This question comes up frequently- especially from those who are used to a Windows machine. Shortcuts, or Aliases as they are called in the Macintosh world, are like little pointers that point to where a file is. The most common use for an alias or shortcut is to place a shortcut on the desktop where it is conveniently located. You may make an alias to a frequently used application or document so that you don’t have to go fishing around for it deep within the well organized hierarchy of folders that you established.
To make the alias, click on the icon of the application or file to select it and then go to the File menu and select “Make Alias”. You’ll notice that you can simply hit “Command-L” instead. These keyboard shortcuts can save you time. You’ll notice that there is another icon of that application with the word “alias” appended to it. Move this icon to the exact place you want the shortcut. Usually, the desktop is a very convenient place for aliases.
Another way to make an alias which is almost exactly the same in the Windows world is to simply “right-click” on the file. A pop-up menu will appear and you just select “Create alias”.
However, in the Macintosh world there is a much more elegant way to keep files close to you without cluttering up your desktop. The Dock is an ideal place to put frequently used applications or documents. The Dock is that application bar that is at the bottom of your screen. Simply drag any application to the Dock for easy access. Or, while in that application, click and hold on the icon in the Dock and you’ll notice a menu pops up. One of the items on the menu is to “Keep in dock”. You’ll also notice a convenient option that opens the application automatically upon login. Use this feature sparingly to keep system startup times to a minimum. But it is a convenient feature to have. Just keep in mind that applications reside on the left of the line and documents and folders reside to the right of the line (nearer the trash).
Often, “Spotlight” can also get to your desired application or file faster than navigating through folders.