桌面小工具对(Desktop)Windows 世界(Windows world)来说并不是什么新鲜事物。它们最初是在Windows Vista中引入的，当时它们安装在Windows 边栏(Windows Sidebar)上。即使这个想法本身很好，它也没有取得应有的成功。在Windows 7中，微软(Microsoft)稍微重新设计了这个功能，现在它比以前更可定制了。在本文中，我将解释什么是桌面小工具，在哪里可以找到它们以及如何使用它们。
如何启动桌面小工具库(Desktop Gadget Gallery)
在 Windows 7 中使用桌面小工具(Desktop Gadgets)的第一步是启动桌面小工具库(Desktop Gadgets Gallery)。这是您的桌面小工具控制面板(gadget control panel)，您将在其中进行大部分配置工作(configuration work)。有两种启动方式：第一种是进入Start -> All programs -> Desktop Gadgets Gallery。
第二种方法是简单地右键单击桌面并(desktop and select) 从右键菜单中选择小工具。(Gadgets)
小工具库(Gadget Gallery)将向您显示当前安装的小工具列表。默认情况下，Windows 7 附带以下小工具列表：日历(Calendar)、时钟(Clock)、CPU Meter、货币(Currency)、Feed Headlines、图片拼图(Picture Puzzle)、幻灯片放映(Slide Show)、天气和 Windows 媒体(Weather and Windows Media)。
如何启动或关闭桌面小工具(Desktop Gadget)
要从小工具库(Gadget Gallery)中启动某个小工具，请双击它，它会在几分之一秒内出现在您的桌面上。您也可以选择并将其拖到桌面上所需的位置。
关闭小工具可能是最简单的事情。您所要做的就是单击小工具右上角的(right corner)关闭 (x)(Close (x))按钮。当您将鼠标放在小工具上时，此按钮会出现。否则它是隐藏的。
如何自定义和浏览(Navigate)桌面小工具(Desktop Gadgets)
桌面(Desktop)小工具可以通过多种方式进行个性化和定制。在本章中，我将尝试总结您可以配置的所有元素：
放大桌面小工具(Enlarge desktop gadgets)- 一些小工具允许您放大它们，以便您更好地查看显示的信息。如果可能，他们将在其右侧有一个向上箭头形状的按钮，如下所示。(pointing arrow)如果您单击它，该小工具将被放大。如果您想再次使小工具变小，则必须单击相同的按钮（箭头现在将指向下方）。
隐藏或显示所有桌面小工具(Hide or show all of the desktop gadgets)- 有一种方法可以一次摆脱桌面上的所有小工具。您所要做的就是右键单击您的桌面，单击查看(View)，然后单击“显示桌面小工具”('Show desktop gadgets')以删除复选标记(check mark)。您在桌面上的所有桌面小工具都将消失。要再次显示它们，您只需反转该过程，您的所有小工具都将再次显示。
如果您担心您的小工具在未显示时可能仍在后台运行，请不要这样做。当您取消选中“显示桌面小工具”('Show desktop gadgets')时，Windows 7 用来显示它们的名为“sidebar.exe”的进程将关闭。
将小工具置于其他窗口之上(Keeping a gadget on top of other windows)- 某些小工具可能会显示非常有用的信息，您可能希望将它们置于所有其他窗口之上。为此，您只需选择要保留在顶部的桌面小工具(desktop gadget)并右键单击它。在出现的菜单中，单击“始终位于顶部”('Always on top')。
小工具不透明度(Gadget opacity)-通过右键单击相应的小工具，选择不透明度(Opacity)，然后选择您想要的级别来设置不透明度（换句话说，当您的鼠标光标不在小工具上时小工具的可见度）。(mouse cursor)百分比越小，小工具就越透明。
在活动小工具之间(Switch between active gadgets)切换 - 您可以通过单击要查看的小工具在它们之间切换。您也可以使用键盘。按住Windows 徽标键(Windows Logo key)，然后按住G 键(G key)。通过这样做，您将逐一浏览您的活动小工具。
此外，如果您将鼠标光标(mouse cursor)保持在任务栏右侧的“显示桌面”(Show desktop)按钮的顶部，则将显示所有活动的小工具。
如何卸载小工具
如果您想卸载桌面小工具(desktop gadget)，您必须遵循几个非常简单的步骤：打开桌面小工具库(Desktop Gadgets Gallery)，右键单击要卸载的小工具，然后选择卸载(Uninstall)。
系统将要求您确认卸载。之后，该小工具将从您的系统中完全删除。
结论
(Desktop Gadgets)Windows 7中的桌面小工具是一种将您感兴趣的东西带到桌面的有趣且简单的方法。微软(Microsoft)做出了一个很好的决定来改变小工具的显示方式。与Windows Vista不同，您不再依赖必须放置在屏幕左侧或右侧的侧边栏。您可以随心所欲地移动小工具并将它们发布在桌面上，以便它们更适合您在计算机上的工作方式。
如果您知道一些很酷的小工具，请随时在评论中留下链接。我们将开始测试适用于Windows 7(Windows 7)的最佳小工具，我们一定会欢迎您的建议。
How to Work with Desktop Gadgets in Windows 7
Desktop Gadgets are not something new to the Wіndows world. They were first introduced in Windows Vista, wherе they werе fitted on the Windows Sidebar. Even if the idea itself was good, it didn't have the sυccess it might have deserved. With Windows 7, Microsоft slightly redesigned this feature and now it is a bit more customizable than before. In this article I will explain what desktop gadgets arе, where to find them and how to work with them.
