Shortcut - Create for a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Windows

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    Shortcut - Create for a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Windows

    Shortcut - Create for a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Windows

    How to Create a Shortcut of a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
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    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Create a Shortcut of a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8

       Information
    A shortcut is a link to an item (such as a file, folder, drive, or program) on your computer. You can create shortcuts and then place them in a convenient location so that you can easily access the item that the shortcut links to. Shortcuts can be distinguished from the original file by the arrow that appears on the icon.

    This tutorial will show you different ways on how to create a shortcut of a file, folder, drive, or program in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

       Tip
    After you create the shortcut:

    In Vista or Windows 7, you could Pin to Taskbar or Pin to Start Menu, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move the shortcut to where you like for easy use.

    In Windows 8 and 8.1, you could Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move the shortcut to where you like for easy use.


    EXAMPLE: File and Shortcut of File
    Shortcut - Create for a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Windows-example.jpg



    OPTION ONE

    Create Shortcut from Windows Explorer Address Bar


    1. Open Windows Explorer (Vista or Windows 7) or File Explorer (Windows 8), and navigate to and open the folder or drive that you want to create a shortcut of.

    2. Drag the small folder or drive icon at the far left side of the address bar to a location (ex: desktop) that you want to create a shortcut of the folder at, then drop and release to create it. (see screenshot below)
    Shortcut - Create for a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Windows-drag-1.jpg



    OPTION TWO

    Create Shortcut using "Send To" Context Menu Item


    1. Select (highlight) one or more file(s), folder(s), or program(s) (exe file) that you want to create a shortcut of, right click or press and hold on them, then click/tap on Send To and Desktop (create shortcut). (see screenshot below)
    Shortcut - Create for a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Windows-send-.jpg
    2. You can now move the shortcut(s) to where you like for ease of use.



    OPTION THREE

    Create Shortcut using "Create Shortcut" Context Menu Item


    1. Select (highlight) one or more file(s), folder(s), or program(s) (exe file) that you want to create a shortcut of, right click or press and hold on them, then click on Create shortcut. (see screenshot below)
    Shortcut - Create for a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Windows-create-1.jpg
    2. If prompted, click/tap on Yes. (see screenshot below)
    Shortcut - Create for a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Windows-create-2.jpg
    3. You can now move the shortcut(s) to where you like for ease of use.



    OPTION FOUR

    Create Shortcut using "New -> Shortcut" Context Menu Item


    1. Right click on a empty space on the desktop or Windows Explorer (not in navigation pane or preview pane), then click/tap on New and Shortcut. (see screenshot below)
    Shortcut - Create for a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Windows-new-1.jpg
    2. Click/tap on the Browse button. (see screenshot below)
    Shortcut - Create for a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Windows-new-2.jpg
    3. Navigate to and select the file, folder, drive, or program (exe file) that you want to create a shortcut of, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
    Shortcut - Create for a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Windows-new-3.jpg
    4. Click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
    Shortcut - Create for a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Windows-new-4.jpg
    5. Type in a name you would like the shortcut to have, and click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)
    Shortcut - Create for a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Windows-new-5.jpg
    6. You can now move the shortcut to where you like for ease of use.



    OPTION FIVE

    Create Shortcut using "Paste shortcut" Context Menu Item


    1. Select (highlight) one or more file(s), folder(s), drive(s), or program(s) (exe file) that you want to create a shortcut of, right click or press and hold on them, then click/tap on Copy. (see screenshot below)
    Shortcut - Create for a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Windows-paste_shortcut-1.jpg
    2. Go to where (ex: desktop, in a folder, library etc...) that you would like to create a shortcut of the selected file(s), folder(s), drive(s), or program(s), right click or press and hold on an empty area, then click/tap on Paste shortcut.
    Shortcut - Create for a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Windows-paste_shortcut-2.jpg
    That's it,
    Shawn









  1. Posts : 8,398
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64/Windows 8 Consumer Preview x64/Ubuntu 11.04
       #1

    Another great tutorial, Shawn. I'm just suprised we didn't already have a tutorial for this...
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Thank you Jaidyn.

    It's something that most folks already know, but I thought it would be good for beginners or just reference.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       #3

    Shawn I have had a look through the different tutorials but I cannot see one that I can use to pin a particular document to the taskbar.

    I can send it to the desktop but there it stays - I cannot drag drop to taskbar and it is one I use all the time and it would be so handy to just click on it and not have to open Word every time I need this document.

    I have like I said played around with the desktop icon though Properties etc but no go
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hello John,

    You could create a shortcut using the target location below for the document that would allow you to pin and use it where you like. :)

    explorer "full path of document file in quotes"
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       #5

    Ok mate I will try that at the moment the beasty is working only I have to keep a shortcut on the desktop - no that it is in the way there but it would be nice on the taskbar all the same. :)
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       #6

    Hmm I just get another shortcut added to the list??
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Odd, when using the shortcut below, you should be able to right click on it, and click on "Pin to taskbar" to have it pinned as a separate icon.

    explorer "full path of document file in quotes"
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       #8

    Brink said:
    Odd, when using the shortcut below, you should be able to right click on it, and click on "Pin to taskbar" to have it pinned as a separate icon.

    explorer "full path of document file in quotes"
    Sorry Shawn have lost the plot here I go to computer > User> that doc and just make the shortcut I am not sure of what exactly you are describing to me here
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #9

    No worries mate. :)

    You would right click on the desktop to start to create a new shortcut as usual, then use that in the location field.

    You would get the full path of the document by pressing and holding Shift, right click on document file, release Shift, and click on Copy as path. This shortcut will have a "Pin to taskbar" option.

    explorer "full path of document file in quotes"

    Shortcut - Create for a File, Folder, Drive, or Program in Windows-shortcut.jpg
      My Computer


 
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