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Using Sticky Notes in Windows Vista or XP

One of the staples of any office job is the traditional yellow sticky note, too often used to stick passwords next to the monitor. Being a geek, I figured I would use a digital solution instead… there are a lot of alternatives, but Windows Vista has one built right in.

If you want a more feature rich application, you should check out previously mentioned Evernote, a complete note-taking solution. For today, we just want something simple and easy to use, so we'll take a look at two solutions for sticky notes.

Using Vista Sticky Notes

The sticky notes application in Windows Vista is actually implemented as a gadget for the Windows Sidebar, so to add it you'll want to right-click anywhere on the sidebar or on the tray icon and choose "Add Gadgets", then select the Notes icon on the menu, and drag it over to the sidebar.

sidebar

Notes will sit in the Sidebar or you can drag them to the desktop where they will be larger and easier to read and edit if needed.

vista notes on desktop 

By going into Settings you can make a couple of changes which include the note color and type of font.

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If you right-click on the title area of the note, you can also access the Opacity menu, where you can make the sticky notes transparent until you move your mouse over them.

image

Notice how this note is partially transparent…

image

Until you move your mouse over it:

image

This can be very useful for keeping a sticky note on your desktop without being too noticeable until you mouse over it, or if you use the Always on Top option you can keep it in front of all the applications but still be able to see through to whatever is behind it.

Using Stickies for Windows XP

If the built-in Vista sticky notes don't float your boat or you are still using XP, there's an easy to use open-source application called Stickies for Windows which works in both Vista as well as XP, and unlike the Vista version has a tray icon that you can use.

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To change the color or transparency for a note, you can right-click and choose Note Settings or use the Ctrl+P shortcut (for keyboard ninjas)

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You can also change Preferences for all notes in the main application settings.

Preferences

Download Stickie Notes For Windows XP (Windows Vista users can just use the built-in one)

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This article was originally written on 09/29/08 Tagged with: Free Software Utilities, Windows

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Comments (12)

  1. nerdnan

    fantastic article,i think it will come in handy instead of notes all over my desk,thanks heaps

  2. JonB

    www.stickiesforwindows.com seems to be dead-o

    their registration is current though, and DNS seems OK

    :-)

  3. jaka.setiono

    Nice info, i have tried the second, and it works as what you have explained. Thanx dude.

  4. jaka.setiono

    oh ya, the website of www.stickiesforwindows.com is dead, but the file is available on googlecodes, This is one of the mirror http://code.google.com/p/stickies-windows/

  5. igy

    thanks, very usefull

  6. Okeane

    this download link is no longer existing. Do you know where they moved? :) Thanks!

  7. Ed

    I understand that you can schedule a stickie note to appear at a date determined by you. How do I do this. Thanks

    Ed Wakefield

  8. Frankie L

    You can also use Google Sidebar on Windows XP which has its own sticky note, I personally like Sticky Notes Online which syncs up my notes in IGoogle with the gadget on my desktop

  9. Gautam Jain

    Mmm. . . There is yet another nice sticky notes program called NoteZilla (http://www.conceptworld.com/NoteZilla/). However, it is not free.

  10. Charles R. Becker, DVM

    Can you try this program before purchasing?? I looks cool but I would like for the notes to stay in the portion of the manuscript that I placed it and what happens to the "notes" if I print the manuscript??
    I look forward to hearing from you.

  11. Tommie Ruth

    Website is being upgraded at this time so not available for public view.
    Can I add your sticky notes to my google sidebar?
    Thanks
    Tommie Ruth

  12. Kalle

    Hello!
    I can't move the stickies to the desktop…
    Is it just drag and drop?


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