opening *.link files in notepad++

[Adam Kalinowski]

windows restricted access to some system files making *.lnk shortcut files act like a real link in unix / linux.
I wanted to research a way to make the icon have a relative patch so the shortcut can be copied without loosing the graphics.
One of the possible ways to open a *'lnk file is to rename it from the command line.
The funny thing happening with notepad++ when You try to work with such renamed LINK files.

Normally when opening *.lnk file in Notepad++ the editor opens the file linked to the shortcut.
The same thing happens opening a file that is renamed from a LNK file, despite the fact windows no longer sees it as a shortcut and the system text editor has no problem of showing the LNK binary data. Only problem is that the system editor don’t show all data so I’m not able to make any changes.

Is this a desired Notepad++ behavior?

[Adam Kalinowski]

As an addition / just renaming the lnk file back from other to lnk makes the icon back to standard. so i guess editing it wont bring me the solution I’m looking for, even if you can open it in notepad++

[Alan Kilborn]

@adam-kalinowski

.lnk files are binary files; Notepad++ is a text editor. So, even if you could open them in Notepad++, it wouldn’t be a great plan to edit them with it.