Create a folder in the Start menu dynamic

Make a folder in the Start Menu can dynamically show the contents of a file system directory is possible, but you must use the "advanced connections".

Throughout the article "Complete guide to other links and hard links in Windows advanced" we made the acquaintance of mklink , through which you can create very powerful shortcuts: compared to the usual file. Lnk (can be created from the earliest versions of Windows), hard links and company, introduced only from Windows Vista, in fact, have several interesting advantages.

One of these is the fact that, since the constructs known to the file system level, it is not necessary that the application is specifically designed to manage links: we can provide as input a "link forward" to any program and the 'application should work without flinching.

This important feature can be used, among others, also to create a folder in the Start menu that displays, dynamically, the contents of a directory on the file system

This can be useful in multiple scenarios. In my specific case, as seen from the image above, I have a folder that contains some batch file utility. From time to time, I need to create other similar files, and I happened to rename or delete some of those present.

I find it convenient that these scripts are always reachable from the start menu here so that the use of a dynamic directory of links is just what we want.

The link in the Start menu becomes the "target"

Unfortunately, to realize what we just described, the links are not traditional enough: the Start menu, in fact, is not able to manage files. Lnk folders properly.

To check this, open the Start menu, then click the right mouse button on All Programs and select Open from the menu

So try to create in the folder that opens, a link to the directory that contains files of interest to you.

Then open the Start menu e. .. surprise! It does not work! In fact you will not get a folder containing links to all your documents, but rather a generic sub-folder called target which, when clicked, open Windows Explorer at the location indicated

Symbolic links to the rescue!

To achieve the desired effect, we eliminate first the simple link you just created, and then create a symbolic link.

If you have installed "Link Shell Extension", operation can be completed in a few clicks: simply use the functionality offered by the program to create a symbolic link to the folder containing the files of interest to you, then copy it into the Start Menu and have concluded. The entire procedure is detailed in the relevant article.

If you want to do by hand, without using external programs, read on.

Manually creating the link

First, enter the address bar and copy the entire path of the folder that contains the Start menu

Then open the Start menu and look for the usual cmd . Cliccatevi the right button and select Run as administrator

At this point, you have to "construct" the command: type first mklink / D .

Paste the path to the start menu and add just copied dynamic folder name , then everything in quotation marks ( ").

Now type in the location from which to draw the dynamic folder (I recommend once again using the copy-paste from its address bar) and enclose it in quotes.

Following the directions, you got something like this:

mklink / D "C: Documents and Settings Zane AppData Roaming Microsoft Windows Start Menu Programs My Dynamic Folder" "D: Test"

Running it, you should receive a confirmation message.

If everything went according to plan, try to open the new folder in the Start menu dynamic: you should find a list showing the contents of the source directory.

To verify that this is indeed the subject of a "dynamic", try adding a file in the episode: the document will be displayed immediately even in the Start Menu

Rather convenient, is not it?

See Pictures and Read more : Create a folder in the Start menu dynamic