Along with the Channels, Active Desktop lets you
add active content directly on your Desktop, including special
"Desktop Components" made by content providers as well as
components of any web page you specify! This article will only cover
Desktop Components ... if you're interested in Channels, be sure to
check out our ActiveIE Channels Tip
Getting Started
Before getting started, we need to be sure that
you've got the Windows Desktop Update (the easiest way to
know this is if you see the Active Desktop). If you didn't install
the WDU or you never downloaded it, go to Help | Product
Updates and install the "Windows Desktop Update."
Now that you're sure you have the Windows
Desktop Update, you need to be sure that Active Desktop is
enabled. You can do this quickly by right-clicking the Desktop and
making sure that Active Desktop | View as Web Page is
checked.
Let's start our adventure with Desktop
Components with those available in the Active Desktop gallery on
MS's site. To do this, we'll need to go to the control center of
the Active Desktop: Control Panel | Display's Web tab. Here
it is ...
To start, be sure that View my Active Desktop
... is checked. Then click New. Then, for now, click Yes
- we'll get to the No stuff in a moment. You'll be
transported to http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ie40/gallery/ . From
here, you can select from already made custom desktop components
designed specifically for your Active Desktop. Choose the ones you
like, and click that orange button to subscribe. You'll get the
normal subscription capabilities that you do with Channels.
For instance, here, I've got the News.com
component. Once you've got a component on the Desktop, you have
full power over its size, location, etc. Just move your mouse over
the component. You can resize it like you would a window, drag it
around with the bar on top of the component, and get to its
properties by clicking the little down arrow ...
Components the way you like 'em!
Now that you've played with some standard
components, you can have even more fun! Not only can you put
specifically designed components on your Desktop, you can make any
web page a Desktop component. Go back to Control Panel |
Display's Web, and click New again. Now, this time,
choose No. From here, you can type in any URL or a location
on your Hard Disk. For instance, I've added ActiveIE's home page
as one of my components:
Conclusion
That's all the time we have today =). Take some
time out and change your desktop, and have fun! If you've got any
questions, feel free to email me Byron
here at ActiveIE! Have fun, and enjoy IE4!
DVD
EXPRESS