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Date: Thu, 02 May 2002 11:13:58 -0400
To: Mellman Thomas <Thomas DOT Mellman AT icn DOT siemens DOT de>, cygwin AT cygwin DOT com
From: "Larry Hall (RFK Partners, Inc)" <lhall AT rfk DOT com>
Subject: RE: using Windows links
In-Reply-To: <BE684E2C997AD51199530002A56B20796C3644@MCHH2A1E>
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At 10:53 AM 5/2/2002, Mellman Thomas wrote:
> >>> >>Just because it isn't recognized as a Cygwin symbolic link 
> >>> >>doesn't mean it
> >>> >>doesn't exist as a file as far as Cygwin is concerned.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>The thing is, the Windows-created Shortcut is called 
> >>Desktop.lnk and I'm trying to create simply Desktop.  There 
> >>is NO file called Desktop.  But ln(1) fails, telling me that 
> >>Desktop exists.
> >>
> >>
> >>Cygwin symlinks, by default, create windows shortcuts.  
> >>Windows shortcuts 
> >>append ".lnk" onto the name of the file given as the 
> >>shortcut.  So you may
> >>think you're asking Cygwin to create "Desktop" but you're 
> >>actually asking 
> >>it to create "Desktop.lnk".  
>
>
>Hmmm.  Consider this:
>
>$ ln -s /h  h
>$ lf
>Desktop@  h@
>$ ll h
>lrwxrwxrwx    1 Administ Kein           85 May  2 14:46 h -> /h
>$ 
>
>There's no h.lnk here.
>Is this just a question of having the right frame-of-mind?


".lnk" is hidden by Cygwin because it wants to treat shortcuts as 
symlinks (unless 'nowinsymlinks' is set in the CYGWIN environment 
variable).  Look at the directory listing in a DOS box.  The .lnk is
there.


> >>
> >>>Thus, cygwin is throwing in the towel on link/Shortcut 
> >>compatibility, but I think it was forgotten to remove some of 
> >>the code.
> >>
> >>
> >>Wrong on both accounts.  The default Cygwin symbolic link 
> >>creation mode 
> >>makes shortcuts.  These shortcuts are usable directly by 
> >>Explorer and other
> >>Windows apps that understand Windows shortcuts.  Shortcuts 
> >>made by Windows
> >>are not grokked as Cygwin shortcuts however.  There's nothing 
> >>"wrong" here.
>
>
>I didn't use the word "wrong".  I only said, "non-compatible".
>


OK, let's be literal.  You made the following sweeping and unsubstantiated
statement:

"...cygwin is throwing in the towel on link/Shortcut compatibility..."

I'm simply stating that this is not true, which I explained above.  The 
current implementation is as compatible as possible given the limitations of 
shortcuts and the mismatch they have with POSIX paths.  If you want to know 
more about the design issues there, check out the developers archive.  It was 
all discussed there.  Of course, no one will object if someone finds a nice
solution that allows even more compatibility.  But a review of what's been
done and discussed already is beneficial to keep from reintroducing bygone
ideas and threads.



> >>>Hmmm.  Theoretically, I should fix this myself.  If I were 
> >>able to right now (unfortunately, I don't think now is the 
> >>right time), how could I contribute here?  I'd have to get 
> >>all the source for cygwin1.dll, configure my machine for 
> >>remote CVS access, find and make the change, and then?  What 
> >>would be next?
> >>
> >>Start here: www.cygwin.com/contributing
>
>
>Thank you for the link.


You're welcome.


Larry Hall                              lhall AT rfk DOT com
RFK Partners, Inc.                      http://www.rfk.com
838 Washington Street                   (508) 893-9779 - RFK Office
Holliston, MA 01746                     (508) 893-9889 - FAX


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