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Screenshot Shortcuts Search And Replace allows to do easy operations on shortcuts :
 -  Search for shortcuts target path, working directory, arguments, and icon location content
 -  Replace multiple shortcuts target path, working directory, arguments, and icon location content (useful when moving portable applications to another drive or another folder)
 -  Search dead links, to resolve or delete them (multiple resolves/delete in single click)
 
Last Update  March 2 2024
Version  1.14.0
Software
Download Software  Download Shortcuts Search And Replace 64 bits 521 Kb
Download Software  Download Shortcuts Search And Replace 32 bits 509 Kb
Source Code
Download Source Code  Sources v1.14.0 689 Kb
Compatibility  Windows (Xp, 7, 8, 10, 11)
License  Freeware under GPL license
Language  C++
Status
 Maintained / Improvements if required Improvement Request 
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Shortcuts Search And Replace allows to do easy operations on shortcuts :
 -  Search for shortcuts target path, working directory, arguments, and icon location content
 -  Replace multiple shortcuts target path, working directory, arguments, and icon location content (useful when moving portable applications to another drive or another folder)
 -  Search dead links, to resolve or delete them (multiple resolves/delete in single click)

ShortcutsSearchAndReplace can manage multiple custom directories.
Two options are availables. You can enter in the "Custom Path" field either
 -  Multiple directories split by ';' like "C:\Directory1;C:\Directory2;C:\Directory3"
 -  The path of a text file containing one directory per line with "File:" prefix like "File:C:\YourTextFile.txt"

During the replace preview of replace operation, if the modified link won't target an existing file,
the item is automatically unchecked and a warning image   is used for the shortcut

Toolbar

Search for links matching criteria
Replace: Search for links matching criteria, show a preview of replacement. Next you need to select item to replace and hit the Replace button
Search dead links and show them. Next you can try to resolve shortcuts or delete them
Cancel current operation
When checked, the "Search For" and "Replace With" inputs must contain regular expression for searching and replacing. By the way to update shortcuts target drive from C: to D: you can use the following:
"Search For" C:(.*)
"Replace With" D:$1
Notice: Parentheses are used for grouping and capturing, and $1 means the first capture
   
  "Folders" : Options to select folders affected by search and replace operations (multiple options can be checked)
Include the custom extra "Search Folder" for seach search and replace operations. To include sub directories, check the "Include subdirectories option"
Include current user start menu for seach search and replace operations (start menu sub directories are always included)
Include the users common start menu for seach search and replace operations (start menu sub directories are always included)
Include the current user desktop for seach search and replace operations. To include sub directories, check the "Include subdirectories option"
Include subdirectories (applies to specified custom folder and user desktop folders options only)
   
  "Applies To" : Options to select which part of the shortcut are affected (multiple options can be checked)
Include shortcut target directory into search and replace operations. (Target file name not included, so you can change directory without affecting name)
Notice: if this option is checked, and if working directory match, the working directory is updated too
Include shortcut target file name into search and replace operations. (Target directory not affected)
Include shortcut icon directory into search and replace operations. (Target icon file name not included, so you can change icon directory without affecting icon name)
Include shortcut icon file name into search and replace operations. (Target icon directory not affected)
Include shortcut arguments into search and replace operations
Replace only the arguments of existing links with a specific value
Include comments in search and replace operations
   
Full path search : Do full path search. When selected, instead of splitting directory and file name for search and replace, do search and replace operations on full path.
- Required configuration for target and icon target full path search
- Required configuration for target full path search
- Required configuration for icon target full path search
   
Allow to modify/delete shortcuts with the read only attribute
Allow to select which columns are visible in the results list
Generate command line from current user interface parameters
Show help
Software informations
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Results Toolbar

Display selected shortcut properties
Open the shortcut location
Allow to quickly check all items for a replacement or an action on dead shortcut
Allow to quickly uncheck all items for a replacement or an action on dead shortcut
Allow to check selected items for a replacement or an action on dead shortcut
Allow to uncheck selected items for a replacement or an action on dead shortcut

Command Line mode

Supported arguments

--- Operations ---
Op=Search/SearchDead/Replace : Operation to do
SearchPostOp=Resolve/Delete : Post search operation. Applies to Search or SearchDead Operation
Search="YourSearchedMotif" : Motif to search
Replace="YourReplaceMotif" : Motif replacement

--- Directories ---
IncDir="YourCustomDirectory" : include a custom directory
IncSubDir : Include subdirectories (applies to specified custom folder, user desktop, and common desktop only)
IncUserStartup : Include current user start menu for search and replace operations (start menu sub directories are always included)
IncCommonStartup : Include the users common start menu for search and replace operations (start menu sub directories are always included)
IncUserDesktop : Include the current user desktop for search and replace operations. To include sub directories, use the "IncSubDir" option
IncCommonDesktop : Include the common desktop for search and replace operations. To include sub directories, use the "IncSubDir" option

--- Search & Replace Inside ---
InsideDirName : Include shortcut target directory into search and replace operations. (Target file name not included, so you can change directory without affecting name)
InsideFileName : Include shortcut target file name into search and replace operations. (Target directory not affected)
InsideIconDirName : Include shortcut icon directory into search and replace operations. (Target icon file name not included, so you can change icon directory without affecting icon name)
InsideIconFileName : Include shortcut icon file name into search and replace operations. (Target icon directory not affected)
InsideFullPathMix : to use when search motif includes part of directory and filename. Instead of splitting directory and file name for search and replace, do search and replace operations on full path. To use in addition of InsideDirName,InsideFileName, InsideIconDirName,InsideIconFileName
InsideArgs : Include shortcut arguments into search and replace operations
InsideDescription : Include comments in search and replace operations

--- Extra Options ---
ChangeReadOnly : apply change to shortcuts in read only mode
ArgsOnly : Search and replace is done for shortcuts arguments
ExNetDrv: Exclude shortcuts with network path (SearchDead links operation only)
ExUnpluggedDrv : Exclude shortcuts with references to unplugged drives (SearchDead links operation only)
DeleteWithNoPrompt : Applies to Delete operation, delete found shortcuts without prompt (use at your own risk);


Examples:

ShortcutsSearchAndReplace64.exe Op=Search Search="*" IncUserStartup IncCommonStartup IncUserDesktop IncCommonDesktop InsideDirName

ShortcutsSearchAndReplace64.exe Op=Search Search="*view*" IncUserStartup IncCommonStartup IncUserDesktop IncCommonDesktop InsideDirName

ShortcutsSearchAndReplace64.exe Op=SearchDead SearchPostOp=Resolve IncUserStartup IncCommonStartup IncUserDesktop IncCommonDesktop InsideDirName

ShortcutsSearchAndReplace64.exe Op=Search Search="*" InsideDirName InsideIconDirName IncDir="C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\"
ShortcutsSearchAndReplace64.exe Op=Search Search="*" InsideDirName IncDir="C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\"
ShortcutsSearchAndReplace64.exe Op=Search Search="*" InsideIconDirName IncDir="C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\"

ShortcutsSearchAndReplace64.exe Op=Replace Search="StringToReplace" Replace="ReplacingString" IncUserStartup IncCommonStartup IncUserDesktop IncCommonDesktop InsideDirName
ShortcutsSearchAndReplace64.exe Op=Replace Search="StringToReplace" Replace="ReplacingString" InsideDirName InsideIconDirName IncDir="C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\"
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ShortcutsSearchAndReplace search shortcut replace shortcut search and replace shortcuts replace shortcut search shortcuts target path working directory arguments icon location open source free freeware Shortcuts Search And Replace : This is the tool you need to quickly update your shortcuts after moving files or portable softwares