MSN Desktop Search: Commands and Shortcut Tutorial

MSN Desktop Search adds the new ability to create shortcuts to documents, programs, or web searches. Here’s how to do it.

Let me start by saying that I am jealous. Last year I was programming a project very similiar to this. It was a black box that sat on the taskbar and allowed you to text-type in commands. For old DOS people like me, typing is still quicker than using the mouse in many way.

This is only available in the MSN Desktop Search… and not the MSN toolbar search. Why? Who knows… doesn’t make any sense to me either. That’s why I disabled the toolbar section.

You’ll obviously need the program installed to do these tricks.
http://toolbar.msn.com/

When you install the desktop search, a text box should appear in your taskbar that says “Search Desktop”. This is where we will be working.

Create New Shortcut to a Program:

@shortcutname ,=pathtoprogram
Example: @note,=notepad.exe

This example would open notepad whenever “note” is typed into the search desktop box

Step by Step Directions to Make Shortcuts for your Favorite Programs:

1. Click Start
2. Click All Programs
3. Navigate to the shortcut for the program you want to make a MSN Desktop Shortcut
4. Right-click on that shortcut and select Properties



5. The Properties box will open with your program path highlighted.
6. Right click on the highlighted program path and click copy
7. Move to your Search Desktop textbox
8. Type @shortcut,=
9. Right click in the textbox and select Paste
10. Hit Enter

Your shortcut will be created!

Create New Shortcut to a Website:

@shortcutname,webaddress$w$w – captures any additional information after your shortcut and appends in your webaddress url

For example, to make a google search shorcut:
@google,http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=$w
Then to search for something using google you would type this in your search desktop box:
google searchterm

To delete a shortcut:

@shortcutname

External Links:

ToolbarShortCuts
Microsoft Shortcuts Help Page