Open target file on Drag and Drop a shortcut

[Yaron10]

STR:
Create a Windows Shortcut (.lnk‬) to a text file.
Drag and drop the Shortcut into Notepad++.

Result:
The .lnk file is opened.

Expected Result:
The target text file should be opened.

---

Notepad++ v7.8.3 (32-bit)
Build time : Jan 17 2020 - 18:20:02
Path : C:---\notepad++.exe
Admin mode : ON
Local Conf mode : ON
OS Name : Windows 7 Enterprise (32-bit)
OS Build : 7601.23964
Plugins : ComparePlus.dll HTMLTag_unicode.dll MenuIcons.dll PythonScript.dll _CustomizeToolbar.dll

[sasumner]

Verified on 7.8.7 32-bit.
If opening a .lnk file via File > Open , however, the target file is opened correctly.
A competitor has this same issue, or at least they did 8 years or so ago: https://sublimetext.userecho.com/communities/1/topics/3233-open-lnk-files-with-drag-and-drop-on-windows-is-not-opening-the-shortcuts-target-file

[Yaron10]

👍
Works as expected in Firefox and another competitor (EditPad).

[sasumner]

If the code shown HERE is integrated into Notepad++'s doOpen() function (at the top), it seems to open the target file of a .lnk file rather than the .lnk file itself. No special check needs to be done to see if an incoming argument has a .lnk extension, as the call to ResolveIt fails (harmlessly) if the filename does not "resolve" into something.

Not sure if there are any negative aspects to this; any comments are appreciated.

[Ekopalypse]

Yes, it looks like this is the recommended way of doing it.

[sasumner]

it looks like this is the recommended way of doing it.

I saw that code; the code I cited used it in a "real world" way, so I chose that to link to instead.
Plus I had lost the M$ link by the time I found the one I used.

[KnIfER]

Managed to add a 'Open Linked File' option in the TabBar Context Menu.

This can open an entire folder too...

[Yaron10]

@KnIfER,

Why would you want to open the.lnk file?

[KnIfER]

You mean why would I view the original text?

I can modify the .lnk file and then create relative short-cuts, which is not allowed but windows's property dialog——it think it's 'invalid'

[Yaron10]

OK. Thanks.