The Small-Window Problem

Sometimes, after starting A&D in Windows 3.1, 95, 98, NT, or XP, A&D will appear within a small window at the center of the screen. When this happens, the text displayed in the window may be very small and almost unreadable on small monitors.

Simply use Windows' standard Alt+Enter command to correct this problem. That is, hold down the Alt key and then press Enter. The small window will instantly change to its normal full size. Enter Alt+Enter again to shrink it back to the small window. Alt+Enter is a toggle command that is documented in all full-sized Microsoft Windows manuals, but, unfortunately, sometimes is left out of abbreviated or condensed Windows manuals.

The Alt+Enter command and the small-window situation is described in our A&D manuals, but is easily missed by the casual reader. The small-window mode is needed and useful when you are transferring text between A&D and another application — such as Microsoft Word.

In addition to using the Alt+Enter command to correct it, you can also use standard Windows 95 options to make the small window have fonts that are larger and much more readable. Windows 95/98 versions vary, but most have a small pull-down box under the top-left corner of the small window. (If A&D was installed normally, this box will be directly under the A&D crest icon.) By clicking on the down arrow, Windows will give you a choice of 10 to 14 different fonts. By selecting each of these in turn, you can change the pixel density, the size of the font, and the overall size of the window.

Most users of A&D do not run into the tiny-window problem because most Windows installations cause A&D to always appear in full-screen mode — rather than in the small-window mode.

You can also correct the small-window problem by changing the small window's "properties". Every Windows 95/98 window has "properties". For example, when A&D is in small-window mode, right-click on the A&D crest icon at the top-left corner of the window. Then click on Properties, click on the Screen tab, and then click on Full-Screen radio button in the "Usage" box. Uncheck the box labelled "Restore settings on startup". Finally, click on the Apply button. This causes A&D to always be full sized when it is launched. (Older versions of Windows also have properties, but the method of accessing them and their arrangement of boxes and options varies.)

In addition, when A&D is in small-window mode, Windows 95 provides an icon with four arrow heads in the middle of the tool bar at the top of the small window. Clicking on this icon produces the same results as entering Alt+Enter. The arrow heads are red and in a small box. However, the tool bar may or may not be present — depending upon how the tool bar option is set within the window's properties.

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