Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: [RESOLVED] Freeware "Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar"

Hybrid View

  1. #1

  2. #2
    Fanatic Member schoolbusdriver's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    O'er yonder
    Posts
    1,020

    Re: Freeware "Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar"

    Which version of office are you using ? From office 2003 help:
    The Office Shortcut Bar is not available in Microsoft Office 2003. However, you can use the Windows XP Start menu or the Windows Quick Launch bar in Windows XP or Windows 2000 to quickly open an Office program, file, or folder.
    An easy way is to right-click on the start menu toolbar, pick Toolbars > New Toolbar and create a new folder. Put any shortcuts into it, then dock it to one side of the screen. Free.

  3. #3

    Thread Starter
    Former Admin/Moderator MartinLiss's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 1999
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    33,427

    Re: Freeware "Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar"

    Sorry I wasn't clearer. The PC I would like to use it on does not have MS Office and I would like a similar shortcut bar that I could use it to organize the desktop.

  4. #4
    coder. Lord Orwell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Location
    Elberfeld, IN
    Posts
    7,621

    Re: Freeware "Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar"

    create a new toolbar like stated above. You can drag the new toolbar off of an unlocked taskbar and it becomes a window. Then you can dock it to any side of the screen you wish. If you don't like this though, you can check out AquaDock which can be put on any side of the screen as well.
    My light show youtube page (it's made the news) www.youtube.com/@artnet2twinkly
    Contact me on the socials www.facebook.com/lordorwell

  5. #5
    I'm about to be a PowerPoster! mendhak's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    Ulaan Baator GooGoo: Frog
    Posts
    38,173

    Re: Freeware "Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar"

    I miss that shortcut bar, it was one of my favorite things in Office. Kept the desktop uncluttered. There's an alternative, FreeBar, have a look at it.

    http://freebar.sourceforge.net/en/screenshots.php

    Not quite the same, but it's a replacement in a way.

  6. #6

    Thread Starter
    Former Admin/Moderator MartinLiss's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 1999
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    33,427

    Re: Freeware "Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar"

    Quote Originally Posted by mendhak
    I miss that shortcut bar, it was one of my favorite things in Office. Kept the desktop uncluttered. There's an alternative, FreeBar, have a look at it.

    http://freebar.sourceforge.net/en/screenshots.php

    Not quite the same, but it's a replacement in a way.
    Thanks, I'll take a look.

  7. #7
    Frenzied Member TheBigB's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    *Stack Trace*
    Posts
    1,511

    Re: Freeware "Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar"

    Isn't it an idea to make this a contest and then use the best submission?
    Delete it. They just clutter threads anyway.

  8. #8

  9. #9
    I'm about to be a PowerPoster! kleinma's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    NJ - USA (Near NYC)
    Posts
    23,373

    Re: Freeware "Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar"

    I am posting this here for anyone who is interested, but this functionality is actually pretty much built right into Windows.

    Here are the steps to make your own toolbars:

    here are the basic steps:

    1) right click on a "blank" area in your taskbar/startmenu area so you get the context menu with the "Lock the Toolbars" option. Make sure that it is UNCHECKED so toolbars are not locked into place.

    2) The very same context menu also has a "Toolbars" entry in it, mousing over will give you a list of common toolbars, any already shown ones (most likely quick launch) will be checked. There is also an option in this list for "New Toolbar" that is the one you want to click (for a custom toolbar).

    3) You will get the "select folder" dialog now. Navigate and select the folder you want to make a toolbar for. In your case, it sounds like you would want to point to a folder where you dumped a bunch of shortcut files.

    4) toolbar will now be created and be visible in your taskbar. From here you can simply leave it, or drag it out (because we turned locking off)

    They can free float or dock somewhere else. Right clicking on them gives you similar settings of right clicking on the taskbar. To drag a toolbar out, you need to click on the little dotted thing on the left side of the toolbar (not sure if it has a name, might just be called a size grip)

    Play with the settings to see what you like best. I generally set mine to not show text or titles, and I generally use Large icons instead of small (for my top toolbars as seen in screenshot) Bottom line is you can't really screw anything up, and you can always get things back to just how you had them if needed.

