How do I create shortcuts?

The programs that we use are not stored on the desktop or in the Start menu. Some of these programs are stored in a special folder on your local drive and more will be located through the use of a web browser. For convience, links are made to the program either in the Start Menu or on the desktop. Programs that are actually on your computer have a shortcut in the Start menu. This article will explian how to make shortcuts on your desktop for both Internet and local programs.

Shortcuts in the Start menu and those on your desktop are not the actual programs, if they are deleted the program is not deleted. You can distinguish between shortcuts and the actual file (program) by looking for the arrow at the lower left side of the icon. In the picture below, the icon on the left shows the actual program while the one on the right is a shortcut.

Shortcuts can be You can make shortcuts to programs, websites, folders or specific files.

Some words of warning
Storing actual files, folders or programs on the desktop is not a good practice. This area is not backed up and has been known to be removed in the process of repairing computer errors.
Too many shortcuts on the desktop is hard to manage and can be more of a hinderence than an assistance.
For these resons, the Technology Department has purposely removed shortcuts from your desktop. You are free to add as many as you want; however, the Technology Department does not support shortcuts.

    Choose a method of making a schotcut:
  1. Create a desktop shortcut from a Start menu shortcut.
  2. Create a shortcut to a website.
  3. Create a shortcut from a file.
  4. Create a shortcut using the Shortcut Wizard
Technology Page

Creating a shortcut from a shortcut.

This is just a matter of copying and pasting. For our demostration, I will be placing a shortcut to Notepad on the desktop.

  1. Click Start.
  2. Navigate to Programs.
  3. Navigate to the Start menu shortcut in the appropriate folder.
  4. Right Click the Start menu shortcut.
  5. Select Copy from the drop down menu.
  6. Move your mouse cursor to the empty space on the desktop.
  7. Right Click on the desktop.
  8. Select Paste from the drop down menu.
  9. The shortcut will be placed on your desktop.

If you attempt to place a shortcut from the Start meneu by dragging it to your desktop, you will actually be moving the original shortcut. While this does not affect the program, when you get a clean desktop the shortcut will not be available. Peolpe without Power User right will most likely receive an error when they attempt to drag a protected shortcut to the desktop.

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Creating a shortcut to a website.

This is similar to creating a shortcut from a shortcut. There are some additional steps and a difference in the original location. This example I will be building Shortcut to the Lynx Gradebook and Attendance Program.

  1. Open your browser (Internet Explorer) and navigte to the site (http://lynx)
  2. Right click on the opened page.
  3. Select Add to Favorites.
  4. Click OK.
  5. On the Internet Explorer Menu bar, click Favorites.
  6. Navigate to the new Lynx.Net item.
  7. Right Click on the item.
  8. Select Send To.
  9. Select Desktop(create shortcut).
  10. The shortcut will be placed on your desktop.
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Creating a shortcut from a file.

Programs, folders, pictures and documents are actually files. For all intent and purposes, a shortcut is another type of file. As with the othe methods you can use this method to produce any type of shortcut.

For this example, I will be making a shortcut to the teacher training file for Lynx. The actual location of the file is \\otus\web\technology\lynxteacher and the name of the file is "LYNX Net 2005 for Teachers with narration."

  1. Navigate to the file. As I know the exact path, I will click on run and type in the path (\\otus\web\techonology\lynxteacher), Click OK and then scroll to the file.
  2. Right Click on the file.
  3. Select Copy from the drop down menu.
  4. Move your mouse cursor to the empty space on the desktop.
  5. Right Click on the desktop.
  6. Select Paste Shortcut from the drop down menu.
  7. The shortcut will be placed on your desktop.

If you attempt to place a shortcut from the Start meneu by dragging it to your desktop, you will actually be moving the original shortcut. While this does not affect the program, when you get a clean desktop the shortcut will not be available. Peolpe without Power User right will most likely receive an error when they attempt to drag a protected shortcut to the desktop.

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Creating a shortcut using the wizard.

When asked how to create a shortcut, this is the method that the Technology Department will define. It is useful to know the actual location of the file, folder, program or website that you want to build a shortcut for.

In this example we will make a shortcut to the e-Mail. The location is http://otus/exchange and I am going to Name it Outlook.

  1. Right Click on the desktop.
  2. Select New
  3. Select Shortcut
  4. At the prompt, type or copy the path to the object you are building a shortcut (http://otus/exchange). Alternatively, you can browse if the file is stored locally. When you have finished, click the next button.
  5. The next screen is asking for the name of the shortcut. This is what will appear under the icon. As this is a shortcut and not the actual object you can name it whatever you wish. I recommend that you name it something that makes sense. This example we are using Outlook. After you have entered a name click Finish.
  6. The shortcut will be placed on your desktop.
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