Using Word -problems in saving text to desktop shortcut.

Dorabella · Jul 19, 2025

Hi All.

I've never experienced this problem before, until now.

In the past I've saved text from Word very easily. I highlight the text and save it, close Word and then go to desktop where I right click screen and choose "new" to open a shortcut. Then I enter the location by using Ctrl +V. Until now there's been no problem. But now, consistently I receive the message, The "file cannot be found". The strange thing is that I've sent the Word file to another Laptop but the same thing happens. Is the problem associated with Word?

Any help will be gratefully received.

Thank you,

Dorabella

Edwin · Jul 19, 2025

Dorabella said:
In the past I've saved text from Word very easily. I highlight the text and save it, close Word and then go to desktop where I right click screen and choose "new" to open a shortcut. Then I enter the location by using Ctrl +V. Until now there's been no problem. But now, consistently I receive the message, The "file cannot be found".

I don't understand...,
are you trying to create a Desktop shortcut from a portion of highlighted text, or, a shortcut to the file itself?

antspants · Jul 19, 2025

That’s what I was wondering.

Dorabella said:
In the past I've saved text from Word very easily. I highlight the text and save it, close Word and then go to desktop where I right click screen and choose "new" to open a shortcut. Then I enter the location by using Ctrl +V. Until now there's been no problem

Welcome to the forum, Dorabella.

Sorry, Dorabella, but non of what you’re saying makes any sense.

antspants · Jul 19, 2025

Here’s one way to create a shortcut to a Word Document.

Please note: — A shortcut can not be moved to another PC unless the file the shortcut points to, is in the same place as the original PC.

So if the Word document is in Documents\Word\Wordfile.doc then it needs to be in that location on the second PC or you will get that error message

How to Create a Desktop Shortcut to a Microsoft Word Document in Windows 11

Follow these simple steps to place a direct shortcut to your Word document on the desktop.

Open File Explorer using the Windows + E keyboard shortcut.
Navigate to the folder containing your Word document.
Right-click the document (.doc or .docx) that you want to create a shortcut for.
From the context menu, select Show more options (if you're using the simplified Windows 11 menu).
Choose Create shortcut. A shortcut will appear in the same folder.
Right-click the new shortcut file and select Cut.
Navigate to your desktop. You can do this quickly by pressing Windows + D.
Right-click any blank space on the desktop and choose Paste. Your shortcut is now on the desktop.

Tip: You can rename the shortcut by right-clicking it and choosing Rename. This helps you keep your desktop organized.

Dorabella · Jul 20, 2025

Edwin said:
I don't understand...,
are you trying to create a Desktop shortcut from a portion of highlighted text, or, a shortcut to the file itself?

Yes,

Edwin said:
I don't understand...,
are you trying to create a Desktop shortcut from a portion of highlighted text, or, a shortcut to the file itself?

Yes, I want a shortcut on the Desktop containing only a portion of the text. Perhaps the method I've described to you is cumbersome, but I've never had any problems in the past. Can you suggest anything.

Just another thing. If I use the method I've described to create a desktop for the whole document, I have no problem. But for an extract it's "no go". can you help?

Edwin · Jul 20, 2025

Dorabella said:
I highlight the text and save it...

When you say "I highlight a portion of text and then save it...", in what manner are you accomplishing that? Saving it as what?

Dorabella · Jul 20, 2025

Edwin said:
When you say "I highlight a portion of text and then save it...", in what manner are you accomplishing that? Saving it as what?

Highlight a passage, right click, choose "copy" from the options (or I use Windows C) and then I try to try to get the passage on to a shortcut on the Desktop. (I have also used the sniping tool method to get a screenshot and then move that to the desktop.

glasskuter · Jul 20, 2025

I've been using both Word and shortcuts for years. You CAN NOT and NEVER HAVE BEEN able to create a shortcut by pasting random text into the location box of a shortcut. You can paste either a file/folder path or a URL

For a program: C:\Program Files\ExampleApp\app.exe
For a folder: C:\Users\YourName\Documents
For a file: C:\Users|YourName\Documents\DocumentName
Or type a URL like https://www.google.com

Edwin · Jul 20, 2025

Dorabella said:
...try to get the passage on to a shortcut on the Desktop.

I've never heard of that being possible! The passage has to reside in a file of some sort, first!

The only thing, that I know of, that comes close is a browser Link Highlight...

antspants · Jul 20, 2025

Create a Desktop Shortcut to a Specific Section in a Word Document

Step 1: Add a Bookmark in Word

Open your Word document.
Place your cursor where you want the shortcut to land.
Go to Insert > Bookmark.
Name it something simple (e.g. StartHere) — no spaces.
Click Add.

Step 2: Create a Shortcut File with a Word Link

Open a new blank Word document.
Type this link:
file:///C:/Path/To/YourDocument.docx#StartHere
- Replace C:/Path/To/YourDocument.docx with your actual file path.
Replace StartHere with your bookmark name.
Highlight the link > press Ctrl+K or use Insert > Link to make it clickable.
Save this document as LaunchToSection.docx on your desktop.

Step 3: Customize It (Optional)

Use a display name like “Open to Section” for the hyperlink.
Add icons or formatting if needed.

Notes

Bookmark names can’t have spaces.
File path must be absolute.
Moving or renaming the target document will break the shortcut.
Word may display a trust prompt when opening hyperlinks.

antspants · Jul 20, 2025

I wont say that I don’t believe you have been able to do whatever it is you’re trying to explain, in the past.
But a step by step (Like I did above) process of how you did it, would be appreciated.

Dorabella · Jul 21, 2025

Hi to all,
Thank you for your help. I think I've got it now with bookmarks. Thank you Sinto. When one's in their 80s it's not really the time to begin a career in Technology.

Dorabella

Using Word -problems in saving text to desktop shortcut.

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