    Attached is a screenshot of my desktop. I have 2 toolbars docked to the top of my screen, "quick launch", and "My Computer". The My Computer toolbar has custom icons for my drive letters (which I will be making a utility to do and provide shortly if anyone is interested in that).
    Attached Images Attached Images  

  10. #10

    Thread Starter
    Former Admin/Moderator MartinLiss's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 1999
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    33,427

    Re: Freeware "Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar"

    Quote Originally Posted by kleinma
    I am posting this here for anyone who is interested, but this functionality is actually pretty much built right into Windows.

    Here are the steps to make your own toolbars:

    here are the basic steps:

    1) right click on a "blank" area in your taskbar/startmenu area so you get the context menu with the "Lock the Toolbars" option. Make sure that it is UNCHECKED so toolbars are not locked into place.

    2) The very same context menu also has a "Toolbars" entry in it, mousing over will give you a list of common toolbars, any already shown ones (most likely quick launch) will be checked. There is also an option in this list for "New Toolbar" that is the one you want to click (for a custom toolbar).

    3) You will get the "select folder" dialog now. Navigate and select the folder you want to make a toolbar for. In your case, it sounds like you would want to point to a folder where you dumped a bunch of shortcut files.

    4) toolbar will now be created and be visible in your taskbar. From here you can simply leave it, or drag it out (because we turned locking off)

    They can free float or dock somewhere else. Right clicking on them gives you similar settings of right clicking on the taskbar. To drag a toolbar out, you need to click on the little dotted thing on the left side of the toolbar (not sure if it has a name, might just be called a size grip)

    Play with the settings to see what you like best. I generally set mine to not show text or titles, and I generally use Large icons instead of small (for my top toolbars as seen in screenshot) Bottom line is you can't really screw anything up, and you can always get things back to just how you had them if needed.

    Attached is a screenshot of my desktop. I have 2 toolbars docked to the top of my screen, "quick launch", and "My Computer". The My Computer toolbar has custom icons for my drive letters (which I will be making a utility to do and provide shortly if anyone is interested in that).
    Almost exactly what I wanted. Thanks. It's apparent that it's not a well-known feature.

  11. #11
    I'm about to be a PowerPoster! Hack's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    Searching for mendhak
    Posts
    58,333

    Re: [RESOLVED] Freeware "Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar"

    Very cool Mr. Kleinma - thanks for posting this!

  12. #12
    I'm about to be a PowerPoster! kleinma's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    NJ - USA (Near NYC)
    Posts
    23,373

    Re: [RESOLVED] Freeware "Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar"

    out of curiosity Marty, what feature is it lacking?

  13. #13

    Thread Starter
    Former Admin/Moderator MartinLiss's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 1999
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    33,427

    Re: [RESOLVED] Freeware "Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar"

    Well the MS Toolbar looks better with it's color gradients and the MS Toolbar toolbars all appear on one toolbar and they expand and contract to fill the bulk of the overall toolbar when selected/not selected. The Customization features of the MS Toolbar are also more robust. None of those things however are a big deal.

  14. #14
    Fanatic Member schoolbusdriver's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    O'er yonder
    Posts
    1,020

    Re: [RESOLVED] Freeware "Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar"

    Isn't this solution the same as I suggested in post 2

  15. #15
    I'm about to be a PowerPoster! kleinma's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    NJ - USA (Near NYC)
    Posts
    23,373

    Re: [RESOLVED] Freeware "Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar"

    Quote Originally Posted by schoolbusdriver
    Isn't this solution the same as I suggested in post 2
    Yes.

  16. #16

    Thread Starter
    Former Admin/Moderator MartinLiss's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 1999
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    33,427

    Re: [RESOLVED] Freeware "Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar"

    Quote Originally Posted by schoolbusdriver
    Isn't this solution the same as I suggested in post 2
    Sorry I didn't follow-up when you suggested it.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  



Click Here to Expand Forum to Full Width