Help How do I create a shortcut to a file?

[mendelay]

Does anyone know how to create a shortcut to a file on the homescreen?

I have text files on my SD card that I need quick access to.

Using Motoral Droid

 

[colnago]

Does pressing and holding the file bring up a menu option with "Create shortcut"? If not try one of the 3rd party file management apps such as Astro.

Still no go? Try installing the app Any Cut, which allows you to create shortcuts for apps, files, services, etc.

 

[mendelay]

Thanks for the tips. I tried both apps and here's what I found:

Any Cut:
I could not figure out how to create a file shortcut on this app.
To its credit, it's a very light app (31 kb), which is much better than Astro's 1.49 mb.

Astro:
Does the job of creating shortcuts. However, Astro must be running in the background for the shortcut to work. If you click the shortcut when Astro is killed you will get an error saying "program not installed".

 

[rawness]

Why are you killing Astro?

 

[biggbodybrougham]

I have this problem to. I moved Avatar to my new SD card and the OG shortcut will not work. i have to play directly from the file. any other suggestions?

 

[nihalnih]

if you want to create short cut to office documents there is an in-direct way.
Create a shortcut in desktop by Menu>+>Shortcut and select Recent Doc.
Go to Application Open Think office and open the document you will be opening frequent and close it. Now go to desktop , press on Recent doc you can see your document there...

 

[Catfish]

I'm also looking for a way to do this. shouldn't this just be part of vanilla android? they need to pull finger if it isn't.

 

[critofur]

OMG this task is such a basic, fundamental feature - I could understand if Android was in "Alpha ver. .01a".

There's no reasonable excuse for doing something that should be simple (w/o extra apps or "tricks") requires users to search forums, yet STILL not find the answer???

I'm looking to put a link to each of two different .PDF files on one of my homescreens. Maybe I can just actually copy the files there, instead of making a "shortcut"? I may be wrong assuming each homescreen is represented by an actual folder?

 

[samuelk99]

The "File Jump" app on the market provides this functionality directly.

 

[Diabo]

Install ES Bookmark Manager (a plugin for ES File Explorer). Then long-press a file or folder in ES File explorer and tap "Shortcut." This puts a shortcut to the file or folder on your home screen.

No background apps or services required.

 

[peter733]

I recommend using Linda File Manager

1. it's free
2. on the Market
3. high rating
4. small and lightweight
5. allows you to create a shortcut to a file, and put the shortcut on home screen
6. you can uninstall Linda File Manager later and the shortcut remains
7. it's FREE

click the THANKS button, follow me on twitter.com/peter733 & facebook.com/peter733

 

[mpj201]

linda is great the interface is a little easier and clearer astro. i made a shortcut for a word / quickoffice document very quickly - you just longpress the file, then select "create shortcut", and the shortcut appears on your home screen.

 

[kingnut]

Good look peter. This forum is awesome.

 

[vipergramps]

I use "ES File Manager." Had to go to SETTINGS, ROOT SETTINGS, and select UP TO ROOT to get the app to allow me to access my microSD card, but after that I simply click/hold the desired filename and select SHORTCUT to generate the file shortcut in the next available/open spot on my home screen.