Abstract: A method in a computer system is disclosed for programmatically locating any file and building a shortcut for future reference to that file. The method also enables the arrangement of the shortcuts in an organized and hierarchical fashion. First, a shortcut cache and a mapping file is created if one does not exist. Then, the shortcut cache and the mapping file is searched for a shortcut for the file. The shortcut contains the location and name of the file. If the shortcut name is not found, then the shortcut directory for the current user is located in the system registry, and it is searched for the shortcut name. If the shortcut name is still not found, the shortcut directory for all users is located in the system registry, and it is searched for the shortcut name. If the shortcut name is found then it is stored in the shortcut cache and the mapping file; and, the location and name of the file is returned to the requestor.