Windows 7 - Jump Lists

**Brink**

How to Open and Use Windows 7 Start Menu and Taskbar Jump Lists

Information

Jump Lists help you easily find and open the files and programs you use often. This will show you how to open and use the Start menu and taskbar Jump Lists in Windows 7.

For more information about Jump Lists, see: Developing for the Windows 7 Taskbar - Jump into Jump Lists - Part 1 - Windows 7 for Developers - The Windows Blog

Note

Jump lists provide quick access to application features. Think of Jump Lists as a mini Start menu for the application. You can use Jump Lists on the taskbar and the Start menu to open your most frequently visited websites, recently opened files, and favorite programs with just one click. This helps eliminate the need to open the program and then load the relevant file, or by performing common tasks without opening the program first. Programs that use the system API for their Most Recently Used list (the list of recently used filenames that many apps have in their File menus) will automatically acquire a Jump List containing their most recently used files. You can Pin the programs and files you use the most on the taskbar and Start menu so you can open them from the same spot every time for quicker access.

On a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2, the Jump List of an application may disappear permanently when you use the application to open or save a new item. This issue occurs when there are 999 items in the Jump List already.

Installing the update at the link below resolves the issue and enables the displaying of the Jump Lists.

A Jump List is not displayed in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2 if the list contains more than 999 items

Warning

Jump Lists will require that you have Recent Programs and Recent Items turned on for it to work.

A Tasks jump list for program (ex: Windows Live Messenger) options does not require to have Recent Programs or Recent Items turned on to work though.

OPTION ONE

Jump Lists in the Start Menu

NOTE: Jump Lists don't appear in the All Programs area in the Start menu.

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. Hover over a program in the Start Menu "pin to area" that has a arrow to the right of it indicating it has a jump list. (see screenshots below step 3)

3. The jump list for the selected program will now automatically expand open. Select a jump list item. (see screenshots below)
NOTE: You can also select the program in the Start menu pin area, then use the Shift+Tab keys to move over to the jump list. Next, use the arrow keys to select a jump list item and press Enter to open it.

OPTION TWO

Jump Lists on the Taskbar

1. Right click on a pinned icon on the taskbar (ex: Windows Explorer icon).

A) Go to step 3.

OR

2. Left click and hold on a pinned icon on the taskbar, then drag up and release the left click.

3. From here you can select what item you want to open with the selected program. (See screeshots below)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**ustahl** · 02-13-2009

I have following problem trying to use taskbar jump lists:

When I right click a pinned taskbar icon the the jump list shows up like it should for as long as the mouse cursor stays on top of the taskbar icon. When I try to move the cursor onto the jump list, the jump list disappears before I reach it.

I only rarely manage to catch the jump list by really focussing on hitting it with explosive lightning speed. That can't be right, the jump list should be easily accessable. It seems like I am fighting with some too short delay setting.

It's driving me nuts.

Could it be some menu delay or mouse speed setting?
I'd be grateful for suggestions on how to fix this.

Cheers Uffe

**Brink** · 02-13-2009

Hello Uffe,

Yeah, this seems to be a bug with the jump lists. Be sure to send feedback to Microsoft about it to help make them aware of this issue.

I have found that once you have it highlighted in the Start menu, using the arrow keys seem to help make selecting a item in the jump list easier to do.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**ustahl** · 02-13-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Hello Uffe,

Yeah, this seems to be a bug with the jump lists. Be sure to send feedback to Microsoft about it to help make them aware of this issue.

I have found that once you have it highlighted in the Start menu, using the arrow keys seem to help make selecting a item in the jump list easier to do.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hi Shawn,
Thanks for swift response.
1. Feedback sent to MS.
2. Tried yr help by Start menu suggestion, but that only made a hassle of it all. I mean, if y're highlighting items in the Start menu, you might as well use that for yr selections and forget the elusive jump lists.
3. I also tried the following: right click taskbar icon, press shift or ctrl or alt or a combination of these, before trying to catch the jump list. Sometimes, it seemed, I got an extra fraction of a second for catching the jump list. Or maybe my hand is just getting faster through all this (silly) practice. It's like training for a shootdown at High Noon.

I guess we have to wait for MS to fix it, maybe in an iterim Hotfix?

Cheers Uffe

**Barman58** · 02-13-2009

Hi Uffe,

One method that works for me with the jump lists is to left click on the icon then drag upward - this will open the jump list for me - I think it's included for multi-touch.

If your having right click problems however, it may not work, but worth a try

**ustahl** · 02-14-2009

Barman, thanks a lot!
You solved it. Left click & hold down & drag upward works like a charm.

Seems like that's the way it's supposed to work.
I feel stupid for not trying that myself. Obviously the solution was too easy.

No need to try right click any longer.

I hope Brink can also confirm this easy method for accessing jump lists, and, if deemed necessary, adjust the tutorial accordingly.

Cheers Uffe

**Brink** · 02-14-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Barman58

Hi Uffe,

One method that works for me with the jump lists is to left click on the icon then drag upward - this will open the jump list for me - I think it's included for multi-touch.

If your having right click problems however, it may not work, but worth a try

Nice trick Nigel. The tutorial has been updated to include it.

Shawn

**burtie** · 05-30-2009

Just out of curiosity is there a way to edit jump lists on items pined to the taskbar?

**Brink** · 05-30-2009

Hello Burtie,

I have not found a way to yet.

**burtie** · 05-30-2009

Hello

Hmm such a shame, maybe there will be a way soon, it would be a really handy feature

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