Symbolic links

This chapter describes the following topics about symbolic links:

Attention

Only experienced users should use symbolic links.

A symbolic link (also symlink or soft link) is automatically interpreted and followed by the operating system as a path to another file or directory. This other file or directory is called the "target". The symbolic link is a second file that exists independently of its target. If a symbolic link is deleted, its target remains unaffected. If a symbolic link points to a target, and sometime later that target is moved, renamed or deleted, the symbolic link is not automatically updated or deleted (the link is broken).

Files in a folder can be differed from symbolic links by their file icons or their file properties.

Create symbolic link

Conditions for the Creation of a symbolic link:

Either

Define a keyboard shortcut
assign a keyboard shortcut to the command "Create symbolic link" under the menu item "Tools → Define keyboard shortcuts".

And/or

Insert the action toolbar item "Create symbolic link" under the menu item "Tools → Define action toolbars"

If these requirements are fulfilled, typing this keyboard shortcut in a panel or clicking the action toolbar item opens the dialog "Create symbolic link" with the following fields:

Link path (where the link is created)
Folder where the link file to be created (or the link folder to be created) should be created. The folder of the inactive panel is suggested.
Link name
The name of the link (file or folder). The name of the selected file or folder in the active panel is suggested.
Target path to which the link should point
The path file or folder to be linked. The file or folder selected in the active panel is suggested.

After closing the dialog with "OK" the windows message has to be confirmed, that FreeCommander is allowed to make the necessary system changes.

Copy symbolic link

Conditions for copying a symbolic link:

Define a keyboard shortcut
assign a keyboard shortcut to the command "Copy symbolic link" under the menu item "Tools → Define keyboard shortcuts"
And/or insert the action toolbar item "Copy symbolic link" under the menu item "Tools → Define action toolbars"
A symbolic link has to be selected in the active panel
The user has to have admin rights

If these requirements are fulfilled, typing this keyboard shortcut in a panel or clicking the action toolbar item opens the dialog "Copy symbolic link" with the following fields:

Symbolic link to copy
The link file or folder selected in the active panel. Cannot be changed.
Target path where the symbolic link will be copied
The (changeable) path where the link will be copied. The path in the inactive panel is suggested.

After closing the dialog with "OK" the windows message has to be confirmed, that FreeCommander is allowed to make the necessary system changes.

Copy symbolic link with standard copy command

The user needs admin rights to copy a symbolic links with the menu item "File → Copy" or the shortcut "Shift+F5".

Copy with dialog (use FreeCommander method)

For copying with dialog (use FreeCommander method) there are three settings for copying symbolic folder links:

Ignore symbolic link
Symbolic folder links are not copied.
Copy only symbolic link (admin rights)
Symbolic folder links are copied. The user has to have admin rights.
Copy symbolic link target folder (windows default)
Symbolic folder links are not copied, but the target folder of the link is copied. That is the windows default setting.

Move with dialog (use FreeCommander method)

For moving with dialog (use FreeCommander method) only one option is available: "Move only symbolic link (admin rights)"

Symbolic links when creating folder lists

For creating folder lists there are three settings for the load method for symbolic folders:

Ignore symbolic link
Symbolic folder links are not loaded.
Load only symbolic link
Symbolic folder links are loaded.
Load all symbolic link target items
Symbolic folder links are not loaded, but all target folder items.