This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Personalizing Tile Groups
Your collection of tiles is bound to grow as you install new programs and apps. You can also pin documents and web pages to the Start screen, so it’s likely you will add many, many tiles to the Start screen in a short period of time. To help keep track of tiles and to easily locate them, you can organize tiles into groups of your own design. For example, you might create a group of tiles of all your photo-related applications. The groups are organized into columns on the Start screen. A wider margin separates one group from another. You can move your tile groups when you like, and you also can place a name above each group. An example of a number of tile groups appears in Figure 3.6.
)
FIGURE 3.6 You can organize the tiles on the Start screen into groups.
Creating a Tile Group
Tile groups, as the name would imply, are groupings of tiles into a collection where there isn’t any separation by margins or blank space. Within these groups you may adjust tile size and where they appear within the group. Sometimes it is easier to break out particular tiles into a separate group so they are easier to find or to where they make more sense from an organizational standpoint. Windows puts its default tiles into somewhat logical groups, but they may not appeal to you.
To create a tile group, do one of the following based on the device you use:
Touch and then drag the first tile in the group to the right beyond the last tile of a group until a vertical bar appears on the screen. Be sure the first tile is to the right of the bar. Release your finger or the stylus from the tile. Drag other tiles in the group the same way, either to the right or below any other tile in the group.
Click and drag the first tile in the group to the right beyond the last tile until a vertical bar appears on the screen. Be sure the first tile is to the right of the bar. Release the mouse. Drag other tiles in the group either to the right or below any other tile in the group (see Figure 3.7)
FIGURE 3.7 Dragging a tile to create a new group.
)
Figure 3.8 shows that you have created a new group illustrated by the fact that the Adera game tile is separated by margins on either side.
)
FIGURE 3.8 A newly created group.
Moving Tile Groups
You may want to change the order of your groups so that frequently accessed tiles require less scrolling or if you have changed your organizational structure.
To move a tile group, follow these directions based on the device you use:
- From the Start screen, press Ctrl+Mouse-Wheel-Scroll-Forward. This creates an effect of zooming out from the Start screen, as shown in Figure 3.9. With your mouse, click the group to move, and then drag the group to the new location.
FIGURE 3.9 By zooming out from the Start screen, you can easily rearrange tile groups.
- Use a pinching motion on the Start Screen. This creates an effect of zooming out from the Start screen (see Figure 3.9). Touch the group you want to move, and then drag it to a new location.
)
Naming a Tile Group
It may make sense for you to name your groups so you can more easily locate your tiles, rather than trying to remember into which group you put a tile.
To label a tile group, follow these directions based on the device you use:
- Right-click a tile in the group that you want to name. You’ll then notice a shaded area at the top of the group that reads Name Group.
- Tap-and-hold on a tile in the group you want to name. You’ll then notice a shaded area at the top of the group that reads Name Group.
Now whether you use touch or a mouse, select or click the Name Group box, and then enter the name of the group in the box that appears as shown in Figure 3.10. You can repeat these steps for another group, or click or tap anywhere on the screen to return to the normal Start screen.
)
FIGURE 3.10 You enter the name of the tile group in the small box that appears when you select the Name Group button.