What is a SystemLink?
A system link is basically a shortcut that acts like it's the file it's pointing to. *This is essentially how Vortex Mod Loader from the Nexus seperates mod folders in the AppData folder from the game "Mods" folders.
What can I use it for?
To save space on C by placing files on a second drive and creating systemlinks to the files on C.
To map files from network drives such as a NAS or a basic shared drive to different kinds of computers: Think Image, movie, non-launcher game libraries.
I personally use this at the moment for game backups and cover images for Launchbox on my Steamdeck.
How does this work?
This goes through every file in the input folder and creates a .symlink file to it in the output folder.
When do I use this?
When you need programs to get files as if they were in a folder or computer without them actually being there.
*The folder paths can NOT include spaces in the name or & symbols
*The created "outputpath_symbolic_links.bat" needs to be run with Admin priv
*Make a version that recreates folder structures as it recursively goes through folders for other files.
*Gui
How to
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add the input and output folder paths to each line for the folders that contain roms on your external storage for the input and internal storage for the output to the All_Links.bat file according to it's example.
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run All_Links.bat and it will create a new bat file for each set of folders you assigned above
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Run all outputfolder_symbolic_links.bat that were created
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Done!
Allowing me to have my favourite roms on my steamdeck and load every other game from the network when I'm home through a single console-specific front-end "roms" folder.
Troubleshoot example:
call create_links.bat "E:\Games\Emulation\3DS\3DS" "C:\Users\yourname\Documents\EmulationStation\Roms\n3ds"