feel like using the mouse much. This can be very handy, as sometimes when you are typing you don't feel like stopping and reaching over to grab the mouse.

Daily Hint for the Newb: You can only access the RightClick menu through the hotkeys or by right clicking on your desktop background. Right clicking in any other program will bring up the menu for that program, not your supercool new RightClick menu.

***What should my next program be? Post a response and tell me what you'd really like to have a tutorial on. If it is currently within my power, I'll write about it!

Locate the hidden messages in this article and win a free mad cow!!!

(Offer only valid for Homo Neandertalensis)

Check out the other Newbie Tutorials here:  #1: Intro.,  #2: WindowBlinds, Part 1, #3: WindowBlinds, Part 2, #4: Screenshots, #5: IconPackager, #6: Wallpaper Basics; #7: Logon Studio; #8: CursorXP; #9: BootSkin  
 

Skin I'm running today: Retro by Essorant