prepared desktops

This is a quick overview of how Digital Services can use the Macintosh alias or the Windows shortcut to create prepared desktops.

Prepared desktops reduce the management of individual workstations and provided scanning technicians with fast access to the files and folders they need.

Digital_Coll_in_progress\u0003_0000252_Cabaniss

On the Share drive we can set up project folders that house everything we need for a collection …

Digital_Coll_in_progress\u0003_0000252_Cabaniss… including a Macintosh alias and a Windows shortcut to the tracking files spreadsheet.

ps: The Macintosh computers don’t like Windows shortcuts and vice-versa. But all the MACs can use the alias and all the PCs can use the shortcut.

Cabaniss alias

Digital_Coll_in_progress\u0003_0000252_CabanissWe can also place an alias on a Macintosh desktop to the project folder itself. This way we have fast access to the project folder and everything inside of it – including the alias to the tracking files spreadsheet.

Cabaniss alias

Digital_Coll_in_progress\u0003_0000252_CabanissBy the way: sometimes the MAC alias’ break. That’s to say, they don’t work anymore though they once did. If this happens, often restarting the computer will fix the problem. Otherwise, the next solution is to delete the alias and create a new one.

Cabaniss alias

Digital_Coll_in_progress\u0003_0000252_Cabaniss

Shortcut to Cabaniss

We can also add shortcuts on Windows desktops.

Digital_Coll_in_progress\u0003_0000252_Cabaniss

Digital_Coll_in_progress\u0003_0000328_Cocke

Cabaniss alias

Shortcut to Cabaniss

Shortcut to Cocke

And we can add a desktop alias/shortcut for other collections to whichever computer we want.

Here, we’ve added another desktop shortcut on our Windows machine.

Digital_Coll_in_progress\u0003_0000252_Cabaniss

Digital_Coll_in_progress\u0003_0000328_Cocke

Cabaniss alias

Shortcut to Cabaniss

Shortcut to Cocke

If we need to remove the desktop alias/shortcut, the real folder on the Share drive will still exist.

Digital_Coll_in_progress\u0003_0000252_Cabaniss

Digital_Coll_in_progress\u0003_0000xxx_Pepsy

Cabaniss alias

Shortcut to Cabaniss

Shortcut to Pepsy

Of course, we can always add a new alias/shortcut.

Digital_Coll_in_progress\u0003_0000328_Cocke

QC _Scripts

Likewise, the QC_Scripts folder on the Share drive itself has many an alias/shortcut to applications and to the output folder where the applications write report files.

QC _Scripts

Shortcut to QC_Scripts

Shortcut to QC_Scripts

QC_Scripts alias

By creating a desktop alias/shortcut to the QC_Scripts folder, each computer station has quick access to all the quality control applications as well as the output folder to which they write.

QC _Scripts

Shortcut to QC_Scripts

Shortcut to QC_Scripts

QC_Scripts alias

Sometimes items will need to be added/deleted from the QC_Scripts folder.

Changing the real folder affects everything that links to it.

Here’s a typical Windows Prepared Desktop with shortcuts to …

The “Share” drive,

Here’s a typical Windows Prepared Desktop with shortcuts to …

The “Share” drive, The WIKI,

Here’s a typical Windows Prepared Desktop with shortcuts to …

The “Share” drive, The WIKI,Important Documents,

Here’s a typical Windows Prepared Desktop with shortcuts to …

Digital Projects,

Here’s a typical Windows Prepared Desktop with shortcuts to …

Digital Projects,The QC Scripts folder,

Here’s a typical Windows Prepared Desktop with shortcuts to …

Digital Projects,The QC Scripts folder,Collection Folders,

Here’s a typical Windows Prepared Desktop with shortcuts to …

The C:\Digital Program folder,

Here’s a typical Windows Prepared Desktop with shortcuts to …

The C:\Digital Program folder,And Applications.

Here’s a typical Windows Prepared Desktop with shortcuts to …

The MAC Desktops are very similar.