Productivity Tip #6: Windows shortcuts to commonly-accessed folders.
During the course of my day, I access many, many different directories at the same time. I hate having to navigate to them manually through Windows Explorer (My Computer, C:\, project directory, art directory, avatars directory, male character directory, texture directory…) I also hate having to type in the entire thing by hand.
So I found a very simple solution. On my desktop I made a folder called ‘WORK.’ I open an Explorer window, navigate to a commonly-accessed directory, then right-click and drag the directory into my ‘WORK’ folder, and click ‘Create Shortcut Here.’ I repeat this for every directory until I have a small list of instant shortcuts to the directories I want.
Now, anytime I need to access a directory, all I have to do is open my ‘WORK’ folder and double-click on the directory I want. Voila! No more wasting time navigating to the directory every single time. I’ve saved time!
Where else can you save time like this?
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January 11th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Thanks for this tip, I think I’ll start doing this too.
I noticed a similar problem navigating through the start menu all the time, and then I stumbled upon Launchy. I almost never touch my start button anymore.
http://www.launchy.net/
January 12th, 2007 at 8:24 am
You can add folders to the task bar. I took my most commonly used desktop icons and copied them into a single folder. Then I right clicked on the task bar, select “toolbars” and “new toolbar”.
Add your folder as a new toolbar. I then dragged the new toolbar (with a lot of stuff on it) to the left side of the screen. I select “Auto-hide” and “Always on top” for this toolbar.
At any time, I just have to roll my mouse tot he left of the screen to get my most commonly used items.
January 13th, 2007 at 4:25 am
Call me nerdy, but I still have a shortcut to my Half-Life 1 directory in my quicklaunch-bar. :P
January 20th, 2007 at 5:09 am
[...] I was just re-reading some of the latest posts on Jon Jones site, and I can across his thoughts on using a folder of Windows shortcuts to other folders. [...]
January 20th, 2007 at 5:12 am
I had to link and comment on this – this is EXACTLY what I do. I’m not managing other peoples work, but just managing all the assets that I have to work with on my current project would be impossible without a system such as this.
Jeff – doing it Jons way allows you access the contents of the folders from within applications, not just via Explorer.
January 20th, 2007 at 11:59 am
Wow, responses ahoy!
Jesse, Launchy looks RIDICULOUSLY cool. I’m totally trying that out!! Thanks! :)
Jeff, I had no idea you could do that. I set that up at work earlier in the week and it’s been a lifesaver. I use a bit of a hybrid between your idea and the idea in my original post by simply mirroring the contents of my ‘WORK’ folder with the contents of the taskbar. It’s been REALLY useful. Thanks dude! :)
Pete, haha, HL1 was a great game. :)
Rick, thanks for the link! That’s awesome that I’m not the only one that’s thought of this. I love posting stuff like this because so many other people don’t, but I KNOW these issues I face are already solved problems somewhere else… it’s just a matter of coaxing them out of people!
January 23rd, 2007 at 2:57 am
add a shortcut key (eg ctrl+alt+q)to the shortcut on your desktop.
Right click shortcut -> properties
select the shortcut key dialog box and press the shortcut you want. Something like CTRL + ALT + Q, something that you dont use in any other applications.
March 24th, 2007 at 11:24 am
[...] I’ve been looking for ways to improve my PC workflow, and I touched on that in an earlier Productivity Tip. One of my readers suggested that I use Launchy, which is “an open source keystroke launcher for Windows.” Essentially it’s an application that runs silently in the background that lets you quickly and easily access indexed data through super simple keystrokes. It’s simple to use and incredibly powerful. [...]