Creating Shortcuts & Aliases

Windows

What is a Shortcut?

In the Windows environment, a shortcut is an icon that points to a program, folder, document, or Web page. If you double-click it, it will open up the original item. You can recognize a shortcut because it has a small arrow in the bottom left corner of the icon. Since shortcuts are merely pointers, deleting a shortcut will not delete the item to which the shortcut points. A number of application shortcuts are created on your desktop as part of the standard Windows XP configuration. Here's an example of a shortcut icon.

To create a desktop shortcut to an item located on the Start menu:

1. Click on the Start menu in the lower left corner of your screen and release the mouse button.
2. Locate the item for which you want to create a shortcut. If the item is located on a submenu, go to the submenu.
3. Right-click and drag the item to your desktop.
When you release the mouse, the following popup menu will appear. Choose 'Create Shortcut Here'.

To create a shortcut for items in Windows Explorer:

1. Open Windows Explorer by double-clicking the icon on your desktop. (You can also right-click the Start menu and choose Explore.)
2. Minimize the Windows Explorer window.
3. Locate in Windows Explorer the item for which you want to create a shortcut.
4. Right-click the item and drag it onto the desktop. When you release the mouse, a popup menu will appear. Choose 'Create Shortcut Here'.
   
   
   

To create a desktop shortcut for a Web page

1. Open Internet Explorer and resize the Explorer window so that a portion of your desktop is visible. If your Explorer window is maximized to fill the entire screen, click the Restore Down box in the upper right corner of the window (to the left of the close box with an X.) You may also need to close or minimize other open windows or applications.
2. Click and hold on the link to the desired page in your browser window (usually underlined text).
3. Drag the link to your desktop and release the mouse. An icon will appear on your desktop to represent the Web page. Now when you double-click the icon, Internet Explorer will open and you will go directly to that Web page.

 

Macintosh

What is an Alias?

In the Macintosh environment, an alias is an icon that points to files, folders, disks, or applications that you use frequently. If you double-click an alias, it will open up the original item. If you drag an item to the alias of a folder or disk, the item goes into the folder or disk to which the alias points. You can recognize an alias because there is a small badge that looks like a bent arrow on every alias icon. If you delete an alias icon, it does not affect the original item.

To create an alias on your desktop:

1. First you will have to find the item for which you want to create an alias. This may be on one of your local hard drive (Mac HD), or it may be on a drive that has been mounted. Click Applications on the toolbar of a Finder window to locate all the applications that are installed on your Mac.
2. Click once on the item for which you want to create an alias to select it. Then choose Make Alias from the File Menu.
3. An ‘originalname alias’ icon will appear in the same location as the original item. You can then drag the alias to the desktop or any other location that is easy for you to find. Even if you rename the alias, rename the original file, move the alias, or move the original item, double-clicking it will open the original item.

Note: Instead of creating an alias, you can also create an icon on the Dock for an application, file, or folder by just dragging the original item to the Dock. Be careful to drag it to the correct side of the fine white dividing line. Application icons must appear on the left side of the dividing line. All other icons, including the Trash, disks, folders, and files, appear on the right side of the white line.

To create a desktop alias for a Web page

1. Open Internet Explorer and resize the Explorer window so that a portion of your desktop is visible. You may also need to close or minimize other open windows or applications.
2. Click and hold on the link to the desired page in your browser window (usually underlined text).
3. Drag the link to your desktop and release the mouse. An icon will appear on your desktop to represent the Web page. Now when you double-click the icon, Internet Explorer will open and you will go directly to that Web page.