Windows 7: How can I make shortcuts work as folders in explorer

In Windows explorer my desktop folders only list the folders that are actually on the desktop.

It doesn't list the folders that are shortcuts/
How can I get around this?

Go to Documents>Left click on the desktop (top left) >Right click on the desktop>New>Shortcut>type file path or browse>done

It doesn't appear as a folder though and thus it's type isn't a folder. So when I organize by type it isn't grouped with the "real folders"

i'm not quite sure what you mean Duckling,

a folder and a shortcut are two very different things.

shortcuts to folders aren't themselves folders, they are still shortcuts - just as a folder full of shortcuts is still a folder.

what exactly do you want to do?

well in windows explorer I want the shortcuts to be grouped with folders. Otherwise the shortcuts aren't there.

i'm sorry i still don't understand what you mean by grouping shortcuts and folders.

Well I want the shortcuts to appear in my left hand of my windows explorer

E.g.

Use symbolic links (or even junctions), can be created with an administrative command prompt and mlink. Or Link shell extension: Link Shell Extension

I think your really over complicating this, your saying you "dont want shortcuts to appear in left hand of explorer" and "i want shortcuts in left hand side of explorer"


So lets start over,where do you want said short cut or shotcuts (you'll have to group these manually i think) to appear