[Request] Looking for a script to pin Office shortcuts to Start

[ashleylewisms92]

Hi All,

 

I've been playing around with VBScripts, Batch/CMD and PowerShell, but just can't seem to get any of them to do what I want - and that is, to pin Office shortcuts to Start.

I wondered if anyone has been able to create such a script?

 

It's needed for Windows 8.1 and 32-bit Office Professional Plus 2016.

It's not a logon script that I'm looking to create, but just a script that will add in the Office shortcuts to "All Users" Start Menu.

If anyone can point me in the right direction, I'd be very appreciative.

 

To clarify, I'd like the shortcuts to appear on the initial Start Screen, not the "All Apps" screen.

[r0bun]

Not sure if I've understood correctly but try to use a GPO Preference to add shortcuts to the all users start menu as a per-user setting.

 

New GPO (or existing shortcuts one)

User Config

Preferences

Windows Settings

Shortcuts

New shortcut

General Tab

Action:Update or Replace

Name: Microsoft Word

Target Type: File System Object

Location: All Users Start Menu

Target path: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\WINWORD.EXE

 

Common Tab

Uncheck from: Run in logged in user's security context

[ADMaster]

It sounds like you need to look into the start layout XML.

[ashleylewisms92]

Not sure if I've understood correctly but try to use a GPO Preference to add shortcuts to the all users start menu as a per-user setting.

 

New GPO (or existing shortcuts one)

User Config

Preferences

Windows Settings

Shortcuts

New shortcut

General Tab

Action:Update or Replace

Name: Microsoft Word

Target Type: File System Object

Location: All Users Start Menu

Target path: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\WINWORD.EXE

 

Common Tab

Uncheck from: Run in logged in user's security context

 

Thanks,

 

I tried this, but it didn't create the shortcut in the top Start Menu (it only done it in the "all apps" section).

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

It sounds like you need to look into the start layout XML.

 

Thanks,

 

I tried, but we're using Windows 8.1 Pro x64 and the GPO to push out the Start Menu .xml only works with enterprise - rather frustrating

[SHimmer45]

you can create a start layout and then lift the file it creates directly from the profile and drop it into default user this works with pro as i did this for some hideous Linx tablets.

[ashleylewisms92]

you can create a start layout and then lift the file it creates directly from the profile and drop it into default user this works with pro as i did this for some hideous Linx tablets.

 

Thank you,

Have you got any instructions or guides etc. for doing this?

 

Also, does it affect the "All Apps" section of the Start Menu? or is it purely just the top half of the Start Menu?

[SHimmer45]

do you mean the Tile section if so yes.

if so yes i can tell you what you need to move to make it appear.

 

its does add stuff to the all apps section as that is still populated in the traditional way.

[ashleylewisms92]

do you mean the Tile section if so yes.

if so yes i can tell you what you need to move to make it appear.

 

its does add stuff to the all apps section as that is still populated in the traditional way.

 

That's absolutely fine, it's only the Office 2016 Shortcuts I want to put on the tile section (what I've always called the "Top Start Menu") so because they already exist under the "All Apps" section, I presume it'll just skip making a duplicate.

[SHimmer45]

ok this might work for you but i did the following:

 

Create the layout as you require

and then if you go to appdata\local\microsoft\windows folder

in the root of that there should be 3 files appsFolder.itemdata-ms appsFolder.itemdata-ms.bak appsFolderLayout.bin

if you put this in the same location but in the default user directory it should do what you need and they will be able to add and remove items if they wish

[ADMaster]

Since your still on windows 8.1 I'd upgrade or use classic shell.

 

Classic shell worked great for me on win8 it wasn't until 10 that it gave me problems.

 

I never did like that full screen start menu. Hopefully whatever agreement / licensing your on will allow the upgrade.

 

If you do upgrade, you can apply the xml via dism during OSD.

[ashleylewisms92]

ok this might work for you but i did the following:

 

Create the layout as you require

and then if you go to appdata\local\microsoft\windows folder

in the root of that there should be 3 files appsFolder.itemdata-ms appsFolder.itemdata-ms.bak appsFolderLayout.bin

if you put this in the same location but in the default user directory it should do what you need and they will be able to add and remove items if they wish

 

Thanks,

 

I just tried, but that's not worked for me.

I customized the Start Menu, then went into the appdata\local\microsoft\windows folder and copied the 3 files.

Then pasted them in C:\users\default\appdata\local\microsoft\windows folder, logged off and then in as another user, but it's not got the shortcuts.

[ashleylewisms92]

Since your still on windows 8.1 I'd upgrade or use classic shell.

 

Classic shell worked great for me on win8 it wasn't until 10 that it gave me problems.

 

I never did like that full screen start menu. Hopefully whatever agreement / licensing your on will allow the upgrade.

 

If you do upgrade, you can apply the xml via dism during OSD.

 

Thanks,

We're looking to upgrade within a year or so.

I would deploy Classic Shell, but Staff are currently used to the Windows Start Menu, so just wanted to try and ride this one out.

[SHimmer45]

Thanks,

 

I just tried, but that's not worked for me.

I customized the Start Menu, then went into the appdata\local\microsoft\windows folder and copied the 3 files.

Then pasted them in C:\users\default\appdata\local\microsoft\windows folder, logged off and then in as another user, but it's not got the shortcuts.

 

if the account all ready exists its wont populate as its made when a new account is created

[ashleylewisms92]

Ah OK,

 

That could be an issue for us then, as we're looking to deploy it to existing user accounts.

Sorry, I should have made that clear from the outset.

[clareq]

Try removing the user profile from a machine, and then logging on again. They will create a new profile, based on the default one, with the settings you've put into default (this is assuming you don't use mandatory or roaming profiles)

[ashleylewisms92]

Try removing the user profile from a machine, and then logging on again. They will create a new profile, based on the default one, with the settings you've put into default (this is assuming you don't use mandatory or roaming profiles)

 

I would do, the problem is that a lot of our PC's are shared, and some users - though already advised not to, save documents to the Desktop.

Last thing I'd want to do is to run Delprof2 on all the affected PC's, only to find out that people have lost their work.

 

Again, they're advised not to, and the majority don't, but some forget or revert back to their old habits etc.

[clareq]

Try the profile removal with a test user, make sure it works, then warn them you're going to be losing their desktops. Then redirect the desktop so they can't save there - what would you do if a hard drive failed?

[ashleylewisms92]

Thanks Clare,

 

Currently if an HDD fails I've managed to get data off using an external dock - but that's not something to rely on I know.

If there's ever a bad situation, then I'm covered as we have advised them not to save on the Desktop and it's covered in policy etc.

 

I will try the solution posted above on a fresh account to see if it works, but I may just stick with Desktop shortcuts until the Windows 10 deployment if there's no simple and time effective solution.