Office: Customizing Start Menu to Create Microsoft Office Menu

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Office for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Access 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Access, version 7.0
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows
• Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0

SUMMARY

When you install Microsoft Office or one of the individual Microsoft Office applications, the applications are added as separate items to the Programs menu on the Start menu in Windows. If you are used to accessing your applications from a Microsoft Office group from an earlier version of Office, or if you want to access these applications from a Microsoft Office menu on the Start menu, you can customize your Start menu to create the structure that you desire.

MORE INFORMATION

When you install Microsoft Office, the following shortcuts are added to the Start Menu\Programs folder in the Microsoft Windows folder, and appear on the Programs menu on the Start menu:

   Microsoft Excel
   Microsoft Access
   Microsoft Word
   Microsoft PowerPoint
   Microsoft Binder
   Microsoft Schedule+ (Office 7.0 only)
   Microsoft Outlook (Office 97 only)
   Photo Editor (Office 97 only)

Method 1: Use the Taskbar Properties

To modify the Start menu by using the Taskbar Properties dialog box, do the following:

1. On the Windows taskbar, click Start. Click Settings, and then click Taskbar.

2. Click the Start Menu Programs tab. Click Advanced.

   Windows Explorer appears and the Start Menu\Programs folder is active.

3. Double-click the Programs folder. On the File menu, click New, and then click Folder.

4. Give the new folder the name that you want to appear on the Programs menu, such as Microsoft Office.

5. From the Programs folder, drag any of the Office shortcuts that you want to appear on the new menu that you created in Step 4.

6. In Windows Explorer, click Close on the File menu. In the Taskbar Properties dialog box, click OK.

Method 2: Use My Computer or Windows Explorer

To modify the Start menu by using My Computer or Windows Explorer, do the following:

1. Start My Computer or Windows Explorer.

2. Double-click the Microsoft Windows folder. Double-click the Start Menu folder, and then double-click the Programs folder.

3. On the File menu, click New, and then click Folder.

4. Give the new folder the name that you want to appear on the Programs menu, such as Microsoft Office.

5. From the Programs folder, drag any of the Office shortcuts that you want to appear on the new menu that you created in Step d above.

6. Close the open Windows Explorer window or My Computer windows.

REFERENCES

For more information about customizing the Start menu in Windows, click the Index tab in Windows Help, type the following text

   Start menu, cu