I briefly covered this in another thread containing various methods to fool Windows to allow a non-app shortcut (aka: shortcut to a single file) to be placed (pinned) on the Taskbar. The following method does not use any changes or fooling techniques, but rather uses the start switch that nearly all apps in Windows uses to open a specific file. I refined my instructions and am posting in the Windows 10 forum but these instructions (I am told) will also work in Windows 11.
Place Shortcut to a File on the Taskbar
What
Instructions to create a shortcut to open a specific file so the shortcut can be pinned to the Taskbar.
Why
Only shortcuts to an app can be pinned to the Taskbar which prevents any shortcut to a non-app file such as a document, worksheet, or image file from being placed on the Taskbar. It would be very convenient if a shortcut that opens a specific file that you use often could be placed on the Taskbar. There are various tricks that require changing file extensions, icons, or adding Explorer to the shortcut. The following method uses no tricks and utilizes the app to open the file by using a switch command when opening the app.
Note: The following instructions apply to Windows 10 and I am told works for Windows 11.
How
o Obtain the Path address of the app that opens the specific file you want the shortcut to open. The Target box in the Properties window of the shortcut you use to open that app will give you that Path address. Often when you open the Properties window the Path address in the Target box is already highlight and a simple Ctrl + C copies that address. For my example I will use and Excel workbook as the file so the Path address on my system to the Excel app is:
“C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\EXCEL.EXE”
o Next obtain the Path address of the file you want to open (select in File Explorer and select Copy Path). For my example the Path address to the file is:
“D:\Documents\Workbook1.xlsx”
o On the desktop, right click a blank space and select New>Shortcut to open the Shortcut wizard.
o In the box Type the location of the item: Enter the Path address to the app that opens the file followed by one space and enter the Path address to the file you want to open. Following my example above in that location box I would enter:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\EXCEL.EXE" “D:\Documents\Workbook1.xlsx”
o Press Next.
o Enter a name you want for this shortcut. Test your shortcut to make sure it opens that file.
o Right click the shortcut and select Pin to Taskbar. This option is available because the shortcut is to an app.
o You can delete the shortcut from the Desktop and the shortcut on the Taskbar will remain.
o Nearly all apps will open a specific file by entering the Path address of the app that will open the file, one space, and the Path address to the file to be opened.
HTH, Dana:))
