[Solved] Title Bar minimize button closes application

[Lucky Blue]

Question    Something peculiar is happening-
normally, when an application is running,
the title bar has 3 buttons on the right hand side-
  to  minimize, maximize/restore, and close.   (minus sign, open square, x)
Now, when the   minimize button  is clicked, the application disappears,
the icon that normally would go onto the bar along the bottom of the screen,
the task bar (?), is not visible.  
How can that icon be found/restored?  

Background
New install of 2012-12 KDE 4.9.2  which shows as 2013-1 after fully updating.  
(after using the 2009 version with KDE3 un-updated for ~ 2 years!)  
The new installation is behaving well with internet, monitor, etc detected correctly.  
I have been doing much customizing (ok, not very systematically)

[Old-Polack]

Question    Something peculiar is happening-
normally, when an application is running,
the title bar has 3 buttons on the right hand side-
  to  minimize, maximize/restore, and close.   (minus sign, open square, x)
Now, when the   minimize button  is clicked, the application disappears,
the icon that normally would go onto the bar along the bottom of the screen,
the task bar (?), is not visible.   
How can that icon be found/restored? 

Background
New install of 2012-12 KDE 4.9.2  which shows as 2013-1 after fully updating. 
(after using the 2009 version with KDE3 un-updated for ~ 2 years!) 
The new installation is behaving well with internet, monitor, etc detected correctly. 
I have been doing much customizing (ok, not very systematically)

In your customizing, did you perchance remove the smooth tasks widget?

[Lucky Blue]

You question - I do not recall, but perchance it happened .

My    Configure Your Desktop    has
Application Appearance:  Style. Colors. Icons. Fonts. Emoticons
Desktop Effects:  General. All Effects. Advanced 
Workspace Appearance:  Window Decorations. Cursor Theme. Desktop Theme. Splash Screen

I cannot see anything like  smooth tasks widget.  I assume that Configure Your Desktop is where it would be. 
If it should be there, how can I restore it? 
Thanks

[Bald Brick]

You question - I do not recall, but perchance it happened .

My    Configure Your Desktop    has
Application Appearance:  Style. Colors. Icons. Fonts. Emoticons
Desktop Effects:  General. All Effects. Advanced  
Workspace Appearance:  Window Decorations. Cursor Theme. Desktop Theme. Splash Screen

I cannot see anything like  smooth tasks widget.  I assume that Configure Your Desktop is where it would be.  
If it should be there, how can I restore it?  
Thanks

To see icons of minimized windows you must have a task manager widget on the panel. Smooth Tasks is the most versatile one.

So, with widgets unlocked, click the panel cashew, click "Add Widgets...", navigate to Smooth Tasks and double-click it. Then drag it to wherever you want it on the panel.

[Lucky Blue]

That works  - thanks.
Now I know what a 'Widget' is!
--------------------------------

To see icons of minimized windows you must have a task manager widget on the panel. Smooth Tasks is the most versatile one.

So, with widgets unlocked, click the panel cashew, click "Add Widgets...", navigate to Smooth Tasks and double-click it. Then drag it to wherever you want it on the panel.

[Bald Brick]

Now I know what a 'Widget' is!