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Batch editing shortcut targets

Running Windows 7 Professional SP-1, I have just converted over a thousand .wps files to .docx. However, now there are hundreds of shorcuts, in myriad folders, which point to non-existent .wps files. I would like to batch edit these links, to point them to the new .docx files. The application which I usually rely upon, Shortcut Doctor, is not performing, for some reason. It finds all the references to .wps in shortcut links, but will not change them to .docx (it doesn't find them again, during the Replace process, although it found them during the Search process). Is there an application or a script which I can use, which will locate all these shortcuts and update them?

ddantes

Asked: 2013-01-04

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2 Solutions

LVL 9

shorvathCommented: 2013-01-04

try this:

'References:
'Microsoft Shell Controls And Automation
'Microsoft Scripting Runtime
'Windows Script Host Object Model


Dim oWsShell As New WshShell
Dim oShell  As Shell32.Shell
Dim oFolder As Shell32.Folder
Dim oFolderItems As Shell32.FolderItems
Dim FSO As New FileSystemObject
Dim oShtCut As Object
Dim LinkPath As String

LinkPath = "C:\Temp"  'set to your links path

Set oShell = New Shell32.Shell
Set oFolder = oShell.NameSpace(LinkPath)
Set oFolderItems = oFolder.Items

For Each Item In oFolderItems
   If Item.IsLink = True Then
      Set oShtCut = oWsShell.CreateShortcut(LinkPath & "\" & Item.Name & ".lnk")
      If InStr(1, oShtCut.TargetPath, ".wps") > 0 Then
         oShtCut.TargetPath = Replace(oShtCut.TargetPath, ".wps", ".docx")
         oShtCut.Save
         FSO.MoveFile oShtCut.FullName, Replace(oShtCut.FullName, ".wps", ".docx")
      End If
   End If
Next

Set oShtCut = Nothing
Set oFolderItems = Nothing
Set oFolder = Nothing
Set oShell = Nothing
Set FSO = Nothing

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ddantesAuthor Commented: 2013-01-04

Thank you for that script. Sorry for my ignorance, but how should I apply that? In other words, what is needed in order to execute that?

ddantesAuthor Commented: 2013-01-04

I think I found out how to run the script. I get this error:
(7, 14) Microsoft VBScript compilation error: Expected end of statement

LVL 65

RobSampsonCommented: 2013-01-05

Hi, the code Shorvath posted is VBA, not pure VBScript. You appear to have created a VBS file to run the code, hence the error.

To run the code, launch Excel, and open the code editor (ALT + F11). Insert a new module, and paste the code into it, then add the references noted at the top via Tool --> References, and run the code.

Regards,

Rob.

LVL 61

Bill PrewCommented: 2013-01-05

Are these LNK files that you need to update?

Do you want the script to only process the files in a specified folder, or do you want it to search all subfolders as well?

Do you want it to verify that the target file (with the WPS extension) exists before the change, and only update the link if true?

~bp

LVL 9

shorvathCommented: 2013-01-05

Sorry, but I saw this question under the VB Classic Group. I did run this with VB6 and it worked. It did rename the Target File in the .lnk file, and then renamed the Shortcut itself to reflect the new file name. I did assume that the Target path of the file and the file name has NOT changed, only the extension. ( .wps to .docx) I will be back at work next week to test it under Windows 7, VB script, but the logic is sound and working.

ddantesAuthor Commented: 2013-01-05

Rob: Thank you for your instructions. I pasted the code into a new Excel module, added the Refererences, but I don't know how to run it. When I select "Run", it asks for a macro name.

ddantesAuthor Commented: 2013-01-05

Never mind, I worked it out. Thank you for the code and implementation instructions -- works like a charm!

ddantesAuthor Commented: 2013-01-05

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Batch editing shortcut targets

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