"Start In" on shortcut

  • Thread starter Thread starter Peter Rossiter
  • Start date Start date
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Peter Rossiter

If I a select "Properties" for a shortcut then I can enter the
application path and name.

If the application supports it, I can also add a second path+name to
show where the data for the application is located.

But I can't understand what "Start In" is supposed to do.

Can some please advise.
 
If I a select "Properties" for a shortcut then I can enter the
application path and name.

If the application supports it, I can also add a second path+name to
show where the data for the application is located.

But I can't understand what "Start In" is supposed to do.
Click to expand...

Neither does Microsoft.
 
If I a select "Properties" for a shortcut then I can enter the
application path and name.

If the application supports it, I can also add a second path+name to
show where the data for the application is located.

But I can't understand what "Start In" is supposed to do.

Can some please advise.
Click to expand...

Example:
You want to save all notepad files to a folder named C:\Text Files.
Enter C:\Text Files in the Start In box. Open Notepad. Type a few things.
Save the file. The Save dialog box should "start in" C:\Text Files. You
have to use this shortcut for it to work. If you start Notepad any other
way, you'll end up looking at My Documents again.

Another example:
Shortcut for the command prompt window:
Target line is:
%SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe
Type C: in the Start In box.
Double clicking the CMD shortcut, brings up a DOS-like box with a good ol'
C:> prompt instead of C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name>
 
If I a select "Properties" for a shortcut then I can enter the

Sharon F said:
Example:
You want to save all notepad files to a folder named C:\Text
Files. Enter C:\Text Files in the Start In box. Open Notepad.
Type a few things. Save the file. The Save dialog box should
"start in" C:\Text Files. You have to use this shortcut for it
to work. If you start Notepad any other way, you'll end up
looking at My Documents again.

Another example:
Shortcut for the command prompt window:
Target line is: %SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe
Type C: in the Start In box.
Double clicking the CMD shortcut, brings up a DOS-like box with
a good ol' C:> prompt instead of C:\Documents and Settings\Your
Name>
Click to expand...

Thank you for the explanation.

Does it depend on the application whether or not it will use the
information in the "Start In" box?
 
The Save dialog box should "start in" C:\Text Files. You
have to use this shortcut for it to work. If you start Notepad any other
way, you'll end up looking at My Documents again.
Click to expand...

That kinda makes you wonder why the box is not titled "Save in"
doesn't it?

FYI, in Win95 some programs used the info in the "Start in" box as
pointer to which folder would appear when you used File>Open, but I've
these same programs lose that ability in Win98. I've not even bothered
to try creating settings for shortcuts in WinXP, as most of the
important apps seem to open and save to the last folder used even when
restarting progs the next day (thanks Adobe). Mysteriously Office apps
dont' seem to behave that way. (Hey MS, take a look at Abode's progs!)
 
FYI, in Win95 some programs used the info in the "Start in" box as
pointer to which folder would appear when you used File>Open,
Click to expand...

Yep, another common use for the field. No idea where the name came. It's
probably an extension of a command line that was in turn incorporated into
the shortcut concept.
 
Thank you for the explanation.

Does it depend on the application whether or not it will use the
information in the "Start In" box?
Click to expand...

You're welcome. Yes, it does depend on the application. Some will default
to My Documents no matter which way you try to twist them. Regsistry values
or internal workings will redirect to shell folders. The field is ignored
in these cases or overridden.

One current program that a lot of newsgroups folks would recognize, Forte
Agent, uses the field to allow the running of multiple instances of the
program. Each instance can be configured for a different news server.

"Start In" was commonly used in the early days of Windows. It can still be
handy now and then but it is not used nearly as much these days.
 
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