Windows Desktop Search Shortcuts

September 13th, 2007 | Published in Tech

Microsoft Windows Desktop Search is a fast way to search your computer for many types of files, including documents, photos, videos, and music. Windows Desktop Search also searches Microsoft Office Outlook or Microsoft Outlook Express items, such as email messages, contacts, and appointments. After you install Windows Desktop Search, the Windows Search Companion is replaced with Windows Desktop Search. The Deskbar search box appears on the Windows taskbar next to the notification area.

Today, I just found a cool feature in Windows Desktop Search — I can launch programs with Desktop Search! To launch a program installed on your computer using Windows Desktop Search, do the following:

To start: Type this in the Deskbar search box:

Microsoft Office Word !word
The Microsoft Windows calculator !calc
Microsoft Outlook !outlook

This is excellent!

Some other useful shortcuts include:

To get help with Windows Desktop Search: ?Help
To get help with Windows Desktop Search syntax: ?syntax
To Create Your Own Shortcuts, you can do the following:
- Open a document: @shortcutname,c:\(document path)\(document name) @resume,C:\resume.doc
  To use the shortcut: type resume
- Open a program: @shortcutname,=[program command] @note,=notepad.exe
  To use the shortcut: type note
- Open a website: @shortcutname,webaddress @hotmail,www.hotmail.com
  To use the shortcut: type hotmail
- Perform a web query: @shortcutname,webaddress$w For Example: @quote,http://moneycentral.msn.com/scripts/webquote.dll?iPage=qd&Symbol=$w
  To find a stock quote: type quote msft
- Tip: Try performing a search on a website such as http://encarta.msn.com. When your search results page opens, your search terms should be included at the end of the web address in the Windows Internet Explorer address bar. Copy the web address, but replace your search terms with $w. Use this new web address to create your shortcut.