Note
Access to this page requires authorization. You can try signing in or changing directories.
Access to this page requires authorization. You can try changing directories.
Question
Tuesday, January 21, 2020 10:43 PM
I tried coping the shortcut to the C:\Users\Username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs directory.
But it does not show up in the program list. I tried copying it to the desktop but right clicking does not bring up the pin to start option.
I had two shortcuts to Excel files in the Start Menu. I wanted to replace one of them. So I removed the shortcut from the Start Menu, moved the replacement shortcut into the same directory. But the option to pin to the Start Meu does not show up when I right click.
I seem to be missing something but I don't know what it is.
All replies (13)
Saturday, January 25, 2020 11:20 PM âś…Answered
I finally figured it out:
- Create a shortcut to the file in the desktop (right click the file and select Send To \ Desktope
- Edit the shortcut and add "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\EXCEL.EXE" in front of the target file name. Save the changes.
- Right Click the shortcut and select Pin to Start
- Edit the shortcut and remove "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\EXCEL.EXE"
You now have a short cut to an Excel file in the Start Menu.
P.S. I removed the reference to Excel for two reasons:
- I prefer the spreadsheet icon to the Excel icon.
- In case I install a different version of Excel.
Tuesday, January 21, 2020 11:41 PM
You can try creating shortcut directly. Either search for the "excel.exe", or find it in the installation directory.
Find the "excel.exe" in the directory, right-click, select "Send to" and click on "Desktop [create shortcut]". From the desktop, you can drop the shortcut to the taskbar.
S.Sengupta,Microsoft MVP Windows and Devices for IT, Windows Insider MVP
Wednesday, January 22, 2020 2:08 AM
Hi saberman,
In advance, sorry, if I misunderstand your question.
I'm afraid you mix up the Start Menu with the Program list.
The Program list shows up applications (executable files). On the other hand, the Start Menu will launch/open both executable files and data files.
So, even if you save shortcuts (shortcuts linking to .xlsx files) in the Start Menu, they do not appear in the Program list.
Regards,
Ashidacchi -- http://hokusosha.com
Thursday, January 23, 2020 12:13 AM
Please note that I want entry in the Start Menu to point to a shortcut that points to an Excel spreadsheet. I want to launch the spreadsheet not just Excel.
Thursday, January 23, 2020 1:51 AM
Hi saberman,
Please place an Excel spreadsheet (or a shortcut of the spreadsheet) in the Startup, and the Excel spreadsheet will open with Excel automatically when Windows starts.
cf. the Startup:
C:\Users\account>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
cf. the Excel spreadsheet will open with Excel automatically
This is by File-Association.
Regards,
Ashidacchi -- http://hokusosha.com
Thursday, January 23, 2020 3:06 AM
I don't want it to start when Windows starts. I just want it on the Start Menu.
Thursday, January 23, 2020 5:11 AM
Hi saberman,
I'm wondering why you want it on the Start Menu.
Please explain why.
Regards,
Ashidacchi -- http://hokusosha.com
Thursday, January 23, 2020 5:21 AM
Because I reference it a lot.
Thursday, January 23, 2020 5:24 AM
You can place it in the Desktop. It would be an easy way.
As I said before, the Start Memu is for applications (executable files), not for document/data files.
Ashidacchi -- http://hokusosha.com
Thursday, January 23, 2020 5:57 AM
Hi,
If you have so many shortcuts in the Desktop, you can create a folder (folders) in the Desktop and move shortcuts into the folder(s).
This would be a kind of an organized Desktop.
Regards,
Ashidacchi -- http://hokusosha.com
Thursday, January 23, 2020 8:15 PM
I have shortcuts to Excel spreadsheets in the Start Menu. I just don't remember how I got them there.
Monday, May 11, 2020 5:04 AM
I am glad you got it to work. That solution didn't work for me. For one thing, my path to Excel.exe is different from yours. I don't have the root folder and mine is Office 12 since I'm running an older version (2007). I tried making those changes, but it still didn't work for me.
I ended up getting it to work by putting the shortcut inside the Microsoft Office folder that was in the Start Menu folder using the path C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Office. Then I went into the Start Menu and opened up the Microsoft Office folder and the shortcut was there. I right-clicked on it and chose "Pin to Start". I don't know if it only worked because I put it in the MS Office folder or if it would have worked just sitting in the Start Menu folder since I didn't try that. If you didn't have luck with that method, then try putting it in the MS Office folder and see how that works. It may save you a few steps. I'm going to write the steps down because I've done this before but couldn't remember how I did it!
I just want to thank you for posting this because it helped me to figure it out even though I didn't end up doing it the same way.
Monday, May 11, 2020 5:17 AM
I put a shortcut to an excel file in the Start Menu folder by going through the path on my C: drive. (C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Office) I didn't just put it in the Start Menu folder by itself, but put it inside the Microsoft Office folder that was already there. My excel file shortcut showed up in the Program List inside the MS Office folder. You could try that. As you mentioned before, this was a spreadsheet file, not the excel program that I'm talking about. I use this file several times each week and got tired of clicking on Excel and then clicking on my pinned file and I wanted a shortcut to the file itself in the Start Menu so that when I clicked on that tile, the spreadsheet would open. By putting the shortcut inside the MS Office folder in the Start Menu, it showed up in the program list that you see on the left when you click on the Start Menu button. Then I clicked "Pin to Start" and I resized the button and put it next to my Excel button.