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How can I create a shortcut to the file D:\myfile.extension on the Desktop using a batch script?

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  • See also this answer I just posted, which calls a line of powershell from a batch script. Commented Jun 22, 2022 at 18:02

3 Answers 3

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You can achieve without external tools this by creating a temporary VBScript:

@echo off

set SCRIPT="%TEMP%\%RANDOM%-%RANDOM%-%RANDOM%-%RANDOM%.vbs"

echo Set oWS = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell") >> %SCRIPT%
echo sLinkFile = "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\myshortcut.lnk" >> %SCRIPT%
echo Set oLink = oWS.CreateShortcut(sLinkFile) >> %SCRIPT%
echo oLink.TargetPath = "D:\myfile.extension" >> %SCRIPT%
echo oLink.Save >> %SCRIPT%

cscript /nologo %SCRIPT%
del %SCRIPT%

(Idea taken from here.)

This will create myshortcut.lnk on the Desktop, pointing to D:\myfile.extension.

You can supply additional properties before saving the link by modifying the following values:

oLink.Arguments
oLink.Description
oLink.HotKey
oLink.IconLocation
oLink.WindowStyle
oLink.WorkingDirectory

Consult How to create a desktop shortcut with the Windows Script Host to see a few examples.

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    Is it impossible to do with batch script? (apart from generating your proposed vbs and executing it) Commented Oct 31, 2016 at 8:16
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    Is there a way to set AppUserModelId using this method? Commented Jun 21, 2018 at 14:35
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    Note that this can be modified to use relative paths (quite likely if this is being done via a script). The sLinkFile can be a relative path (e.g. just providing "myshortcut.lnk" puts it in the current directory). The target file can be set relative to the current directory by specifying oLink.TargetPath = "%cd%\folder\target.exe". Commented Apr 17, 2021 at 11:00
  • Notify, that name of Desktop folder is language dependent. Commented Dec 13, 2021 at 21:01
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@echo off
echo [InternetShortcut] >> "%AllUsersProfile%\desktop\NOTEPAD.url"
echo URL="C:\WINDOWS\NOTEPAD.EXE" >> "%AllUsersProfile%\desktop\NOTEPAD.url"
echo IconFile=C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll >> "%AllUsersProfile%\desktop\NOTEPAD.url"
echo IconIndex=20 >> "%AllUsersProfile%\desktop\NOTEPAD.url"

This code creates a shortcut in the "All Users" desktop folder called NOTEPAD.url pointing to the NotePad application, and will also assign an icon from the SHELL32.dll. Change the path and filename to your D:/ location and exename. And make sure your .url filename stays the same across all lines of code.

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    Nice idea. As long as you don't have to supply any arguments, this works well. Commented Jul 30, 2012 at 16:16
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there is external command shortcut.exe that can do this in that way:

shortcut /a:c /f:"c:\users\me\desktop\myshortcut.lnk" /t:"c:\program files\skype\skype.exe"

that can create shortcut of skype in your desktop

it is free downloadable program, but i can't find its link, so i will try to upload it and post the link

here it is:

shortcut.exe by Marty List

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  • no, i didn't know that there is utility for it in resource kit by microsoft. i am currenlty using its alternative by optimum x Commented Jul 30, 2012 at 14:58

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