SHORTCUT - CMD

Overview

The SHORTCUT command in Windows CMD is used to create, modify, or delete shortcuts to programs, files, and directories. It is a powerful tool for automating desktop organization and can be effectively used in scripts to manage shortcuts systematically.

Syntax

The basic syntax for using the SHORTCUT command is as follows:

SHORTCUT /F:filename /A:action /T:target /P:parameters /W:workingdir /I:iconfile /H:hotkey /R:runstyle /K:description
  • /F:filename – Specifies the shortcut file path.
  • /A:action – Defines the action (create, modify, delete).
  • /T:target – Target path of the file or application.
  • Other parameters are optional and used to specify further details of the shortcut.

Options/Flags

  • /F:filename – Path and name of the shortcut file (e.g., c:\path\shortcut.lnk).
  • /A:action – Action to perform: create, modify, or delete.
  • /T:target – Target path that the shortcut will point to.
  • /P:parameters – Parameters to pass to the target when it’s launched.
  • /W:workingdir – The working directory from which the target is run.
  • /I:iconfile – File that contains the icon for the shortcut.
  • /H:hotkey – Defines a hotkey for the shortcut for quick access.
  • /R:runstyle – Style of window in which the target will run (1 for normal, 3 for maximized, 7 for minimized).
  • /K:description – Description for the shortcut.

Examples

Creating a Shortcut:

SHORTCUT /F:"%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\MyApp.lnk" /A:create /T:"C:\Program Files\MyApp\MyApp.exe" /W:"C:\Program Files\MyApp" /I:"C:\Program Files\MyApp\MyIcon.ico" /R:1

Modifying a Shortcut:

SHORTCUT /F:"%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\MyApp.lnk" /A:modify /T:"C:\NewLocation\MyApp.exe"

Deleting a Shortcut:

SHORTCUT /F:"%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\MyApp.lnk" /A:delete

Common Issues

  • Permission Issues: You might encounter permission errors if the CMD is not run as an administrator when attempting to create shortcuts in system directories.
  • Incorrect Path: Ensure paths are correctly specified. Use quotations for paths that contain spaces.

Integration

SHORTCUT command can be used in batch files and scripts to prepare a new user environment by auto-setting the necessary program links on the desktop or start menu. For example:

FOR %%A IN (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) DO (
    SHORTCUT /F:"%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\%%A.lnk" /A:create /T:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\%%A.exe"
)
  • MKLINK – Used for creating symbolic links, which is somewhat related but serves different purposes in file management.
  • COPY – Often used alongside SHORTCUT to relocate files or configurations in preparation for creating a shortcut.

For a deeper understanding and more complex scenarios, refer to the official Microsoft documentation for scripting and batch file interactions.