Junction

Junctions or directory links are a feature of Windows 2000 and later that allows a directory to play the role of an alias for another directory on the same computer (remote shares are not supported).

Even though junctions are supported, Windows does not come with a built-in tool for creating them, encouraging you to purchase the Win2K Resource Kit instead.   Nevertheless, third-party tools such as Junction are ready to help you check and generate reparse points, which is the mechanism behind NTFS junctions.

Junction is a console application that makes it possible to generate NTFS junction points and helps you verify whether a file or a directory acts as a reparse point. You can use it to get information about reparse points, create new junction points and remove existing directory links.

The application runs exclusively via the console window, as there is no standard GUI available. There are three separate commands available.

To check whether a directory is a junction point or not, you must use its path as an argument for Junction. Optionally, the application can check for reparse points inside a directory.

Creating a junction requires you to set the junction directory and the junction target.

The simple usage example as you run the app in the command console might help you understand better.

Last but not least, reparse points can be deleted with Junction using the “-d” command.

Additional options allow you to hide the startup banner and the copyright message, or automatically accept the EULA.