DONE: Sync Network Folder Contents as Shortcuts

[gsull]

I have all of my mp3s on a server, and I have tried to have FARR search for my mp3s, but the fact that it's on a not-cutting-edge wireless network means that the search is a bit slow as it works its way through the files.  (There's a lot of them). 

What I'd like to do is sync folders (I realize there are tons of apps that do this),
BUT only sync the files as SHORTCUTS.  That way, when I'm looking for a song (or any file) that's elsewhere, I can find it in shortcut form locally, and deal with the network after the fact.

I know there might be apps that do this already, but a quick look around didn't turn any up.

Thanks,
GSull

[gsull]

Just to clarify, I want it this way so that I can still use FARR, so it doesn't help to use other indexing search apps that create their own databases, and I'd like it to sync so I can add mp3s to my server, and automatically have a shortcut to them without having to keep track of new files myself.

[mouser]

this is actually a really cool idea.. i wonder if any programs exist for this already..

[brett]

Gsull

This is a AHK script that might do what you want, but I dont have a network to test here.

'Make a Shortcut'



To Use:
Create a folder where you want to keep all these Shortcuts
ie, My Documents\My Music Shortcuts\
Put this file in the folder.
Execute

Just Drag and drop the selected MP3 files onto the GUI and it will create shortcuts in the folder it was executed from.

I dont use FARR, so feedback/suggestions/bugs welcome.

Hint* create a ICON for this so I can include.

dB

PS. will work on dropping a folder, auto syncing, etc. but getting late. are we on the right track.

[gsull]

sorry I'm not around my computer today to test it, looks like it's on the right track.  I'll try it tonight and let you know what I find.  Thanks.

[brett]

Take 2, after some sleep

Shortcut Maker
creates around 80 shortcuts per second on my PC.



v1a
Added
- Select a folder.  Target and Destination
- Delete All short-cuts in Destination Folder
- Drag and Drop auto creates in the Destination Directory
- Status bar informs how many Shortcuts created.
- Filter for *.* *.mp3 *.doc *.pdf *.jpg

and still learning as I go, so any other suggestions welcome.


Thanks
dB

[kimmchii]

great job dB

i get this error with .ahk version, exe is ok.

and can you add *.exe to the list? thanks.

Code

Shortcut Maker v1a.ahk
========================

  Error: Parameter #2 invalid

Specifically: Statusbar

	Line#
	013: Gui,add,edit,xs w430 vdestchoice,%A_ScriptDIR%
	014: Gui,Add,GroupBox,xm w450 r2.3,Actions
	015: Gui,add,button,xp+10 yp+15 w220 gmakeshortcuts section,&Make All Shortcuts
	016: Gui,add,button,x+5 gdeleteshortcuts,&Delete Shortcuts
	017: Gui,add,button,x+5 gGuiclose,&Quit && Exit
	018: Gui,Add,GroupBox,xm w450 r3.3,Commands
	019: Gui,Add,Text,xp+10 yp+15 r4 w430 CENTER Section vlog ReadOnly,Drag && Drop files right here onto the GUI
This will to Auto create shortcuts to the destination folder. 

F11=Show          F12=Hide           ESC=Quit
--->	020: Gui,Add,Statusbar,

The program will exit.

[brett]

Hi Kimmchii

- error with AHK is caused by old version of AHK. Latest version allows for Status bar and Treeviews.
May 14, 2006 Version 1.0.44 introduces two new GUI controls: TreeView and StatusBar.
Update and all will be good.

Shortcut Maker V1b
- added *.exe

Thanks
dB

[kimmchii]

thanks dB, Shortcut Maker works great now, and very fast too.

one small problem, if there are 2 files with the same name, ie.

F:\ttt\1.wma
F:\ttt\ddd\1.wma

it will overwrite the shortcut and end up with only one shortcut, is there a solution to this ? may be name the second shortcut 1(1).wma and so on? thanks again.

[gsull]

I'm having trouble running any of the exe's.  Are there any required libraries or anything?  I don't have ahk installed, I'll try that now.

The first exe says "memory allocation error, system halted."

The v1a and b ones get me this:

[gsull]

also, one thing I was hoping would be possible is to recreate the folder/subfolder structure.  That would also solve the duplicate filenames issue if it's possible.

In case you want to know, my subfolders are all 4 or less levels deep.

I continue to be amazed with how fast people can turn around working models for ideas on this site.  thanks for the great work so far!

[brett]

Sub Folders' yes that would work, that had me for a while. will do more tonight.


Could you give me details of your system setup.
Operating system, etc

I dont have a answer but will lokk into it.

