Windows 10: Move a file but leave a shortcut in its original location

I would like to move a file but automatically leave a shortcut in it's original location.

Can this be done?


It would help with cleaning house and saving on space, while retaining a record of files and folder structures in the previous location.


I have multiple years of work and university files/folders with many containing the same texts.

I want to use some of these again on current tasks without simply reproducing them in an additional location.

Nor do I want to erase them entirely from their original location as I'd like to keep a record of the texts and folder structure I was utilising at the earlier time, i.e. while working on particular, earlier tasks.


Can anyone help? Can this be implemented or trialled as a right-click and drag option? The savings on space would be enormous.

And it would make it easier/possible to build a central library of texts at a later date, once it has become evident over time which texts are being frequently reproduced. These centralised texts could then be referenced in future iterations.

:)

 

Copying original files from shortcut location

Hi Keith

This is my first time posting here, I'm far from an expert user, I don't think I've used Powershell before... But I'm game if you are able to help walk me through it (with baby steps please)!

Some extra info that maybe we'll need:

My original files are located in various subfolders on my C:\ drive

The shortcuts are in a folder split into sub folders on my D:\ drive.

I need the original files from the C:\ drive brought across to my external E:\ drive in the same folder allocation mirrored from my D:\ drive...

I've run the script and it has returned a screen just as yours did identifying all the files from Shortcut, Source and Destinatioin. What do I do now to make them actually copy to my external 'E:\' drive?

Again, thank you for taking the time to help me!

Cheers,

 

How to pin app shortcut to desk top?

Hi,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Community.

I suggest you to follow below steps to change pin the apps on the desktop screen and check if it helps.

Step 1: I suggest you to perform the below steps to add the apps on desktop.

• Click on the “Start button” and locate the App that you want to pin to Desktop.
• Right click on the “App” and click on “More options”.
• Then click on “Open File location” and right click on the app, click on “Send to” option.
• Then select “Desktop (Create shortcut)”.
• Go to “Desktop” and check whether the app is located or not.

Or Step 2: To add shortcuts to the desktop

• Press and hold or right-click the desktop, tap or click New, and then tap or click Shortcut.
• Enter the location of the item or tap or click Browse to find the item in File Explorer.

Hope this information is helpful and do let us know if you need further assistance. We will be glad to assist.

 

Copying original files from shortcut location

I have a number of folders (multi level tree structure) all containing exclusively shortcuts to various files stored across a myriad of different folders. Initially I set it up this way as I was sifting through documents and sorting them for a separate project
but didn't want to duplicate the files or lose them from their original location.

The problem is that I now (unexpectedly) need to pull those original files out and copy them to an external hard drive in the structure that I have the shortcuts in.

Is there anyway this can be achieved without opening each target file and individually copying it across to a new folder on my external drive?

Many thanks for everyone's help in advance. =)