Shortcut Creator 4U3

It's never a good sign when the best thing you can say about an app is that it's free. In the case of this executable that simplifies placing shortcuts to apps on your U3-enabled USB drive, even its freeware status and easy operation aren't enough to save it.

Setup is relatively easy with Shortcut Creator 4U3. Users can run the program any time from a temporary directory or install it permanently on their PC or U3 drives. Operating it is a mere matter of filling in the blanks. The app's primary dialog-sized interface opens with eight blank fields. Use the familiar Windows Browse dialog to set the application's path, icon, and working directory. Enter text for the shortcut's name, arguments, and even add an optional shortcut description, the vendor name, and URL. Additional advanced options are displayed with a button click.

Testers complained this app interfered with the U3 program install process. At best, U3 drives simply added the shortcuts created by this tool. In the worst cases, Shortcut Creator lengthened a process the U3 drive could easily perform.

No one should have any trouble understanding and using Shortcut Creator 4U3, but only those lacking a U3 launch tool will find this program worthwhile. Even then, the potential tradeoff in time may be too big of a cost for this simple freeware program.