How To Duplicate "Desklink" Function for Another Folder

There is a long-standing Windows functionality called "Send to > Desktop (create shortcut)" that I would like to duplicate but have it create a link in a specific folder. I.e. right-click on a folder/file and select "Send to > Quick Links". I don't want to send the file to that folder, just create a shortcut to the file in that folder. This way I can add a "Quick Links" toolbar to my Windows taskbar and have quick access to documents and folders I open frequently. Is there a way to do this? Or to accomplish the same result in another way? Thanks.

@TimStitt, thanks for the suggestions. For now, I'm just using the existing "Send to > Desktop (Create shortcut)" option and have hidden all icons on my Desktop. By adding the "Desktop" toolbar to my taskbar I have easy access to frequently used files/folders and also to all system navigation. Not exactly what I wanted but at least it has the benefit of keeping my Desktop clear!

Oh come-on. DeskLink does this without fancy finger moves (which I am about to test). I know this is treading on toes but some of us (seems more every day) would like to put getting work done ahead of Microsoft secret code. You guys are looking stodgier every day.

Does it work? (drum roll): Yes, and better than advertised. Okay, this is Microsoft's "secret code:"

• The shift key down sends the file.
• The control key down sends a copy.
• The alt key down sends a shortcut.

I am happy now.
J-C
More proof that I am a Level 3 tech every day.

Some updates, and hopefully useful info.

Re shortcuts & the Alt-Key, I didn't know this (yesterday!)

Here's the steps.
1. create the send to link as described above
2. hold down your ALT key
3. Tab your CTRL Key once (don't let go of alt)
4. Right click on your item and select the send to option that you just created (you can now let go of alt).
This will only send the shortcut.

I know it sounds strange so I'll describe why this works.
If you hold down ALT while drag and drop, it will copy the file you dropped.
If you hold down CTRL while drag and drop, it will create a shortcut of the file you dropped.

However, you can't hold down ctrl and right click unless you press alt first (i.e. it's not the same menu as a normal right click on an icon). Also selecting the icon first, then ctrl+right click doesn't give you the same result when we send to.

The default functionality is to move a file (if destination is on same drive) or to copy (if on another drive, I think!)

If you hold SHIFT, it'll override (ignore target-based-default) and force move.
If you hold CTRL, it'll override and force copy.
If you hold CTRL+SHIFT, it'll create a shortcut (same as alt*).

The good thing about CTRL/SHIFT/CTRL+SHIFT is that you can select the file, access context, n for sendto, select the target/destination, and THEN hit the modifier key to complete the copy/move/link operation...


As stated by Tim, you can't use the alt key like the other modifier keys. However, I think it's easier to either

1) select the file you want to "link" (create a shortcut to)
2) Hold down Alt+CTRL, right-click
(or shift+f10, or context-menu-key next to right-CTRL if you have it!)
3) select "Send to", and highlight the Destination (linked to via a shortcut in your Sendto folder)
4) Release CTRL (still holding alt!), then select the sendto target-destination, creating a shortcut.

This (deleted) technique I find counter-intuitive - you can't use the shortcut-letters to navigate the context-menu, and you need to remember when to release CTRL (or else alt+ctrl = ctrl = copy)

The technique I've always previously used is SHIFT+CTRL = create shortcut... but, like OP Apesbrain, christantoan, and presumably many more, I want!!

I tried and tried to emulate DeskLink but hit a dead end here

.DeskLink HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{9E56BE61-C50F-11CF-9A2C-00A0C90A90CE}


No Shell Extensions stipulated to facilitate the .DeskLink handling (whatever that is)
Creating Shell Extension Handlers (Windows)

(translated roughly, .DeskLink's PersistentAddin | PA Interface:IFilter = "Null filter")
the question is: can this native functionality be exploited, to allow sending to custom targets?

Only other reference is a binary shell extension cache
{9E56BE61-C50F-11CF-9A2C-00A0C90A90CE} {00000122-0000-0000-C000-000000000046} (IDropTarget with ProxyStubClsid32 {00000320-0000-0000-C000-000000000046})

0xFFFF\"="=hex:01,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,50,b9,50,36,06,ea,ce,01,00,00,45,00,52,00,00,00,69,00,\
6e,00,00,00,6c,00


If someone wants to write a shell extension for us, that'd be lovely!
Is there another way?!

Well, yes :)

On my meanderings, I checked Desktop.ini (several in fact!)
The Links ("Favorites"? Must change to Proper English!) File Folder has this in it's config:

DefaultDropEffect=4

So, maybe... if we have a quick links folder, we could add this, and see if it affects/controls sendto, too?!

Let's see...

C:\Users\Jonny\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch already has a desktop.ini, so I added DefaultDropEffect=4 to the newly created [.ShellClassInfo] section, just above [LocalizedFileNames] and saved...




Plan B?
I just tested this with my QuickLaunch folder, and it works (Windows 7 Ultimate x64)

To emulate SendTo-DeskLink (create shortcut)

1) The target needs to have "Default drop behaviour = create shortcut" (like "Favorites").

Add the following lines to the desktop.ini config file - it's in the target folder you want to link to, ie for QuickLaunch the full path is:

C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Desktop.ini

Code:

[.ShellClassInfo]
DefaultDropEffect=4

(This goes above the [LocalizedFileNames] section) Save the changes to the config file.
When you drag-and-drop to the folder the "create shortcut" icon should now be visible during the drag-drop operation...

2) If you want to add this as a custom location in sendto, you'll need a junction.

run cmd, cd/ go to your sendto folder ie

Code:

 cd/d "C:\Users\Username!!\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo"

create a (junction) link to target, ie for quicklaunch

Code:

mklink /j "Quick Launch" "C:\Users\Jonny\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch"

Now ... drumroll!!! If you send something to your custom location (using your new, sendto-junction-link) a shortcut will be sent as default (like with a .DeskLink).

Make sense? This one could be a candidate for the "Brink Treatment"
_________________________________________________________________________________________
"First, there was a Will...."

Alt-Hold + Ctrl-Tap + Right-Click > Send To > "Pre-made, Self-Referencing Shortcut to SendTo Folder" worked for me. Thanks for the Alt-Hold + Ctrl-Tap methodology. I never would have guessed that in a million years.

I personally like the fancy finger keyboard work. It makes me feel that all those years of playing video games with "special" key combinations are somehow redeemed in some very extremely small yet somewhat significant manner by using fancy finger keyboard work for doing ACTUAL work. LOL!

I think I just leveled up today! Thanks for posting everyone.

jonnyhotchkiss said:

Some updates, and hopefully useful info.

Hey Jonny, thanks for your work on this.
I, too, was looking for a solution to this. I tried your latest steps, but they only create a full copy of the file we're trying to create a shortcut for, at least under Windows 10.