How to set a Path variable on a different, non-system partition

[newdev]

I'm trying to run notepad++ from latest version of Git Bash in Windows 7 Ult.

I run notepad++.exe as a portable from :

"D:\0..Apps.p\Notepad++.p\notepad++.exe"

but when I add this to System Variables > Path, it doesn't run.

I shouldn't have to use anything other than the filename,
if my system is configured correctly, right? such as the "start" argument?

>start notepad.exe

Also, could someone help me understand how to properly use wildcard * for System Variables > Path ?
b/c I would ideally like to just set D:\0..Apps.p\* as a Path variable so I could open any of the portables
from within Git Bash.

Thank You

 

[Alejandro85]

Environment variables, including path, are loaded when a process start, so remember to close the console and open it again for the change to make effect.
Additionally, when setting system-wide environment variables, it may be a good thing to at least log-off and login again into your account for the change to take effect. User-wide variables suffice to restart the affected programs.

Note that start notepad.exe won't run Notepad++, as its executable is named differently as you posted before (D:\0..Apps.p\Notepad++.p\notepad++.exe), so the command should be start notepad++.exe.
Also, note that the start program is rarely needed, only if you need more advanded functions, so you can leave it as notepad++.exe. And also, the .exe extension is assumed if ommited, so you can simplify it even more up to notepad++. Pretty descriptive of what it does.

As long as I know, Windows don't support wildcards for the path variable, so you'll have to list every single folder there. As an alternative, you could point the path to a folder containing a bunch of bat files whose sole purpose is to launch the programs all over the place. Or even better, just create desktop/taskbar shortcuts and launch all programs with a single click.

 

[newdev]

Thanks! You've answered a main question I had: no support for wildcards in the path variable.

Further experimenting, I discovered that - probably b/c my Notepad++ is portable,
then Git Bash does attempt to start it up, except I'm getting error messages and it won't start :

"Checking certificate of D:\SciLexer.dll : Cannot find the requested object." and

"Authenticode check failed: signing certificate or hash is not recognized"

"Load langs.xml failed!"

Load stylers.xml failed >
"C:\Users\d\AppData\Roaming\Notepad++\stylers.xml"

BUT ! I haven't updated this portable in years, so they may be packing it differently now --
I should install the current portable and recheck - in the interests of properly completing this experiment.

----------------------
But to end on a positive note -- if I enter a Path variable for the simple
ShellExView by Nirsoft, which is also a portable, then even opening Git Bash
from the desktop will start up shexview when I type it in as a simple filename, no file extension.

 

[newdev]

Just tried newest version of portable - same problem -
so this is an issue w/ Notepad++, to be pursued further on their site
for related problems.

Thanks again!

 

[RolandJS]

I wonder if metapad.exe might work better. Dunno, never tried changing environment

 

[newdev]

RolandJS - appreciate your reply, b/c you've prompted me to return and complete this thread, like so:

It's one more humbling lesson for any beginner - of the absolutely cold logic a computer follows.

After numerous times in & out of Environment Variables applet,
I finally realized that the path simply ends with the name of the folder
that contains the executable - NOT ending in .exe .

and, it doesn't even need the double quotes that Windows Shift > Rclick > Copy as Path
puts around a file path (at least on my current setup).

So once I got everything cleaned up in a proper manner,
by gosh the portable version of notepad++ (newest as of yesterday) fired right up - no complaints.

Further proof is that it works equally in cmd.exe as well as Powershell 7.0.2.

Thx again

 

[RolandJS]

newdev, thanks for that thorough follow-up - I learned stuff today!