XP Folder Link

[Liz]

I want to create a "pseudo-folder" in Windows XP Pro ... meaning a link to
another folder which will appear in Windows Explorer as a folder (not a
shortcut)

For example, if I have the following folder:

c:\dev\programs\csharp\parser\rev1\rel50

I'd like to substitute an alias for it that will appear in Win Explorer
immediately under the root

something like:

c:\MyWork == c:\dev\programs\csharp\parser\rev1\rel50

I think this is called a "junction point" but I have not been able to figure
out how you can do it, assuming you can do it all

Any help will be appreciated

Liz

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I want to create a "pseudo-folder" in Windows XP Pro ... meaning a
link to another folder which will appear in Windows Explorer as a
folder (not a shortcut)

For example, if I have the following folder:

c:\dev\programs\csharp\parser\rev1\rel50

I'd like to substitute an alias for it that will appear in Win
Explorer immediately under the root

something like:

c:\MyWork == c:\dev\programs\csharp\parser\rev1\rel50

I think this is called a "junction point" but I have not been able
to figure out how you can do it, assuming you can do it all

Any help will be appreciated

Symbolic Links...

- Browse (in Windows Explorer or My Computer) to the folder you wish to make
the ‘shortcut’ to.

- Open another instance of Windows Explorer or My Computer and browse to
‘%USERPROFILE%\NetHood’
(Easiest way to do this.. Start Button --> RUN -->
%USERPROFILE%\NetHood --> OK)

- Click on (right mouse button, not left) the folder you wish to make the
shortcut to and HOLD the mouse button down and drag it to the “NetHood”
folder you just opened.

- Release the mouse button (drop the folder) in the ‘NetHood’ window.

- A contextual menu will appear: select ‘Create Shortcuts Here’.

- Rename the shortcut if you desire..

- Copy/Move this shortcut to whatever location you actually desire (Desktop,
My Documents, anywhere else you want it.)

 

[Liz]

Thanks for your reply, Shenan ... but I don't want a shortcut .. I want the
Windows equivalent of a UNIX symlink; in Windows explorer, you should see
the symlink as if it were any other folder in C:\ (or D:\ or whatever)

Example:

DRIVE C:
Documents and Settings
Program Files
Windows
MYLINK

In this instance, MYLINK could point to any folder in the system, say
D:\data\xml\quarterly_sales, for example

After posting, I found a utility called "Winbolic Link" at
http://www.pearlmagik.com/ which does the trick ... what this lets you do is
drill down 5,6,7 levels in the file system ... without drilling down 5,6,7
levels ... it's useful to get right at active projects I'm working on

Using a shortcut would sort of work but then you have to actually open
another instance of Win Explorer, which I don't really need (or want) to do

Liz

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I want to create a "pseudo-folder" in Windows XP Pro ... meaning a
link to another folder which will appear in Windows Explorer as a
folder (not a shortcut)

For example, if I have the following folder:

c:\dev\programs\csharp\parser\rev1\rel50

I'd like to substitute an alias for it that will appear in Win
Explorer immediately under the root

something like:

c:\MyWork == c:\dev\programs\csharp\parser\rev1\rel50

I think this is called a "junction point" but I have not been able
to figure out how you can do it, assuming you can do it all

Any help will be appreciated

Symbolic Links...

- Browse (in Windows Explorer or My Computer) to the folder you
wish to make the ‘shortcut’ to.

- Open another instance of Windows Explorer or My Computer and
browse to ‘%USERPROFILE%\NetHood’
(Easiest way to do this.. Start Button --> RUN -->
%USERPROFILE%\NetHood --> OK)

- Click on (right mouse button, not left) the folder you wish to
make the shortcut to and HOLD the mouse button down and drag it to
the “NetHood” folder you just opened.

- Release the mouse button (drop the folder) in the ‘NetHood’
window.
- A contextual menu will appear: select ‘Create Shortcuts Here’.

- Rename the shortcut if you desire..

- Copy/Move this shortcut to whatever location you actually desire
(Desktop, My Documents, anywhere else you want it.)

Thanks for your reply, Shenan ... but I don't want a shortcut .. I
want the Windows equivalent of a UNIX symlink; in Windows explorer,
you should see the symlink as if it were any other folder in C:\
(or D:\ or whatever)
Example:

DRIVE C:
Documents and Settings
Program Files
Windows
MYLINK

In this instance, MYLINK could point to any folder in the system,
say D:\data\xml\quarterly_sales, for example

After posting, I found a utility called "Winbolic Link" at
http://www.pearlmagik.com/ which does the trick ... what this lets
you do is drill down 5,6,7 levels in the file system ... without
drilling down 5,6,7 levels ... it's useful to get right at active
projects I'm working on
Using a shortcut would sort of work but then you have to actually
open another instance of Win Explorer, which I don't really need
(or want) to do

Yes - and I gave you exactly how to do that without any special tools and it
works every time.

I understood what you wanted. What I showed you how to create is not a
shortcut - it is a Symbolic Link. I refered to it as a "shorcut" because
when you are in the process of creating it - that's the terminology used.
Notice in the instructions I made sure to put the word shortcut in quotes
for the very reason that it's not *really* a shortcut - but a pointer tyhat
allows you to utilize that link as if it was the 'remote' folder itself.

If you follow the directions I gave - you will get exactly what you have
described in both of your postings.

 

[Liz]

Shenan,

<<
Yes - and I gave you exactly how to do that without any special tools and it
works every time.

I understood what you wanted. What I showed you how to create is not a
shortcut - it is a Symbolic Link. I refered to it as a "shorcut" because
when you are in the process of creating it - that's the terminology used.
Notice in the instructions I made sure to put the word shortcut in quotes
for the very reason that it's not *really* a shortcut - but a pointer tyhat
allows you to utilize that link as if it was the 'remote' folder itself.

If you follow the directions I gave - you will get exactly what you have
described in both of your postings.

sorry, I misunderstood what you were saying; yes, of course that works.
Now, I'm wondering why if I issue a DIR /AD at a command prompt my new
SYMLINK appears in the list as a <DIR> whereas when I use the tool I
mentioned (Winbolic Link), my SYMLINK appears as a <JUNCTION> ?

also, using your method, if I delete the "shortcut" will the contents of the
linked folder be deleted? In the case of the <JUNCTION> the linked folder
WILL be deleted unless you delete it with the program that created it in the
first place.

Thanks ... learn something new every day ...

Liz