Changing Desktop Icons

[ChrisGreaves]

I will go back to my Win7 DELL and see if that File-search feature really did exist when browsing for a file in the Create Shortcut pane.

Empty4x2.jpg

Sigh!
This image is from the DELL this morning.
Apparently that browse-for-file button was not available in Win7.
I suspect, but cannot show, that the Create Shortcut device was one of the first features of Windows, and that the "browse" command had not been completely thought out; or perhaps the browse-for-file button was not available at the time the create Shortcut dialogue box was firmed up.

Cheers, Chris

[ChrisGreaves]

OK, let me ask this, if he has a certain file, like he mentioned, isn't it possible to drag it to the desktop and create a shortcut to it that way? Wouldn't that save searching or sorting the files listed in the Browse dialog box? Or, as I did, just keep scrolling until I found the file.

One of The Golden Rules of Windows states that there are at least four ways of doing everything! If I can't find at least four ways, then I cannot claim to know how to do that task!

The most common time for me to create a shortcut is at the time that I create the target.

So yesterday, having created a small MSWord document about programming my new thermostats, I wanted to place a shortcut to that MSWord document on the desktop, giving me easy access as I carried the laptop from room to room, to program each thermostat.

Since the MSWord was created this day, a method that allows me to sort a folder's contents by date-last-modified makes sense to me.

I confess to being surprised to find that the familiar command button was NOT presented on the Create Shortcut BROWSE screen.

Untitled.jpg

The image above is taken from within Word2003 where I am inserting a file. I have chosen to display the "details" rendition, and sorted by Date Modified. There is my target document at the head of the list of filenames. This is the sort of display I was trying to get when Browsing to Create a Shortcut on the desktop.

Cheers, Chris

[hlewton]

I sort my File Explorer the same way because all the current files I edit on a daily basis are always at the top of the list. I never knew the browse button you mentioned worked that way.

[ChrisGreaves]

I never knew the browse button you mentioned worked that way.

It doesn't; that was my point in this post. I blamed this lapse on Win11 but this morning I found that the Files command button was not available in the Browse Command for creating a shortcut in Win7 either.
The good news is that at least my memory isn't going
Cheers, Chris

[hlewton]

I never knew the browse button you mentioned worked that way.

It doesn't; that was my point in this post. I blamed this lapse on Win11 but this morning I found that the Files command button was not available in the Browse Command for creating a shortcut in Win7 either.
The good news is that at least my memory isn't going
Cheers, Chris

Yes, I saw that post. The rest, I'll just have to take your word for it.

[BillW]

OK, back to my problem now!

Hans said (above): "The dialog in the first reply applies to shortcuts. If you place a file directly on the Desktop, you'll see a Change button to change the application that opens the file."

In my case I am talking about changing the picture on the desktop that represents a file that is on the desktop. The file may be a text file or a LibreOffice file. I can choose which to use.

Can I change what that desktop thing looks like?

Thanks,
BillW

[HansV]

No, the icon of the file is determined by the associated application.

[BillW]

OK Hans. So if I put a text file somewhere else, not on the desktop, and a shortcut to it on the desktop can I change the picture in the desktop shortcut to a different picture? What about changing the font used to provide the name on the desktop shortcut?

What I am trying to do is provide a way for me to keep a list of medical complaints while I wait for my next appointment with my doctor -- and make the shortcut standout on the desktop. I'll edit that file to add new things and delete the ones I have actually discussed with the doctor.

Does that sound workable?

Thanks,
BillW

[HansV]

As far as I know, all icon captions use the same font, you cannot customize it for individual icons.

[BillW]

Thanks Hans. I think I am completely straightened out now!

Thanks for your help.

BillW