Comments on: Productivity Tip #6: Windows shortcuts to commonly-accessed folders.

By: Jon Jones, smArtist » Productivity Tip #8: Launchy for hyper-fast file access!

Sat, 24 Mar 2007 17:24:02 +0000

[...] 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. [...]

By: n/a

n/a — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 08:57:00 +0000

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.

By: Jon Jones

Jon Jones — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 17:59:35 +0000

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!

By: Rick Stirling

Rick Stirling — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 11:12:51 +0000

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.

By: rsart - home of Rick Stirling, games artist, designer, egotist and raconteur » Blog Archive » Windows shortcuts speed up your workflow

Sat, 20 Jan 2007 11:09:03 +0000

[...] 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. [...]

By: Pete the athlete

Pete the athlete — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 10:25:12 +0000

Call me nerdy, but I still have a shortcut to my Half-Life 1 directory in my quicklaunch-bar. :P

By: Jeff Houser

Jeff Houser — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 14:24:31 +0000

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.

By: Jesse Chounard

Jesse Chounard — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 23:02:17 +0000

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/