File System - ( Symbolic | ln | Soft) link - File Alias - Symlink - Reparse Points
Table of Contents
1 - About
Alternatively referred to as a soft link or symlink, a symbolic link is a file that links to another file using the path. Unlike a hard link, a symbolic link can link to any file on any computer.
2 - Articles Related
3 - Operating System
3.1 - Linux
They are created with the ln command .
They are created with the ln command and the -s parameter:
ln -s /etc/dbora /etc/rc.d/rc2.d/S99dbora
ln -s /the/real/fle /the/sym/link
Remove Without trailing slash:
- unlink
unlink /the/sym/link
- or remove
# rm /the/sym/link/ <- Bad
rm /the/sym/link
3.2 - Windows
3.2.1 - Dos
mklink
Creates a symbolic link.
MKLINK [[/D] | [/H] | [/J]] Link Target
/D Creates a directory symbolic link. Default is a file
symbolic link.
/H Creates a hard link instead of a symbolic link. (Works only with files ? See option /D)
/J Creates a Directory Junction.
Link specifies the new symbolic link name.
Target specifies the path (relative or absolute) that the new link
refers to.
Example for:
- a file
mklink sourceFile targetSymlink
REM with a php ini file
mklink C:\php-7.2.6-Win32-VC15-x64\php.ini D:\repo_backup\php.ini
symbolic link created for C:\php-7.2.6-Win32-VC15-x64\php.ini <<===>> D:\repo_backup\php.ini
- A directory
mklink directory symlink
REM example for the preferences directory of Eclipse
mklink /D "D:\workspace\.metadata\.plugins\org.eclipse.core.runtime" "D:\svn\Config\Eclipseorg.eclipse.core.runtime"
symbolic link created for D:\workspace\.metadata\.plugins\org.eclipse.core.runtime <<===>> D:\svn\Config\Eclipse\org.eclipse.core.runtime
- List: the dir command show the target of symbolic links (called Reparse Points)
dir /a:l
/A Displays files with specified attributes.
attributes D Directories R Read-only files
H Hidden files A Files ready for archiving
S System files I Not content indexed files
L Reparse Points - Prefix meaning not
3.2.2 - Powershell
- GetFinalPathNameByHandleA function - Retrieves the final path for the specified file.