How to set Windows Shortcut icon to relative path?

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28-10-2024

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Creating shortcuts in Windows can be a great way to enhance your productivity and keep your desktop organized. However, when working with shortcuts, especially those that link to files or programs located in various directories, it can be challenging to maintain the correct paths when you move folders or share them. In this article, we will explore how to set a Windows shortcut icon to use a relative path instead of an absolute path, allowing for easier file management.

Understanding the Problem

When you create a shortcut in Windows, it typically links to an absolute path, which specifies the exact location of the file or program on your computer. For example, an absolute path might look like this:

C:\Users\Username\Documents\Projects\myfile.txt

If you move the Projects folder to a different location, the shortcut will break, and you will be unable to access the file through that shortcut. Using relative paths allows you to create shortcuts that adapt to the new location as long as the relative structure remains the same. A relative path example might look like this:

.\Projects\myfile.txt

Original Code Scenario

Here’s a basic scenario in code for creating a shortcut manually with an absolute path:

$WshShell = New-Object -ComObject WScript.Shell
$Shortcut = $WshShell.CreateShortcut("C:\Users\Username\Desktop\MyShortcut.lnk")
$Shortcut.TargetPath = "C:\Users\Username\Documents\Projects\myfile.txt"
$Shortcut.Save()

Setting Up a Shortcut with Relative Paths

To set a shortcut to use a relative path, you’ll need to manually create the shortcut file. Here's how to do this step-by-step:

1. Open the location where the target file (e.g., myfile.txt) is stored.

2. Hold down the Shift key and right-click on the file, then select Copy as Path. This will copy the absolute path to your clipboard.

3. Navigate to the location where you want to create the shortcut (e.g., the Desktop).

4. Right-click on an empty space, hover over New, and select Shortcut.

5. In the Create Shortcut dialog box, paste the absolute path you copied earlier.

6. Modify the pasted path to be relative to the shortcut's current location. If myfile.txt is in a folder named Projects, and the Projects folder is in the same directory as your shortcut, you will change the path to:

   .\Projects\myfile.txt
   

7. Click Next, give your shortcut a name, and then click Finish.

Practical Example

Let's say you have a folder named ProjectFiles on your desktop, and within it is a subfolder named Reports containing report.docx. If you wish to create a shortcut to this report that can be used regardless of whether ProjectFiles is moved around, you'd follow the steps above.

1. Create the relative path: From the Reports folder, the path would be:

   .\Reports\report.docx
   

2. Create the shortcut using this relative path. This way, even if you move ProjectFiles to a different location (like another drive), your shortcut will still work as long as the relative structure remains intact.

Conclusion

Using relative paths for shortcuts in Windows can help you maintain better organization and adaptability in your file management. While it may require some initial setup, the long-term benefits of not having to constantly update shortcuts are invaluable, especially for projects involving collaboration or frequent moving of folders.

Additional Resources

• Microsoft Documentation on Creating Shortcuts
• Understanding Absolute and Relative Paths

By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure your Windows shortcuts are both functional and flexible, keeping your workflow efficient and organized.