Windows: Favourites
Published on 2nd February 2005
This time we are going to look at using Favorites.
Please forgive us for using the American spelling, but we use it to refer to that particular function and so believe that it is correct to use the spelling that the program uses.
We all have information sources that we return to again and again and you are probably aware that there is a list of Favorites in Internet Explorer. This is a list of the web pages you want to return to.
Adding a Favorite Web Page
You can add to the list in Internet Explorer as follows:
- Get to the web page you want to make a Favorite.
- Click the Favorites menu and give the command Add to Favorites.
- In the dialog box you get - type in a name for your Favorite (or leave it as it is, if it's not too long).
- 4. Click OK.
Next time you click the Favorites menu, you'll see your new Favorite. Clicking the Favorite will take you to the web page.
Adding a Favorite Document or Folder
If you have certain folders or documents you use a lot, you can add them as a Favorite too. The Favorites menu can be found in Windows and Windows Explorer too.
- Use Windows or Windows Explorer to locate the folder or document you want to make a Favorite
- If you are adding a Folder, open it, if you are adding a document highlight it.
- Click the Favorites menu and give the command Add to Favorites.
- In the dialog box you get - type in a name for your Favorite.
- Click OK.
Organising Your Favorites Into Folders
Once you start adding Favorites, the list will quickly build-up, so create folders to group similar ones together. You might want one for customers, one for suppliers, another for travel information and so on.
- Start to add a Favorite in the usual way.
- When you give the command Add to Favorites, the dialog box has a New Folder... button.
- Click this and type in a name for your new folder. Click OK.
- You will be returned to the Add to Favorites dialog box, and your new folder will be highlighted.
- Click OK and your new Favorite will be placed in the folder.
If you want to put a new Favorite into an existing folder. Select the folder from the list. If you can't see the list click the Create in button, which will display it.
Deleting and Re-Organising Favorites
If you want to move, delete or rename your Favorites, use the Organize Favorites command from the Favorites menu.
- Give the command Favorites - Organize Favorites.
- Select the folder, document or web page you want to work with.
- Click the button (Create Folder, Rename, Move to Folder or Delete) for the action you want.
Bookmarks?
You have probably seen web pages exhorting you to 'Bookmark this page'. This will add the page to your Favorites. Bookmark is the term used by Netscape Navigator (a web browser program similar to Internet Explorer) for the same thing as Favorites.
Adding a Favorites Menu to the Start Menu
When you click the Start Button, you may already have a Favorites menu that gives you instant access to all your Favorites instead of opening the Internet first. If you want to add the Favorites menu:
- Right-click the Start button and give the command Properties.
- Make sure you are in the Properties of the Start menu (not the Taskbar) and click Customize.
- In some versions of Windows you should see a list of Start Menu items. If not click Advanced to find it.
- Scroll down this list and put a tick on Favorites Menu.
- OK the new settings and when you next use the Start menu you'll see the Favorites menu.
Favorites are a very useful tool for returning to places you use a lot. Most people use them on the internet, because web pages can be very difficult to find again, but don't forget you can also add your own, or colleagues' folders and documents too.