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Managing desktop shortcuts in Nebula

In Windows, shortcuts are icons used to represent programs, files, or folders. A shortcut to a program will launch that program. A shortcut to a folder will open that folder, usually within Windows Explorer. A shortcut to a file will first open the original software program, and then the file itself. A shortcut is not a copy of the file, folder or program in question. It is merely used as a placeholder to point to the original. If you delete a shortcut, the original remains where it was.

Many people find that placing shortcuts on their Desktop enables them to quickly open those programs, files or folders that they access frequently. A procedure for doing so is outlined below, in the Creating a Shortcut section. However, since these shortcuts are stored on your local hard drive in your Desktop folder, they are lost if problems with your computer require it to be rebuilt, or if you get a new Nebula computer. Once you have created your favorite shortcuts, be sure to see the Saving your Shortcuts section so you can save them to a safe place. If you have shortcuts that someone else has created for you, you should also follow these instructions to save them as well.

On the Desktop, shortcuts are designated with a small arrow in the lower left corner of the icon. In the Quick Launch Toolbar, they are merely a smaller version of the program's usual picture. Even the programs and folders shown in the Start - Programs list are simply shortcuts to the programs or folders they represent.

Desktop Icons

Creating a shortcut

To a program

  1. Click once with the left mouse button on Start, then Programs, and find the desired program.
  2. Click once with the right mouse button on the program you want to copy.
  3. From the resulting popup menu, click once with the left mouse button on 'Send To'.
  4. From the resulting list, click once with the left mouse button on 'Desktop (create shortcut)'.
  5. You will be alerted that the new shortcut will be placed on the desktop. Click 'OK' to confirm this.
  6. You should then see a new shortcut appear on your desktop for the program you want to use. (Note that this shortcut does have the small arrow, just like your other desktop shortcuts).
In the example given below, a shortcut to Bank Terminal session is created:

Terminal Menu screenshot

To a file or folder:

  1. Open Windows Explorer (Start - Programs - Accessories)
  2. Maneuver to the file or folder, and follow the instructions from Step 2, above.

Saving your shortcuts

As mentioned above, shortcuts are lost if your system is replaced or rebuilts. Below are instructions for copying them to your My Documents folder, which saves them on a remote server so they are backed up. You may also wish to put your shortcuts on your Quick Launch Toolbar, where they are always visible.

Copying shortcuts to your My Documents folder
  • Hold the Ctrl key down while you drag the shortcut to the My Documents folder, then let up the Ctrl key and the mouse key.
Copying shortcuts to your Quick Launch Toolbar
  • Hold the Ctrl key down while you drag the shortcut to the Quick Launch Toolbar, the space to the right of the Start button.
  • If you can't see the icon, you may need to unlock the Toolbar: right-click on an empty part of the toolbar, then left-click Unlock Toolbar. You can now re-size the Quick Launch area by dragging the set of vertical double-dots just to the right of the last visible program.

Using your Shortcuts

On the desktop: double-click a shortcut.
On your Quick Launch Toolbar: single-click it.
From within the File - Open menu command in a Windows program: click on the My Documents icon on the left side to display the available shortcuts.