====== 'mklink' ======

GUI for this command: https://web.archive.org/web/20180409110309/http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/hardlinkshellext.html

(below text is from https://cects.com/overview-to-understanding-hard-links-junction-points-and-symbolic-links-in-windows)


===== Hard Link (Links individual files) =====

  * A file that acts like a representation of a target file on the same drive
  * Has the same size as the target without duplicating it (doesn’t use any space)
  * Interpreted at the operating system level (SW apps act upon the target through the link)
  * Deleting the //Hard Link// does not remove the target file
  * If the target is deleted, its content is still available through the hard link
  * Changing the contents through the //Hard Link// changes the target contents((Some text editors save changed text to a new file and delete the original file, which can break the link. This behavior can be changed in some editors by forcing a save over the original file instead. See discussion at Jameser’s Tech Tips [[https://jameser.blogspot.com/2006/08/tip-37-creating-ntfs-hard-links-in.html|here]] for more information.
))
  * Must reside on the same partition as the target file
  * Compatible with //Win2k// and above in //Windows//


===== Junction Point (Directory Hard Link) =====
  * A file that acts like a representation of a target directory, partition or volume on the same system
  * Has the same size as the target without duplicating it (doesn’t use any space)
  * Interpreted at the operating system level (SW apps act upon the target through the link)
  * Deleting the //Junction Point// does not remove the target((A //Junction Point// should never be removed in //Win2k//, //Win2003// and //WinXP// with //Explorer//, the ''del'' or ''del /s'' commands, or with any utility that recursively walks directories since these will delete the target directory and all its sub-directories. Instead, use the ''rmdir'' command, the ''linkd'' utility, or ''fsutil'' (if using //WinXP// or above) or a third party tool to remove the junction point without affecting the target. In //Vista//%%/%%//Win7//, it’s safe to delete //Junction Points// with //Explorer// or with the ''rmdir'' and ''del'' commands.))
  * If the target is moved, renamed or deleted, the //Junction Point// still exists, but points to a non-existing directory
  * Changing the contents through the //Junction Point// changes the target contents
  * Can reside on partitions or volumes separate from the target on the same system
  * Compatible with //Win2k// and above in //Windows//


===== Symbolic Link (Soft Link) =====
  * A file containing text interpreted by the operating system as a path to a file or directory
  * Has a file size of zero
  * Interpreted at the operating system level (SW apps act upon the target through the link)
  * Deleting the //Symbolic Link// does not remove the target
  * If the target is moved, renamed or deleted, the link still exists, but points to a non-existing file or directory
  * Points to, rather than represents, the target using relative paths
  * Can reside on partitions or volumes separate from the target or on remote //SMB// network paths
  * Compatible with //UNIX// and //UNIX//-like systems and with //Vista// and above in //Windows//

===== Shortcut =====
  * A file interpreted by the //Windows// shell or other apps that understand them as paths to a file or directory
  * File size corresponds to the binary information it contains
  * Treated as ordinary files by the operating system and by SW programs that don’t understand them
  * Deleting the shortcut does not remove the target
  * Maintains references to target even if the target is moved or renamed, but is useless if the target is deleted
  * Points to, rather than represents, the target
  * Can reside on partitions or volumes separate from the target on the same System
  * Compatible with all //Windows// versions