Pin File to Start Menu

[Deb G.]

After googling this topic a month ago, I found the greatest workaround for adding an excel spreadsheet that I use daily to the Start menu as a "pinned item". Now I want to do this again with another frequently used spreadsheet and I can't recall how I did this nor can I find the workaround through google.

On the attachment, it is called "Tracking List" in the Start menu. I know it involved putting a shortcut to my spreadsheet in a folder. Then this folder ended up as a shortcut in the Start Menu (see path on attachment). When I go to "start" and click the Tracking List folder, my excel spreadsheet opens up.

I tried to add my new spreadsheet called Contract Tracking List; you will see in the screen shot that it is sitting there however, this doesn't show up in the start menu the way the other one does.

Can anyone guide me through this please? It seems like it should be easy but I'm missing something.

[HansV]

Try the following:

- Open the folder containing the workbook in Windows Explorer.
- Click on the workbook, and holding down the left mouse button, drag it onto the Start button in the lower left corner of the screen.
- Don't release the mouse button yet!
- After a second or two, the Start menu should pop up.
- Drag the workbook icon up and release it between two pinned items of the Start menu (not on top of one of those items).

[Deb G.]

Thanks Hans.

That manoeuvre doesn't work for me (this is a work computer so not sure if some settings are locked). When I move the file into that area of the start menu, I get the dreaded red circle with a line through it.

[HansV]

Right-click the Start button.
Select Properties from the context menu.
Click the Customize... button.
If the check box "Enable Context Menus And Dragging And Dropping" is clear, tick it.
Click OK, then OK again.
Can you drag and drop a workbook now?

[Deb G.]

I have just discovered that I am able to pin local documents to the start menu now; however, this particular spreadsheet is on a network drive; that seems to be the problem. I even made a shortcut to this spreadsheet but the shortcut won't pin either.

Interestingly, the first file that I had success with is also on a network drive so whatever work-around I found was magical. I'll keep digging through the many hits I am getting with google to see if I can find that elusive help file I first located.

Thanks for looking at this for me!

[HansV]

From this thread on Microsoft Community:

• Right mouse click to desktop and create new text file
• Rename suffix from .txt to .exe and ignore Windows warning
• Right mouse click to this desktop file and "Pin to start menu"
• Go to network file
• Hold down shift key and right mouse click to this file and select "Copy as path"
• Got to start menu
• Right mouse click to pinned .exe file and replace "Target": Ctrl +V
• Delete .exe file from desktop

[Leif]

Or try:

Create a local shortcut to a local folder
Drag to the Start Menu
Right-Click the shortcut and select 'Properties'
Edit General tab to show name you want
Edit Shortcut tab to include the full path and file name.

Edited to clarify: local shortcut should be to a local folder.

[HansV]

The thread I mentioned report that Windows 7 does not allow you to change the target of a pinned document...
I can't test myself since Windows 8.1 does not have the same kind of Start menu as Windows 7.

[Leif]

The thread I mentioned report that Windows 7 does not allow you to change the target of a pinned document...
I can't test myself since Windows 8.1 does not have the same kind of Start menu as Windows 7.

Sorry - you are correct, and I didn't give full instructions

The local shortcut should be to a local folder - not to a file. (I have edited the post above. And re-tested )

[HansV]

Thanks!

[Deb G.]

WHOA! Gentlemen, you outdid yourselves! Both methods worked perfectly. Thanks Hans and Leif for the wonderful work-arounds and I will be keeping these instructions in a safe place (as yet to be determined )

[StuartR]

...I will be keeping these instructions in a safe place (as yet to be determined )

You could pin them to your start menu

[Deb G.]

LOL - Stuart, I'm too conditioned by Facebook....I tried to "like" your post:)

[StuartR]

And I tried to like yours

[Rudi]

Come on guys...either you like each other ('er, your posts), or your don't.
Make up yur minds would ya!

[HansV]

I like all of you, but not on Facebook...