[NFBCS] Creating Desktop Shortcuts For Apps Acquired From The Microsoft Store

Thu May 7 19:10:27 UTC 2020

Hello,

I have looked into this myself. I used to be able to create hot keys for most programs in the past, even under Windows 7 and 8, like, Control+Alt+W for word and to be able to put things on the desktop.
That ability seems to be removed from the Windows altogether, as of now, as of Windows 10 V 1909 update. I've looked all around for solutions but no cigar.

I'd say, for conventional apps like Office or apps that can have LNK shortcuts, you can open the file location, and / or search for the Start menu or whatever is under your users folder, then look for the shortcut to the app in question and then do an Applications key (or Shift+F10)

Hit N for "Send to submenu", press Enter, and hit D for Desktop (create shortcut)

This unfortunately doesn't appear to work for Windows store apps.

As for drag and drop, yeah, I've also run into some of these challenges as well.

“Positive thinking leads to a positive attitude which leads to positive actions which lead to positive outcomes.”
— ME

On May 7, 2020, at 11:46 AM, Steve Jacobson via NFBCS <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:

Curtis,

Did the answer desk seem to indicate that they recognized this as an accessibility issue?  They are supposed to be filing any discoveries like this with the appropriate team, at least that is what is being stated.  However, they are also supposed to be looking at feedback that comes through the Windows Feedback Hub which can be brought up by WINDOWS+f.  Creating an entry there would probably increase the chance of this getting resolved.  As much progress as has been made, I really don't understand how something like this can happen.

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Curtis Chong via NFBCS
Sent: Thursday, May 7, 2020 12:39 PM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Curtis Chong <chong.curtis at gmail.com>
Subject: [NFBCS] Creating Desktop Shortcuts For Apps Acquired From The Microsoft Store

Greetings everyone:

I have encountered what I believe to be a Microsoft accessibility issue.
This has to do with creating Windows Desktop shortcuts for programs that one
purchases from the Microsoft Store. One such program is the KNFB Reader.
Another example is Microsoft Office. While I myself am subscribing to Office
365, I work with a number of blind people who, for whatever reason, have
purchased Office directly from the Microsoft Store.

Consider the Microsoft Word program-the version that has not been purchased
from the Microsoft Store. Once installed, you can locate the shortcut to
Microsoft Word by opening the Start Menu and typing "word". Once focused on
the shortcut, you can press SHIFT+F10 and arrow down to "Open file location"
and pressing Enter. Once there, you are focused on the Shortcut to Word. You
can copy and paste this to the Desktop in the usual way.

Consider the KNFB Reader app. You can find KNFB Reader in the Start Menu.
But, when you open the Context Menu for this, you will find that the Open
Containing Folder option is not available. I did a bit of research online. I
learned that the only way to get a Microsoft Store app to the Windows
Desktop was to perform a "drag and drop" operation. The JAWS screen reader
has a drag and drop function, but when I tried using it, I kept getting a
"drag object not found" message. Ultimately, the only way I could create a
shortcut to KNFB Reader on my Desktop was to call the Microsoft Disability
Answer Desk (1-800-936-5900).

I am well aware that Microsoft has an accessibility team which is deeply
committed to ensuring that accessibility is available whenever and wherever
possible. Many things Microsoft are working for the blind today because of
the good work of this team. I hope that this accessibility issue, for which
there is a work-around through the Disability Answer Desk, can be fixed in a
future update to Windows.

Cordially,

Curtis Chong

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