Introduction:
How do I create a shortcut on my Mac computer that's simple and easy? That's the question we're going to answer in this video. Let's get started. On my Mac computer, I have a Chrome browser up, and we're using Chrome because they offer a quick and simple way to create a shortcut. Now, normally, the way that other teachers go about creating a shortcut or just general knowledge in creating a shortcut is by selecting the URL and dragging it to the desktop. However, it doesn't give me a nice icon, and it doesn't allow me to drag it to the docks – that's something I really want. So, I'm going to go ahead and throw that into the trash. Instead,

Create Shortcut Through Chrome
I'm going to go to the settings, scroll down to 'save and share,' and select 'create shortcut' here. I'm going to leave it as it is, but I do have the option to name it whatever I want. Maybe I don't want the 'M,' my 'y,' I just want it called 'PLTW.' Going to go ahead and create, and then it's going to generate that 'pltw' shortcut. I'm going to drag it to my desktop. The icon isn't as nice; normally, other website icons look a lot better. But in terms of pltw, this is what we get. It's a little better than the other one that I showed you, but it's better because now I'm able to drag it to my Dock and have it for quick access. So now, when I select it, it'll open a new tab and bring me to PLTW right away.

Tab vs Open as a Window
But what if, let's just say, I created a shortcut and didn't move it to the desktop or the dock, and I'm like, 'Oh, where are my shortcuts?' Or maybe I just want to go back and move it to a USB or thumb drive or something. I want to go back and see all my shortcuts. Well, the way to do it is by selecting the Finder, right-click on it, and going to Chrome apps. Here we'll bring a screen, and it will show all the apps that you created. Now, I've already dragged them to the desktop, so if they're not located in the Chrome's app, but if I forgot to drag them to the desktop, that's where it would be. Just good knowledge of that; it's going to save you some time later on. All right, there's a last piece I want to show to you. Let's go back and say I want to create a shortcut. I'm going to keep the name just for this example. But what if, what is this option 'open as a window'? I'm going to show it to you; we're going to create it. Now, it doesn't give me the option to select an icon and bring it to the test. What it does,

it overrides my current shortcuts. So, as you've seen it before where I select it, it would normally open a new tab and go to pltw, but it doesn't. Instead, it opens up as a window. Now, that might be good in certain settings, but that's not something that I prefer. So, here's also a good lesson. If I go to save and create and go to create shortcuts, I can unselect 'open as a window,' and then it doesn't pop up. It overrides my current saved icons. So, if you go to Chrome apps by right-clicking on it – I don't know why it always goes behind – you won't see a new pltw icon. I just want to get that squared away. If you already have it on your desktop or in your dock, it will override it. The name will override if you have that shortcut; it will override the name and the settings that you select. So, that is how you create a shortcut, easy and quick. Again, just a quick review: settings, go to 'save and share,' and then create a shortcut. That's it. I hope that was helpful. Thank you for watching.

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