Shortcuts on Linux is known as soft links and traditionally, this can be achieved by using the “ln –s” command and option.  You can also achieve this on the Gnome desktop using the mouse only.  However, unlike the Windows way to create a shortcut where you right click on the folder/file and near the bottom of the list there is the option to “Create Shortcut”.

In Gnome, the middle mouse button is used for this purposes (if you have a mouse that’s only 2 buttons, you can generally click on both to simulate the middle mouse button).  As an example, OpenSuSE and SuSE both automatically mounts the Windows partition and assuming that you want to create a shortcut to these Windows partition on your desktop, you first select the Windows partition (as above).

Click (using the middle mouse button) and drag the mounted Windows directory to your desktop.  Release the mouse button and select the “Link Here” option.

The shortcut to your selected Windows partition will be on your desktop.