Load the Link Wizard.

Start the SchoolSuite Link Wizard from the Windows Start menu, a window similar to the welcome message opposite should be displayed.

Enter the Application shortcut path and program details.

You can choose to create a new shortcut from scratch by completing the Target Path and Start In information manually or by clicking on the browse button to select the appropriate program.

Alternatively you can drag and drop the program or an existing shortcut anywhere onto onto the frame containing the link details.

Existing LinkPoint files can also be opened and loaded into the wizard by clicking on the Link Wizard button on the bottom left of this window.

Configure any network drive mappings that may be needed.

The next step is to add any network drive mappings that may be required, either by the program or other programs that may be loaded by the LinkPoint.

Drive mappings can be configured for any available drive letter and drive letters already assigned to a network drive will appear in grey to help avoid conflicts.

To create a drive mapping simply double click on the drive required (or right click and select 'Add' from the menu). A browse window will display allowing you to browse the network for the the network share you require or to type in the path manually.

When a LinkPoint is assigned a drive letter it will reuse an existing drive mapping if one exists, this makes it very easy to have multiple programs using a single drive letter.

Assign the appropriate dead link icon response.

The next step is to assign what action should occur in the event of a the target program not being present on the computer. Normally this situation would be termed a 'dead link', a shortcut whose target program is missing.

Dead links are noticeable as they have a default windows icon and, when clicked of they will often prompt the user to resolve the situation and, as such, they are usually undesirable in a school environment.

The link wizard will present you with a choice as to what action should be taken if the target program cannot be found on the computer.

The first option is to simply display a message, this can be very useful where programs are deliberately only installed on a selection of computers for departmental or licensing reasons. You can customise what message is displayed and therefore display a message that is meaningful and relevant to the user who reads it.

The second option is to suspend loading the target program until another program of your choice has been completed. This option is particularly useful for deploying a software package, the link wizard will wait for the software to be deployed before continuing. You can install a program on a single computer, create a link point to it and it will be deployed to the rest of the network automatically as required.

Configure any additional applications that may be needed.

You can specify if you would like the LinkPoint to load additional applications at the same time as the target application.

To add an additional application right click anywhere in the list box and select 'Add' from the menu. A browse window will display allowing you to browse the network for the the network file or program you require or to type in the path manually.

You can right click on an application and choose to edit the switch settings that will be used when the program starts or remove it from the list.

Enter the LinkPoint name and location.

The LinkPoint name and location is the final piece of information required by the wizard, you can enter the name and location manually or click on the browse button and select the path and file name from the file save window.

The wizard will actually generate two files in the location you specify, the LinkPoint itself which contains the setting and instructions and a shortcut file that will call the LinkPoint correctly from any point on the network.

Review the link point summary information.

This is the final step before the shortcut and link files will be created, review the information in the summary window to check that the LinkPoint will do what you want it to and click 'Finish' when you are ready.

If you are not happy with the summary you can go back and change anything you set earlier. Clicking 'Finish' will create a Shortcut and Link file of the name you selected. The shortcut file can then be copied to any location such as a centralised desktop folder.