Although the power user still may need to
venture occasionally into the pull-down menus to get to less
commonly used commands, your core end users can be much more
productive by primarily using Toolbars.
Because there is much less clutter and
potential for confusion with Microsoft Office Toolbars, you’ll end
up with fewer “how-to” questions for your internal guru and
virtually no need to contact an external technical support hotline
or expensive computer consultant.
The Value of Microsoft Windows Desktop Shortcuts
The Microsoft Windows Desktop, across all
modern versions of the operating system, provides a similar
facility. Although some of your advanced users may savor the
flexibility of navigating around the Start Menu to launch their
applications, most of your end users are much better off
having their handful of commonly used software applications appear
as Shortcuts on the Microsoft Windows Desktop.
Again, just as with Microsoft Office Toolbars,
this simplicity will go a long way toward reducing computer support
costs. In Figure 4-1, you’ll see a typical Microsoft Windows
Desktop, with a handful of commonly used program Shortcuts.
Quick Launch Toolbar on the Microsoft Windows Desktop:
One More Opportunity for Simplicity
In addition, Figure 4-1 contains four
Taskbar Shortcuts in the bottom left of the screen, just to the
right of the Start Menu button. This is called a Quick Launch
Toolbar.
Tip:
The Taskbar is the area on the bottom of your screen between
the Start Menu and Clock. Although the Taskbar can be moved to
the top, left or right side of the screen, I don’t recommend
changing the default bottom of the screen position for PC
beginners.
A typical Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional Desktop, with added Shortcuts for Microsoft Word,
Microsoft Excel and Peachtree Complete Accounting.
If it isn’t already on, you can enable the
Quick Launch Toolbar by right clicking on the Taskbar. From there,
select Toolbars from the context sensitive pop-up menu and make sure
Quick Launch has a check mark next to it (Figure 4-2).
On the Quick Launch Toolbar, you’ll notice
single clickable Shortcuts for some popular programs, such as
Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel and
Microsoft Word, providing one more opportunity to put a few very commonly
used software application Shortcuts directly in front of users. This
once again can reduce dramatically the need to hunt around a crowded
Start Menu – and ultimately eliminate many costly user requests
for assistance.
By enabling the Quick Launch Toolbar on
the Taskbar, you can place a few more commonly used program
Shortcuts within easy striking distance of novice users.
Removing Unneeded Bundled Software Desktop Shortcuts
Major PC manufacturers often have the clout to
cultivate lots of software bundling deals -- ultimately providing a lot
of preinstalled software for the customer. But on brand-name PCs
with bundled software, you’ll often find Desktop Shortcuts for
programs that either won’t be used by your users, might confuse
your users or require a high degree of technical expertise. If this
is the case, remove the extraneous Shortcuts.
When desktop PCs and notebooks come bundled
with lots of third-party utility software, it’s extremely common
to have four or five Shortcuts on a Microsoft Windows Desktop that
are completely inappropriate for most users in your company.
Customize end users’ Desktops for individual needs. Don’t tempt
your average users with Shortcuts leading to programs that might
cause inadvertent PC configuration damage.
Finally, if your
users’ Start Menus begin to get absurdly large and unwieldy,
consider visiting the Add/Remove Programs applet in the
Control Panel. There, you can remove any unneeded software
applications that may be doing nothing other than creating confusion
and potential costly support headaches.
Microsoft Windows Desktop Action Items
Do PC users in your company prefer to
launch their software programs through Desktop Shortcuts or through
the Start Menu?
Do you routinely configure program
shortcuts on the Quick Launch Toolbar?
Do the desktop PCs and notebooks that your
company buys come bundled with lots of factory installed software
programs? Of these programs, is a lot of the software superfluous?
Are unneeded Desktop Shortcuts cluttering up your users' Desktops?
Are you able to remove these extraneous, unused Desktop Shortcuts?
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