What I can't do is set up short cuts to these applications on the Win 7 desktop.
While running Windows XP Mode via VMware Player you need to switch to Unity View and while in Unity View you can do one of two things... One is when the target application is running you can right-click its icon on the Taskbar and select "Pin this program to taskbar" or with or without the target application running you can mouse over the Windows Start Orb and the Windows XP Mode Start Menu will appear above the Windows Start Orb. You then navigate to the target application and then right-click > Send To > Desktop (create shortcut) and while in Unity View this places the shortcut on the Host's Desktop not the Guest's Desktop.
I have followed the instructions which involve settings in the "Options/Unity" tab of setup, but some of the fields referred to do not appear.
Did you Install/reinstall VMware Tools in the Windows XPMode Virtual Machine, if not do so. Also if what I said in the first part of my reply is not working for you after installing/reinstalling VMware Tools then you'll need to be a bit more explicit and specific about "but some of the fields referred to do not appear"! 