The present invention comprises a method and computer implemented
system for presenting multiple virtual desktops on a display of a computer
system. A “
pager” window is displayed on a desktop (either real or virtual) which comprises multiple subpanes, each of which contains a scaled
virtual desktop having dimensions that are proportional to, but less than the dimensions of a corresponding
virtual desktop. Each scaled
virtual desktop provides a representation of the corresponding full-size virtual desktop that would display one or more application windows whose content may optionally be replaced by the icon designating the application program or
data file displayed therein, for sake of visual
clarity. The present invention also provides a mechanism for varying the
background image of virtual desktop, and thus, of each scaled virtual desktop pane, in addition to a number of enhancements to the
user interface for controlling the virtual desktop environment including transparency hiding of the
pager window, constant
aspect ratio scaling of the
pager window, mouse desktop changing with corner exclusion, display and interaction with window lists, individual pop up menus for windows, starting desktop selection, a method for moving windows between virtual desktops, a method to override virtual desktop behaviors, a method for placing child windows on the same desktop as the parent window, notification of desktop changes, tracking topmost application on other desktops, sticky monitors, and API
remote control.