Make Cool Run Command Shortcuts in Windows

Have you ever tried out “%TEMP%” in the Run window? If no, then try it now (it will take you to the temp folder where Windows stores Temporary files). These “%TEMP%” are called variables in Windows.

What if I tell you that you can make custom variables like the %TEMP% variable? Something like %MUSIC% which can take you to the folder where you have your music collections or %GAMES% which would take you to your favorite NFS Collections…how about that?

In this post I’ll be writing on how to make such cool run shortcuts (using variables) in:

1. Windows XP
2. Windows Vista
3. Windows 7 (oops, currently this one is out of my reach :(? )

In Windows XP

1. Go to System Properties (Windows Logo key + Pause Break key).
2. Go to the “Advanced” tab.
3. At the bottom, you’ll see “Environment Variables“, click on it.
4. In that Window, you’ll see “Environment Variables for…“, click the “New…” button below it.
   

   Environment Variables

5. Now in the “Variable Name“, type whatever you want the shortcut text to be (Music? Games? Movies?) & in the “Variable Value“, type the path where you want the shortcut to take you (it can be an application, file, folder or anything you wish!).
6. That’s it…Let’s test it! Go to Run (Windows Logo key + R) and type your variable’s name between two percent signs (%),i.e, %your-variable-here% and hit Enter. It will take you to whatever value you had given in the “Variable Value” :)

In Windows Vista

1. Go to Advanced System Properties (Windows Logo key + Pause Break key & then click on “Advanced System Settings” on the right sidebar).
   

   Step 1: Selecting "Advanced System Settings"

2. Click on “Environment Variables” at the bottom of the “Advanced” tab.
   

   Step 2: Selecting "Environment Variables"

3. Choose “New..” to create a new Variable.
   

   Step 3: Creating New Variable

4. In the “Variable Name“, type whatever you want the shortcut text to be & in the “Variable Value“, type the path where you want the shortcut to take you (it can be an application, file, folder or anything you wish!).
   

   Step 4: Filling the Variable Details

5. Done! Time to test your shortcut…Go to Run (Windows Logo key + R) and type your variable’s name between two percent signs (%) i.e, “%your-variable-name%” and hit Enter, this will take you to whatever “Variable Value” you had given to it :D

Impress your friends with these cool shortcuts :) -HacK_MiNDeD