Creating Shortcuts

Creating shortcuts is easy to do in Windows. Suppose, for example, that you use the Notepad accessory quite a bit and you are tired of clicking on the Start button, selecting All Programs, selecting Accessories, and finally selecting Notepad (Windows 7). If you are using Windows 10, you may be tired of having to type "Notepad" (without the quotes) in the Search bar and pressing Enter to open up the Notepad. You can create a shortcut for the Notepad by following these steps:

1. For Windows 7, click the Start button and then choose Computer. For Windows 10, type "This PC" (without the quotes) in the Search bar and press Enter. Windows opens a folder window that shows the resources on your local computer.
2. Double-click on the drive C: icon. This opens a window that shows the contents of the C: drive.
3. Double-click on the Windows folder. This opens a window that shows the contents of the Windows folder.
4. Find the Notepad icon and drag it to the desktop, outside of any other open window, while holding down the Alt key.
5. While you are still holding down the Alt key, drop the icon on the desktop. A shortcut is immediately created. (See Figure 1.)



Figure 1. A shortcut for the Notepad accessory.

You have now created your new shortcut. Notice that this icon has a special indicator that shows it is as a shortcut. At the bottom-left corner of the icon is an arrow that points up and to the right. The name of the icon also indicates that it is for a shortcut.

Windows provides another way you can create shortcuts, as well. All you need to do is right-click on the original item and choose Create Shortcut from the resulting Context menu. Windows then creates a shortcut in the same folder in which the original item is located. You can then drag the shortcut to your desktop or to any other place that you want to use it.

A third way to create shortcuts is to right click on the original item and while holding the mouse button down, drag the item to the area you want the shortcut created, such as the desktop. Once you have it where you want it, let go of the mouse button and Windows shows you a Context menu with four options: Copy Here, Move Here, Create Shortcuts Here, and Cancel. Choose Create Shortcuts Here and you will have a shortcut created.

 This tip (10868) applies to Windows 7, 8, and 10.