The Sisyphus Comments

Making Shortcuts for Your Desktop

Shortcuts are placed on the desktop. That’s what the monitor shows when you start the computer. Typically, you double-click the shortcut, and a program or file opens.

So, let’s say you want to create a shortcut to Outlook Express. Programs are easy. Click Start>>All Programs. Find Outlook Express in the list and right-click it. Select Sent to>>Desktop (create shortcut). Voila, a shortcut!

Well, what if you have your budget in an Excel spreadsheet? If you were to create a shortcut to Excel, that would open a blank spreadsheet. You need a shortcut to your budget file.

In this case, right-click the desktop. Click New>>Shortcut. Click Browse and find the file. Double-click it. Click Next. Enter a name for the shortcut and click Finish.

You can launch a program even quicker from the Quick Launch bar. That is to the right of the Start button. If the Quick Launch area isn’t visible, right- click Start and select Properties. Select the Taskbar tab. Check the box next to Show Quick Launch.