linkMakerlinkMaker_v1.1.1 ReadMe
linkMaker.exe provides a better interface to create shortcuts, symbolic links¹ and ntfs hardlinks/junction points². The app is intended to replace the antiquated 'Create Shortcut' wizard with something better; it makes all options available on one screen, and tries to auto-fill as much info as it can. Shell integration is provided for the 'new file' menu and the right-click drag menu.
¹Symbolic Links are similar to shortcuts, but are more transparent (most apps can't tell the difference between a symlink and the target file). I don't think Microsoft has ever provided a GUI to create them, but they're quite useful for redirecting files.
²Junction points and HardLinks are specific to ntfs filesystem, and can be somewhat fiddly. It's recommend to stick to shortcuts and symbolic links uness you understand how they work.
Usage Notes
Requirements: Version 4 or better of the .net framework is recommended. Get it from Microsoft.
No installation; just unpack and run. A settings file and ancillary files may be created in the program folder.
Instructions:
You'll probably want to enable the shell integration menus... if so: Run the app, then hit the settings button and check those boxes. After that you can use the app or the shell menu's to create links. Remember you can drag files and folders to fill-in the target, and the link name will auto-fill based on that.
When picking folders as a link target: The folder picker windows provides is an abomination, so we use the file picker to choose both files and folders. To pick a folder, navigate to the inside of the folder you want, then hit 'Open' with "{Press Open now to select the parent folder}" in the file name box.
Note on Security and Elevation: Microsoft, in their Sublime Wisdom, decided the creation of symbolic links should be subject to special restrictions. The situation is set to ease somewhat in Windows 10 Redstone 2, but we ain't there yet and I want to support other versions anyway... So the app has to ask for elevation to get admin privileges; sorry bout the UAC prompts, blame microsoft. If it gets too irritating you can turn off elevation in the settings... If the app cannot elevate, you won't be able to make symlinks or apply the shell integration settings; but everything else should work.
Command Line Usage:
- -t TARGET Fills in the link target, quote if the path contains spaces
- -d DESTINATION Fills in the link location/name, quote if the path contains spaces
ChangeLog
Version 1.1.1; 2019-11-22
- Changed: Symbolic link creation now uses unicode safe call.
Version 1.1; 2017-04-24
- ADDED: Setting to keep app open after link creation, to make bulk creations easier.
- ADDED: More descriptive descriptions of target & link location.
- ADDED: update to latest template (F12 toggles hidden debugmode setting)
Version 1.0; 2017-03-09
- Initial release.
Known Issues
- On Windows 7 or Server 2008, symbolic links to .exe files may throw an error when run via Explorer. This is a bug in explorer, fix it with this hotfix: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/3009980/
License Information
This software includes code or resources from the following sources:
Shell extension .dll files based on code by Michael Dubb
Licensed under the terms of: "This demo code is released to the public domain."Junction point code based on work by Jeff Brown
Licensed under the terms of: "no explicit license", assuming The Code Project Open License (CPOL) 1.02Host icon grabber routine by Sergey Stoyan
Licensed under the terms of: The Code Project Open License (CPOL) 1.02Additional icon code by Steve McMahon
Licensed under the terms of: vbAccelerator Software License
This software is distributed as-is, without any representations or warranties of any kind.
The author of this software imposes no additional license terms or limits upon its use or redistribution.
Feedback/Bugs
Send to utils@cresstone.com
App Website
DocumentId: 975ba4f0cc9fb98183366c908c8a62a6e9963195
EOF
