vSubst

Oftentimes, keeping the files and folders neatly organized on the computer implies having multiple sub-locations. In some cases, reaching a file may require clicking your way through a large number of folders.

To avoid wasting time in order to get to a particular file third party developers came up with various solutions, and one of them is the creation of virtual drives that provide access to a user defined folder.

vSubst (from visual substitute) is such an alternative that can turn any folder into a virtual drive. The application does not require installation as it works out of the box, as soon as the content of the downloaded archive is extracted and the executable file is initiated.

Looks are far from being impressive, hinting that the developer focused on the functionality of the product rather than aesthetics. Thus, a simple and straightforward interface presents the options along with a short set of instructions.

The tool enables the user to select a drive letter out of the available ones and then choose the folder that needs to be easily accessed. This is no more complicated a procedure than browsing to the desired location.

Multiple locations can be turned into virtual drives for easier access and their number depends only on the amount of drive letters available.

Keep in mind that by default, the virtual drives are not preserved after restarting the system. However, there is the possibility to make them persistent so that the configuration survives this operation. The steps required for this are described in the documentation file that comes with the product.

vSubst covers a specific need and it is not difficult to manage. A simple look at the interface is enough to get going. Make sure to read the documentation file before using the product as it presents various “dos” and “don’ts.”