Office: Customizing Start Menu to Create Microsoft Office Menu

ID: Q132979

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Office for Windows 95, version 7.0
  • Microsoft Access 97
  • Microsoft Access 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)
You can change the structure of these items (or any additional items) on the Start menu. For example, to add a Microsoft Office menu to the Programs menu, and then add any of the Office shortcuts to this new Microsoft Office menu, use any of the following methods.

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
double-click the selected text and then double-click Customizing The Taskbar Or Start Menu to go to the "To Customize the Taskbar or Start Menu" topic.

Additional query words: 8.00 97

Keywords : offwin
Version : 7.00 97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: May 28, 1999
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