Open and Edit .lnk Shortcut Files in Windows
Understanding and Modifying .lnk Files
Although the vast majority of users won't find a need to directly open a .lnk file for modification, specific situations may arise where doing so becomes necessary or simply preferred. The question then becomes: what is the process for opening and editing these shortcut files?
The SuperUser Q&A Source
The solution to this query originates from SuperUser, a segment of Stack Exchange. Stack Exchange is a network of question-and-answer websites maintained by its user community.
What are .lnk Files?
A .lnk file is a shortcut created by Windows. It doesn’t contain the actual data of the target file or folder; instead, it holds a pointer to the original location.
How to Open a .lnk File for Editing
You can open a .lnk file with a simple text editor like Notepad. However, this will display the file's internal data as text, not the target it points to.
Using a Text Editor
Right-click the .lnk file and select "Open with." Choose Notepad (or your preferred text editor) from the list. If Notepad isn't listed, select "Choose another app" and locate it.
Editing the Shortcut's Properties
Directly editing the text within the .lnk file is possible, but it's generally not recommended. A safer and more user-friendly approach is to modify the shortcut's properties through the graphical interface.
Accessing Shortcut Properties
Right-click the .lnk file and select "Properties." This opens a window where you can adjust settings like the target path, start in folder, and working directory.
Potential Risks of Direct Editing
Incorrectly modifying the internal data of a .lnk file can render the shortcut unusable. Therefore, exercise caution when attempting to edit the file directly with a text editor.
Alternative Methods
For more advanced manipulation, specialized shortcut editing tools are available. These tools provide a more intuitive interface and can help prevent errors.
Shortcut Editing Tools
Several third-party applications are designed specifically for editing shortcut files. Research and choose a reputable tool if you require extensive customization options.
In Summary
While opening and editing .lnk files is possible, it's often best to utilize the built-in properties window for simple adjustments. Direct text editing should be approached with caution, and specialized tools can be helpful for more complex modifications.
Understanding the Challenge with .lnk Files
A SuperUser user, Jez, has encountered a difficulty when attempting to directly access the contents of .lnk files. These files, native to Windows, are designed as shortcuts to other files or locations.
Jez’s primary goal is to inspect and potentially modify the data within the .lnk file itself, rather than launching the target file the shortcut references.
The Problem: Applications Launching Target Files
The core issue Jez faces is that most applications, when presented with a .lnk file, automatically open the file or directory the shortcut points to.
Attempts to open .lnk files directly using text editors or hex editors consistently result in the target file being opened, not the shortcut’s internal data.
Methods to View and Edit .lnk File Contents
Directly viewing the contents of an .lnk file requires a tool capable of interpreting its specific structure. Standard text or hex editors are not sufficient for this task.
- lnkEdit: This dedicated utility is designed specifically for editing .lnk files. It allows for viewing and modification of the shortcut’s properties.
- ShortcutView: Another specialized tool, ShortcutView, provides a detailed view of .lnk file information.
- Hex Editor with .lnk Structure Knowledge: While challenging, a hex editor can be used if one understands the .lnk file format. This requires technical expertise.
Utilizing Specialized Tools
Employing tools like lnkEdit or ShortcutView circumvents the issue of applications automatically opening the target file.
These programs parse the .lnk file format, presenting its contents in a readable and editable manner, allowing Jez to achieve the desired outcome.
Therefore, a solution exists for Jez to open and, if necessary, edit .lnk files, but it necessitates the use of specialized software designed for this purpose.
Understanding and Editing .lnk Files
Several SuperUser contributors – namely and31415, Julian Knight, and Vinayak – have offered insights into opening and modifying .lnk files. Let's examine their suggestions.
First, and31415 proposes a method utilizing HxD Hex Editor. It's important to note that directly opening .lnk files within the editor functions correctly, provided they aren't dragged and dropped.
As a workaround, a command prompt can be employed to temporarily rename the .lnk file. This involves assigning a different, unused extension, such as .lne.
cd /d "X:\Folder\containing\the\shortcut"ren "some shortcut.lnk" "some shortcut.lne"
This allows the file to be treated as a standard file. Remember to revert the extension back to .lnk upon completion to restore its shortcut functionality.
Julian Knight highlights the inherent nature of .lnk files. They are designed by Windows to function as links, making direct editing challenging.
Before attempting modification, consider why you need to edit the file. Adjusting settings can often be achieved through the Properties dialog, accessed by right-clicking the shortcut.
For more in-depth editing, specialized tools are necessary. Several options are available:
- lnk-parser
- LnkEditorGUI
- lnkedit
These tools were identified through a web search and haven't been personally tested by the contributor.
Furthermore, PowerShell provides a method for editing .lnk file properties, as demonstrated in a previous Stack Overflow answer:
Copy-Item $sourcepath $destination$shell = New-Object -COM WScript.Shell$shortcut = $shell.CreateShortcut($destination)$shortcut.TargetPath = "C:\path\to\new\exe.exe"$shortcut.Description = "Our new link"$shortcut.Save()
This approach leverages the Shell COM object and could also be implemented using WSH or VBA within Office applications.
Vinayak shares experiences on Windows 8.1, confirming several methods for opening .lnk files.
Notepad can open .lnk files by simply dragging and dropping them into the window. Opening via the "Open" dialog will, however, launch the target executable.
HxD Hex Editor allows opening .lnk files through the standard "File -> Open" procedure.
The command prompt can display the contents of an .lnk file using the command: TYPE SHORTCUTNAME.LNK.
Finally, most programs can open .lnk files when invoked from the command prompt with the file path as an argument: PROGRAM_NAME.EXE "path to LNK file".
Do you have additional information or alternative methods? Share your insights in the comments section. For a more comprehensive discussion and further responses from the Stack Exchange community, refer to the original discussion thread.