UNAWAVE

Pin folder to taskbar

Sometimes it is desirable to pin a folder on the taskbar. This can be useful if you like to have very fast access to files in a folder again and again.

Two approaches would be obvious:

1. Open Windows Explorer, search for the desired folder and click with right mouse button on the folder. There would be expecting now to find "Pin to Taskbar". But this menu item does not appear for folders - only for programs.
2. Open Windows Explorer, search for the desired folder and drag the folder with the mouse from Windows Explorer directly onto the taskbar. But in this case Windows 7 offers only "Pin to Windows Explorer":

Then the folder is attached to the Windows Explorer icon:

But the access of the folder from this position is time-consuming:

• Right mouse click on the Windows Explorer icon
• then move mouse up to "Pinned" folder
• and click on "Pinned" folder

Especially when the list of "Recent" used folders increases by time and become longer and longer. And also the number of "Pinned" folders can grow, too. Then it can be rather difficult to hit exactly the right folder with mouse. It would be more easily if the folder is directly placed as an icon in the taskbar and could accessed with only one mouse click.

Here's how:

First click with the right mouse button on the desktop.
In the context menu select "New" -> "Text Document":

Change the name of the text file immediately into a meaningful front part
(here: "Holiday 2009"), and - important - the file extension to "exe":
  

(If the file extension "txt" does not appear, previously deactivate in Windows Explorer via menu "Organize" -> "Folder and search options" -> tab "View" -> "Hide extension to known file types".)

Ignore the warning from Windows 7 and answer the question:
"Are you sure you want to change it?" with "Yes."

After that it looks this way:
The icon has changed to a standard icon for EXE files.

After this click on the file with the right mouse button. Now a menu item "Pin to Taskbar" appears. Choose this and a new icon appears in the taskbar.

Now open Windows Explorer and search for the desired folder. Hold down the "Shift" key and simultaneously click with right mouse button on the desired folder. Only this way the context menu shows the context menu entry "Copy as path". This way allow to copy the correct path detail of the folder into the Windows clipboard.

Next, click with right mouse button on the icon in the Taskbar and then again with the right mouse button on the "Program" (here: "Holiday 2009"). In the context menu select "Properties".

Now change on tab "Shortcut" the "Target". Clear this field and press "Ctrl + V". This inserts the previously copied folder path from the Windows clipboard into the "Target" field. See the different folder names:
Not: "C:\Users\[username]\My Pictures\Holiday 2009"
But: "C:\Users\[username]\Pictures\Holiday 2009"
Depending on different languages also the part "User" can vary.
A suitable icon can now be selected with the button "Change Icon". Either from the offered file "SHELL32.dll" - or from other DLL files with icons. Here is a list of other files with attractive icons which are already included in Windows 7.

The "program" on the desktop (here: "Holiday 2009.exe") may be deleted. The new shortcut in the taskbar can now be used immediately. However, the changed icon appears only after a reboot. If the mouse hovers over the shortcut in the taskbar then the name appears as a "Tooltip" above the link.

Other English sites on this homepage:
• Pin files to taskbar
• Emulating classic start menu
• If "AERO Glass" is not possible: Customization of "Windows 7 basic" theme
• Fully transparent window frame
• Code 5 Error when booting from the Windows 7 Install DVD
• VMware - virtual machine with AERO Glass support
• Downgrade Windows 7 Ultimate to Home Premium or Professional
• 32-bit Windows 7 with full 4 GB or 8 GB RAM support