Thanks
dB

[gsull]

windows xp pro (sp2, all updates)
p4/3.2 (prescott, hyperthreading is turned on)
2gigs ram dual-channel 3200

can't think of anything else that would be relevant.  I'm just looking at AHK in person for the first time now.  I'll let you know if the script works on my machine.

[gsull]

The .ahk worked great.  I'll try compiling it and see if that works as well.  So subfolders and syncing are the only things left out of what I would suggest.

As I said, I've never used AHK before, but if there's anything I can do to help, let me know.

[gsull]

The .exe compiled on my machine worked.

One thing I noticed is that the "drag and drop" feature doesn't seem to do what it says, unless I misread it.  It seems to make a single shortcut to whatever is dropped onto it, and not in the destination directory, but the directory that Shortcut maker is in.

[brett]

Hi Gsull,
if the Drag and Drop did not work on your machine, after you compiled it from your AHK, you will need to re-install AHK and when the first prompt comes to screen, make sure that 'Enable Drag and Drop' is selected in 'components to install', by default it is off.

The .ahk worked great.  I'll try compiling it and see if that works as well.  So subfolders and syncing are the only things left out of what I would suggest.

As I said, I've never used AHK before, but if there's anything I can do to help, let me know.

I started to use AHK only a few months ago, so I am fairly raw, and my code might be a bit scratchy, but I am having a blast learning. (a midlife crisis)

ShortCut Maker v1c
- added sub folders. now ALL shortcuts are added to sub folders of the destination.
- reworked create code
- delete shortcuts, deletes all shortcuts from destination folder and all sub folders, be careful.
- ext choice now allows your own choice plus dropdowns


syncing tommorow, maybe, lots of real work on at the moment

windows xp pro (sp2, all updates)
p4/3.2 (prescott, hyperthreading is turned on)
2gigs ram dual-channel 3200
can't think of anything else that would be relevant.  I'm just looking at AHK in person for the first time now.  I'll let you know if the script works on my machine.

envious,  , its not a machine problem

thanks
dB

[gsull]

Worked perfectly, and amazingly fast.  I did 27,000 files in the time it took for me to go microwave some popcorn.

At this point, FARR is up and running as my music searching app, and syncing would be an added, and quite awesome, bonus.

[skrommel]

Here's a command line version.

ShortcutSync - Command line tool to place shortcuts to files in a different folder, preserving the tree structure, and removing missing files.

Example: ShortcutSync.exe C:\Music D:\MusicLinks mp3 wav TrayTip

Syntax: ShortcutSync.exe <fromfolder> <tofolder> <extentions> [TrayTip]
<fromfolder> is the folder where the files are located
<tofolder> is the folder where the links should be created
<extensions> is the file types to make links to
TrayTip is added for visual feedback

You'll find the downloads and more info at 1 Hour Software by Skrommel.

Skrommel

[kimmchii]

Here's a command line version.

ShortcutSync

OMG, this is so unbelievable.
this small prog can really sync.
640links and with 200 folders shortcuts created in 8 seconds.

[gsull]

If only the two could meet.  ShortcutMaker is friendlier, and saves me the trouble of finding/typing long paths, and Shortcut Sync syncs so quickly and neatly with no clutter. 

Is there an easy way to run ShortcutMaker, and hit a checkbox "sync" so that when ShortcutMaker is done, it makes a shortcut to ShortcutSync on my desktop that will sync the folders that I chose in ShortcutMaker at any later date?

Just happy to see all the functionality/usability I was looking for, but trying to figure out how to use the benefits of both apps.

[brett]

with Skrommel permission, I would love to combine both scripts and see what comes out.

but I am also sure that skrommel can design a great gui.

I will sit down later and learn from his script anyway 

dB

[skrommel]

Please do!

Skrommel

[kimmchii]

If only the two could meet.  ShortcutMaker is friendlier, and saves me the trouble of finding/typing long paths, and Shortcut Sync syncs so quickly and neatly with no clutter. 

the beauty of Shortcut Sync is the command line approach, that enable us to use a batch file, it can even carry out several commands at once.

to create a batch file, create a new text file, write down the commands, ie.

Example: ShortcutSync.exe C:\Music D:\MusicLinks mp3 wav TrayTip

then save the text file and change the extension to .bat

[gsull]

What I was suggesting was that ShortcutMaker makes it much easier to find the folders you want to use, and that possibly by checking a box, it could create something like the batch file you're talking about after it is done using the folders that were selected. That ould makeit very easy to sync the same folders in the future, without running ShortcutMaker and choosing everything again.

[wyrwolf]

That ShortcutMaker beats the snot out of doing Search-Select-SendToDesktop-Select(off Desktop)-Cut&Paste.
Going to be especially useful to create menus for groups of Flash Games - or for any other pull-everything-off-of-website type of directory
I give it...