Windows Shortcuts: Dynamic Evaluation of the Target Parameter

Question

Does anyone know how to specify the drive letter in a path so that maybe referenced symbolically as the current drive with the "target" of a Windows shortcut (WinXP, Win2K, ...)? The problem occurs when you include a short cut that references a file (executable, image, ...) and Windows includes the full path name; e.g.,
D:\MyDir\jack.exe "D:\anotherDir\jill.jpg"

In both paths "D:" is hard coded but if you move the device (e.g. thumb drive) and on a second computer the correct paths would be
F:\MyDir\jack.exe "F:\anotherDir\jill.jpg"

What I would like to do is edit and replace "D:" with the %CurrentDrive%:; e.g.
%CurrentDrive%:\MyDir\jack.exe %CurrentDrive%:\AnotherDir\jill.jpg
or whatever the correct symbolic reference would be. Note:

%CWD% or %CW%

is the reference to the Current Working Directory in the Command Prompt interface and

%CW:~0,2%

returns the drive letter and colon, but apparenty the Win OS does not evaluate the parameters of the "target" at execution time (when you click on the shortcut) and "D:\%CW%\ ... " is passed on (and you cannot use "!" in lieu of "%" for deferred evaluation.) Also, you cannot use path relative expressions -- "." (current directory) or "..\" (parent directory). It appears that the only time the target of a shortcut is evaluated when it is edited and thereafter the parameters are passed on as a staic character string. Surely there is a way to have it evalauated ...?

If someone can help, this will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Jerry_Linn@Juno.com

Delierious · Answer

I suspect that this is not possible for a good reason - What would happen of you were able to hard code 'D:\MyFolder\myfile.doc' on a thumb drive, and then you took the thumb drive and put it on a computer that already had a 'D' drive?

Jerry_Linn · Answer

Hi, you misunderstood my point and actually made the case for me.  I want to avoid the conflict you describe which comes with a static link in a shortcut.  What I need is a dynamic link in the path which can be resolved using AutoRun.exe which provides a dynamic path to where the AutoRun.exe module was run from, but you have to pass the argument as a path relative to where tha call was made (a relative reference using  .\ and ..\..\ etc .. ); i.e., relative to where the doulble click was made.  While this works ,it is crude and difficult.   I was looking for a means to express the link dynamically, comparable to referencing a file on a network, where the drive letter is bound to the file dynamically.  Or using the file:\ >.  WIndows is capable of resolving this type of reference, but not within a shortcut because it want a fixed string whose path for the 'target' can be confirmed during creation or editing the string.  I am lead to believe by others, that it can be hacked with a microsoft tool, but it is not built in to shortcut support by the OS...   Also note, a shortcut does work on writeable media, but not on CD's where the string in the target field cannot be changed by the OS. Even then, it is crude because you still have to pass the arguments as path relative arguments (i.e. using '.' and '..' notation -- e.g,    \..\ \ ).  I am trying to share a set of picture albums with my kids (and other family) and the file heiarchy has meaning (which family, dates, who ...) and want to be able to run a slide show from any place in the tree of fies.  And, I do not have a clue what device letter is assigned to their USB drive, or CD.    Shortcuts ACTUALLY work for writable media, fbut only for the drive letter on the first argument  AND ONLY WHEN the user is given write priviledges in the attributes for the shortcut -- because the OS will change the drive letter of the first argument (but no more).   but, it wil NOT work for CDs because the string cannot be changed and rewritten on the media.   Still looking for a simple solution.  To date, only AutoRun works on all media at all levels of the tree when you use path relative specifications in the AutoRun.inf files. Jerry_Linn@Juno.com

Windows General

Windows Shortcuts: Dynamic Evaluation of the Target Parameter

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