Multiple Desktop Shortcuts - Each Displaying Set of Dirs

beau · Post by **beau** » 2009 Jan 21, 17:52

How do I create a number of desktop shortcuts, each of which brings up an xplorer2lite window showing a particular directory (or dual-pane directory set)?

With WinExplorer in XP, I could create any number of desktop shortcuts for viewing frequently-used directories, by creating shortcuts with the desired directory as the target, for example,
%windir%\explorer.exe /e, C:\My Specials would bring up a WinExplorer window with its left pane neatly showing the directory tree (C:\My Specials selected and the sub-dirs shown below) and with the right pane showing My Special's files.

However, the only way I know how to create a desktop shortcut for xplorer2lite is to make a shortcut with this target:
C:\Program Files\zabkat\xplorer2_lite\xplorer2_lite.exe

How can the above target be modified so that the shortcut brings up only a specified directory (or dual-pane directory set)?

I'm running Vista.

Thanks! I'm new to this forum, so hello to everybody. I very much like xplorer2lite, and I'll happily spring for the pro version if I can straighten out issues like this one.

~ beau

Post by **nikos** » 2009 Jan 21, 18:40

create a few shortcuts to x2 lite executable, then right click and pick properties, then supply a path after the executable name in Target box
see the quickstart guide for the command line argument syntax

beau · Post by **beau** » 2009 Jan 24, 19:09

Thanks, Nikos.
Are you sure the command line arguments are supposed to work with xplorer2 lite, or just with the Pro version?

Using "C:\Program Files\zabkat\xplorer2_lite\xplorer2_lite.exe" /R:c:\Windows,
or
"C:\Program Files\zabkat\xplorer2_lite\xplorer2_lite.exe" /R:c:\Users
successfully causes xplorer2 lite to open on those directories (and also \Dell, \Drivers, \doctemp, and \Intel)...

...but doesn't work for directories I have created myself, such as /R:c:\Photos & Images.

Also, it doesn't work for \Program Files.

So it getting the focus on a particular directory seems to be a 'sometimes' function.

~ beau

Post by **nikos** » 2009 Jan 24, 19:29

first are you sure you want to use /R switch? Then if your paths have spaces, surround them with quotes eg "c:\program files"

beau · Post by **beau** » 2009 Jan 24, 19:51

Well, I used the /R switch because the quick start guide says:
/R Roots the program on a folder other than the default desktop. For instance /R:c:\winnt will force both the tree and view panes on c:\winnt
and I wanted the xplorer2 window to show the tree on the left, focus on the specified directory, and the contents of the directory on the right.

In any case, I've just tried surrounding the paths with quotes, e.g. "c:\Program Files" and "c:\Photos & Images", but that doesn't do the trick.
(The full shortcut target I did was: "C:\Program Files\zabkat\xplorer2_lite\xplorer2_lite.exe" "c:\Program Files")

BTW, thanks for your amazingly prompt replies!

~ beau

Post by **nikos** » 2009 Jan 25, 07:39

what do you mean it doesn't do the trick? Your latest command should work. Also see the quickstart guide, near the command line arguments section there's a pic of how you setup the launching shortcut properties

beau · Post by **beau** » 2009 Jan 26, 23:07

OK, finally got it worked out

Target "C:\Program Files\zabkat\xplorer2_lite\xplorer2_lite.exe" "/R:C:\any directory", and I now have numerous xplorer2 shortcuts on the desktop.
Many thanks for your help

~ beau