How to Start the Desktop Gadget Gallery
The first step in using Desktop Gadgets in Windows 7 is starting the Desktop Gadgets Gallery. This is your desktop gadget control panel, the place where you will do most of the configuration work. There are two ways to start it: the first is to go to Start -> All programs -> Desktop Gadgets Gallery.
The second way is to simply right-click on your desktop and select Gadgets from the right-click menu.
The Gadget Gallery will show you the list of currently installed gadgets. By default, Windows 7 comes with the following list of gadgets: Calendar, Clock, CPU Meter, Currency, Feed Headlines, Picture Puzzle, Slide Show, Weather and Windows Media.
How to Start or Close a Desktop Gadget
To start a certain gadget from the Gadget Gallery, double-click it and it will be on your desktop in a fraction of a second. You can also select and drag it onto your desktop in the desired location.
Closing a gadget is probably the easiest thing. All you have to do is click the Close (x) button in the top right corner of the gadget. This button appears when you place your mouse over the gadget. Otherwise it is hidden.
How to Customize & Navigate Through Desktop Gadgets
Desktop gadgets can be personalized and customized in many ways. In this chapter I will try to summarize all the elements which you can configure:
Enlarge desktop gadgets - some gadgets allow you to enlarge them, so you can have a better look at the information shown. If this is possible, they will have a button in the shape of an upwards pointing arrow on their right side, as shown below. The gadget will be enlarged if you just click on it. If you want to make the gadget small again, you will have to click that same button (the arrow will now be pointing downwards).
Hide or show all of the desktop gadgets - there is a way to get rid of all the gadgets on your desktop at once. All you have to do is right-click your desktop, click View and then 'Show desktop gadgets' to remove the check mark. All of the desktop gadgets you had on your desktop will disappear. To show them again you just reverse the process and all of your gadgets will be displayed again.
If you are worried that your gadgets might still be running in the background when they're not shown, don't be. The process called "sidebar.exe", that Windows 7 uses to display them, closes when you uncheck 'Show desktop gadgets'.
Keeping a gadget on top of other windows - some gadgets may show very useful information and you may want to keep them on top of all the other windows. For this, you just have to select the desktop gadget you want to keep on top and right-click on it. In the menu that appears, click 'Always on top'.
Gadget opacity - setting the opacity (in other words, how visible a gadget is when your mouse cursor isn't over it) is done by right-clicking the respective gadget, selecting Opacity and then the level you desire. The smaller the percentage, the more transparent the gadget will be.
Switch between active gadgets - you can switch between them by clicking on the gadgets you want to see. You can also use your keyboard. Keep the Windows Logo key pressed, and then the G key. By doing this you will navigate through your active gadgets, one by one.
Also, if you keep the mouse cursor on top of the Show desktop button from the right side of the taskbar, all of the active gadgets will be shown.
How to Uninstall a Gadget
In case you want to uninstall a desktop gadget, there are a couple of very simple steps you have to follow are: open the Desktop Gadgets Gallery, right-click the gadget you want to uninstall, and select Uninstall.
You will be asked to confirm the uninstall. After that, the gadget is completely removed from your system.
Conclusion
Desktop Gadgets in Windows 7 are a fun and easy way to bring the things you're interested to your desktop. Microsoft made a good decision to change the way gadgets are shown. Unlike Windows Vista, you are no longer dependent on the sidebar which had to be placed on the left or right side of your screen. You can move the gadgets around any way you desire and post them on your desktop so that they fit better to the way you work on your computer.
If you know some cool gadgets, feel free to leave the link in a comment. We will start testing the best gadgets for Windows 7 and we will definitely welcome your suggestions.
