Windows Symlink & working directory

Solution 1:

You can create myapp.bat (instead of a link) and write below command into it:

call "absolute\path\of\your\excecutable" %*

Example:

@call "C:\Program Files (x86)\GnuWin32\bin\openssl.exe" %*

Save above lines in openssl.bat everywhere you need a shortcut.

Solution 2:

What you will likely need to do is symbolically link the folder containing your application binaries rather than just the EXE file itself. The most compatible way to make a directory symbolic link in Windows is use their junction points.

Use this command:

mklink /J ..\link\target\dir linkdirname

Paths to the target can be relative to the current location. You don't need to start from the drive letter.

Once this is done you should be able to CD into your linkdirname and run your application as normal.

FYI: You could use the /D option for a directory symbolic link, but in my experience I've found junction points to behave in a much nicer (and more compatible) way. Some applications aren't fooled by directory symbolic links, but happily work with junctions. For example, in Steam, I can re-route game folders using junctions, but not with directory symbolic links.