WindowShade
Encyclopedia
WindowShade was a control panel
for the Mac OS
that allowed a user to double-click a window
's title bar
to "roll up" the window like a windowshade
. When the window was "rolled up", only the title bar of the window was visible; the part of the window that displayed the contents disappeared, allowing easier manipulation of the windows on the screen.
, but disappeared in Mac OS 8
, when the feature was implemented as a part of the Appearance Manager. A widget
was added to the title bar to reproduce the functionality. The entire feature disappeared with the release of Mac OS X
; since windows could be minimized to the Dock
or moved aside with Exposé
, Apple decided there was no more use for it. However, several third-party utilities, such as WindowShade X for Unsanity
's Application Enhancer
software, have brought the concept of the WindowShade back to the Mac OS. It has since reappeared as a commercial haxie
and offers other features, like translucent windows and minimize-in-place.
The WindowShade control panel itself stems from a third-party utility originally written for System 6.0.7 by Rob Johnston. Apple purchased the rights to this software from the developer for use in System 7.5.
s for Unix-like
operating system
s have a similar feature allowing windows to be set to "roll up" when the user double-click
s the title bar of a window. While Microsoft Windows
does not expose such a feature by default, in some versions if a window is minimized while no taskbar is available, the said window will become a "shade" at the bottom of the screen. A "proper" shading implementation for Windows is provided by some third-party software vendors.
Control panel (Mac OS)
Under Mac OS 9 and earlier, a control panel is a small application which enabled the user to modify software and hardware settings such as the sound volume and desktop pattern. Control panels differ from extensions in that they allow the user to specify options, whereas extensions provide the user...
for the Mac OS
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...
that allowed a user to double-click a window
Window (computing)
In computing, a window is a visual area containing some kind of user interface. It usually has a rectangular shape that can overlap with the area of other windows...
's title bar
Title bar
In computing, the title bar consists of that part of a window where the title of the window appears. Most graphical operating systems and window managers position the title bar at the top of the application window as a horizontal bar....
to "roll up" the window like a windowshade
WindowShade
WindowShade was a control panel for the Mac OS that allowed a user to double-click a window's title bar to "roll up" the window like a windowshade...
. When the window was "rolled up", only the title bar of the window was visible; the part of the window that displayed the contents disappeared, allowing easier manipulation of the windows on the screen.
History
It debuted in System 7.5System 7 (Macintosh)
System 7 is a single-user graphical user interface-based operating system for Macintosh computers. It was introduced on May 13, 1991 by Apple Computer. It succeeded System 6, and was the main Macintosh operating system until it was succeeded by Mac OS 8 in 1997...
, but disappeared in Mac OS 8
Mac OS 8
Mac OS 8 is an operating system that was released by Apple Computer on July 26, 1997. It represented the largest overhaul of the Mac OS since the release of System 7, some six years previously. It puts more emphasis on color than previous operating systems...
, when the feature was implemented as a part of the Appearance Manager. A widget
Widget (computing)
In computer programming, a widget is an element of a graphical user interface that displays an information arrangement changeable by the user, such as a window or a text box. The defining characteristic of a widget is to provide a single interaction point for the direct manipulation of a given...
was added to the title bar to reproduce the functionality. The entire feature disappeared with the release of Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
; since windows could be minimized to the Dock
Dock (computing)
The Dock is a prominent feature of the graphical user interface of the Mac OS X operating system. It is used to launch applications and switch between running applications...
or moved aside with Exposé
Exposé (Mac OS X)
Exposé is a feature of the Mac OS X operating system. First previewed on 23 June 2003 at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference as a feature of the then forthcoming Mac OS X v10.3, Exposé allows a user to quickly locate an open window, or to hide all windows and show the desktop without the need...
, Apple decided there was no more use for it. However, several third-party utilities, such as WindowShade X for Unsanity
Unsanity
Unsanity is a Mac OS X shareware software developer founded in May 2000, notable for coining the term "haxie".Their most popular software includes ShapeShifter and WindowShade, utilising their freeware Application Enhancer module...
's Application Enhancer
Application Enhancer
Application Enhancer is a software program released by Unsanity for Apple's Mac OS X operating system. Application Enhancer provides a framework that allows third-party developers to write "haxies" for OS X. It also provides a daemon to load haxies when certain applications are launched. These...
software, have brought the concept of the WindowShade back to the Mac OS. It has since reappeared as a commercial haxie
Haxie
In computing, a Haxie is a term which was coined by developer Unsanity to describe their products. It is a blend of "hack" and "Mac OS X". Unsanity uses it to refer to "hacks" that are specifically designed for use with its Application Enhancer software...
and offers other features, like translucent windows and minimize-in-place.
The WindowShade control panel itself stems from a third-party utility originally written for System 6.0.7 by Rob Johnston. Apple purchased the rights to this software from the developer for use in System 7.5.
Other operating systems
Most window managerWindow manager
A window manager is system software that controls the placement and appearance of windows within a windowing system in a graphical user interface. Most window managers are designed to help provide a desktop environment...
s for Unix-like
Unix-like
A Unix-like operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, while not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any version of the Single UNIX Specification....
operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
s have a similar feature allowing windows to be set to "roll up" when the user double-click
Double-click
A double-click is the act of pressing a computer mouse button twice quickly without moving the mouse. Double-clicking allows two different actions to be associated with the same mouse button...
s the title bar of a window. While Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
does not expose such a feature by default, in some versions if a window is minimized while no taskbar is available, the said window will become a "shade" at the bottom of the screen. A "proper" shading implementation for Windows is provided by some third-party software vendors.