Microsoft

Install the Aero Snap feature in almost any version of Windows

By // August 12, 2010, 3:45 AM PST

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  • Install AquaSnap

    In this edition of the Windows Desktop Report, Greg Shultz introduces you to AquaSnap and shows you how you can use it to bring the new Aero features to Windows XP and Vista. He also explains how you can use the controls in AquaSnap to fine tune Snap in Windows 7.

    You can download AquaSnap from the Nurgo Software site or directly from the TechRepublic Software Library. Once you download AquaSnap, which comes as a MSI (Windows Installer Package) file, installation is a snap using the Setup Wizard.

    This gallery is also available as a TechRepublic blog post and download. Image created by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

  • Click the Settings command to get started

    After the installation is complete, you'll find the AquaSnap icon in the Notification Area. To get started, just right click on that icon and select the Settings command.

    This gallery is also available as a TechRepublic blog post and download. Image created by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

  • Default settings

    When you first launch AquaSnap, you'll see the General tab, which allows you to choose how you want to access the tool. By default, AquaSnap configured to start with Windows and display an icon in the Notification area. I found these settings make it easy to work with AquaSnap.

    This gallery is also available as a TechRepublic blog post and download. Image created by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

  • Advanced

    When you access the AquaSnap tab, you'll see that the default Snapping Mode setting is at the AquaSnap (advanced) level, which is a step above and beyond Windows 7's default of a 3-position Snap. As you may know, in Windows 7, you can maximize a window by clicking and dragging its title bar to the top of the screen. To position a window on half of the screen, just click and drag the title bar toward the left or right side of the screen.

    This gallery is also available as a TechRepublic blog post and download. Image created by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

  • AquaStretch settings

    As you can see in the preview monitor, the AquaSnap (advanced) level provides you an 8-position Snap. You can drag a window's title bar to any of the four corners to resize the window to a quarter of the screen and in addition to positioning a window on either the left or right half of the screen, you can also drag a window to the top or bottom and get a horizontal sized window.

    If you drop down to the AquaSnap (simple) level you get 4-position Snap (top, bottom, left and right). You can also choose AeroSnap to get Windows 7's default of a 3–position Snap or you can select the Disabled option to completely eliminate Snap altogether. Of course, with the Custom option, you get to choose how you want AquaSnap to work.

    On the AquaStretch tab, you can configure how you want to be able to stretch a window. The default AquaStretch allows you to stretch a window simply by double-clicking the edge of a window.

    This gallery is also available as a TechRepublic blog post and download. Image created by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

  • AquaShake settings

    On the AquaShake tab, you can configure how Shake feature works. The AquaShake setting makes the window you shake always stay on top, like Windows Task Manager, which some may like, but I prefer the standard AeroShake setting. Just click the title bar of the window you want to work with and while holding the mouse button down, shake the window back and forth quickly minimize all the open windows except the one that you are shaking.

    This gallery is also available as a TechRepublic blog post and download. Image created by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

  • AquaGlass settings

    The AquaGlass setting allows you to make any window that you are dragging become transparent so that you can easily see any windows underneath. As you can see, you can set to opacity using a slider bar.

    This gallery is also available as a TechRepublic blog post and download. Image created by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

  • Appearance tab

    On the Appearance tab you can configure how you want AquaSnap's visual cues to work.

    This gallery is also available as a TechRepublic blog post and download. Image created by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

  • Visual cues

    When you drag a window to a Snap point, a snap indicator will appear and let you know the location in which the window will snap. By enabling and configuring the preview rectangle, you can further determine the location in which the window will snap by configuring what is essentially a shadow. You can see AquaSnap's visual cues on a Windows 7 system.

    This gallery is also available as a TechRepublic blog post and download. Image created by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

Install AquaSnap

In this edition of the Windows Desktop Report, Greg Shultz introduces you to AquaSnap and shows you how you can use it to bring the new Aero features to Windows XP and Vista. He also explains how you can use the controls in AquaSnap to fine tune Snap in Windows 7.

You can download AquaSnap from the Nurgo Software site or directly from the TechRepublic Software Library. Once you download AquaSnap, which comes as a MSI (Windows Installer Package) file, installation is a snap using the Setup Wizard.

This gallery is also available as a TechRepublic blog post and download. Image created by Mark Kaelin for TechRepublic.

Related Topics:

Microsoft Enterprise Software Software Collaboration Mobility Cloud Hardware

About Greg Shultz

Greg Shultz is a freelance Technical Writer. Previously, he has worked as Documentation Specialist in the software industry, a Technical Support Specialist in educational industry, and a Technical Journalist in the computer publishing industry.