• Home
  • About 404TS
  • Contact

404 Tech Support

Where IT Help is Found

  • Articles
    • Code
    • Entertainment
    • Going Green
    • Hardware, Gadgets, and Products
    • Management
    • Network
    • News
    • Operating Systems
    • Security and Privacy
    • Software
    • System Administration
    • Talking Points
    • Tech Solutions
    • Web
    • Webmaster
  • Reviews
  • Media
    • Infographics
    • Videos
  • Tech Events
  • Tools
    • How do I find my IP address?
    • Browser and plugin tests
  • Get a Technical Consultation
You are here: Home / Articles / Operating Systems / A Week of Google Code, Day 4: SymLinker

A Week of Google Code, Day 4: SymLinker

2009-06-04 by Jason

While looking around for a particular utility, I ended up on Google Code just dredging through all the projects they have online. As I went through, I kept opening tabs to more and more applications that sounded interesting. I found enough applications worth sharing that I decided to post one per day this week and highlight some hidden treasures of Google Code.

Day #4: SymLinker

SymLinker provides a GUI to simplify the use of the MKLINK command and symbolic links, hard links, and directory junctions. The MKLINK command is found in Vista, Server 2008, and assumedly Windows 7. Symbolic links are different from shortcuts and file copies. They also have different uses and serve different purposes. For a great explanation of these terms (what is a symbolic link?) and another utility to assist with these objects check out this Freeware Genius article on Link Shell Extension.

Symbolic Link Creator simply asks what type of link you want to make (symbolic link, hard link, or directory junction). It first asks where you want to store this link, what name you want to give it, and at what the link is supposed to be pointing. Click the Create Link button and you’re all set.

main

If we browse to the location we specified to store the link, you’ll see it was created with the name we specified and it has an arrow like a shortcut, but it has different properties than a shortcut.

symboliclink

If we double-click on the DL symbolic link, we can see it takes us to all the files that are in the folder we specified, but the path is still under our symbolic link. It did NOT redirect us (like a shortcut would) to the object it’s pointing to because a symbolic link points to the data, not the object itself. Nor did it copy the folder, the folder structure, and the files to this new location. If you modified a file in one location, you’d notice the change in both locations.

path

To read more on the MKLINK command, peruse this Microsoft TechNet article.

You can browse and download SymLinker from its Google Code page: https://github.com/amd989/Symlinker

The tool reviewed in the FreewareGenius article linked above seems to be a better interface for working with symbolic links and such, but anything that tries to make these tools easier deserves a gander, thus my review of SymLinker.

Filed Under: Operating Systems, Software, Tech Solutions

Trending

  • Logitech introduces two new Orion Cherry mechanical keyboards
    In Hardware, Gadgets, and Products
  • Fox News Twitter Account Hacked – Falsely Announces Obama Assassinated
    In News, Security and Privacy
  • Dwolla’s Proxi Enables Payments Between People Without The Latest Hardware
    In Hardware, Gadgets, and Products

Latest Media Posts

Find Out Where To Download SNES ROMs

Find Out Where To Download SNES ROMs

Multifunctional Video Conversion Tools – Wondershare Video Converter

Multifunctional Video Conversion Tools – Wondershare Video Converter

  • Popular
  • Latest
  • Today Week Month All
  • Wal-Mart’s Low Tech Solution to a Shocking Problem Wal-Mart's Low Tech Solution to a Shocking Problem
  • Access to the resource [servershare] has been disallowed Access to the resource [servershare] has been disallowed
  • What is the AllJoyn Router Service on Windows 10? What is the AllJoyn Router Service on Windows 10?
  • Read the Event Logs on Windows Server Core Read the Event Logs on Windows Server Core
  • Increase IIS Private Memory Limit to improve WSUS availability Increase IIS Private Memory Limit to improve WSUS availability
  • How Virtual Reality Supports Mental Health Therapy How Virtual Reality Supports Mental Health Therapy
  • Key Strategies of Successful Coin Listing on Exchange Key Strategies of Successful Coin Listing on Exchange
  • Keeping Your Mac Healthy: A Comprehensive Guide to Maintenance and Troubleshooting Keeping Your Mac Healthy: A Comprehensive Guide to Maintenance and Troubleshooting
  • Making Distributed Software Development Work: Strategies and Best Practices for Managing Remote Teams Making Distributed Software Development Work: Strategies and Best Practices for Managing Remote Teams
  • customer contactless payment for drink with mobile phon at cafe counter bar,seller coffee shop accept payment by mobile.new normal lifestyle concept The Latest Innovations In Payment Technology
Ajax spinner

Elevator Pitch

404 Tech Support documents solutions to IT problems, shares worthwhile software and websites, and reviews hardware, consumer electronics, and technology-related books.

Subscribe to 404TS articles by email.

Recent Posts

  • How Virtual Reality Supports Mental Health Therapy
  • Key Strategies of Successful Coin Listing on Exchange
  • Keeping Your Mac Healthy: A Comprehensive Guide to Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Search

FTC Disclaimer

404TechSupport is an Amazon.com affiliate; when you click on an Amazon link from 404TS, the site gets a cut of the proceeds from whatever you buy. This site also uses Skimlinks for smart monetization of other affiliate links.
Use of this site requires displaying and viewing ads as they are presented.

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in