[DustyPorViva]

First off... alt+mouse click=eye dropper(only when you're using a painting tool, like the brush or bucket). It will automatically select the color you click on the picture without having to move to the tools window. Gotta love shortcuts.

Second, as for the swatch window, it should already be open, if not:
Windows > swatchs
Oh, and before you ask... to add your current foreground color, click the little piece of paper in the swatch window, it'll add your color to the pallete.