ShortcutsToTray

ShortcutsToTray is a small-sized and portable program that lets users create shortcuts in the system tray area for any file, folder, URL, application, power management option, and others. Too bad it doesn't have a search function, similar to the Start menu in Windows 7.

Since there is no installation involved, you can drop the executable file in any location on the hard drive and just click it to run.

An alternative is to save ShortcutsToTray to a pen drive or other mass storage device, to be able to run it on any machine effortlessly, without previously installing anything.

What's important to consider is that the Windows registry does not get updated with new entries, and no additional files are created on the HDD, leaving no traces behind after removal.

At startup, ShortcutsToTray creates an icon in the system tray area and defines categories such as files and folders, Internet links, network resources, applications, operations, system links, and disk drives.

For example, it is possible to add a file or folder by simply pointing out its path, as well as to to organize them into groups. In case of applications, it is necessary to establish the title, file name, parameters and working directories (administrative rights are optional for running). System operations include powering off, rebooting, hibernating and locking the workstation.

The app does not put a strain on computer performance, as it runs on low CPU and RAM. We have not come across any issues throughout our evaluation, since ShortcutsToTray did not hang, crash or display error messages.

Although it is not particularly resourceful regarding customization, ShortcutsToTray offers a simple method to creating multipurpose shortcuts in the system tray area, catering to all user categories.