Resolve Shortcut File

A VS Code extension that resolves Windows .lnk shortcut files and opens their target files or folders.

Features

• Resolve Shortcuts: Automatically resolve .lnk Windows shortcut files to their target paths
• Open Target: Open the target file or folder with a single or double click
• Consistent Behavior: Single-click and double-click actions behave identically
• Error Handling: Clear error messages if shortcuts cannot be resolved

Usage

Via Click

• In the File Explorer, single-click or double-click a .lnk file and it will automatically resolve and open the target

Requirements

• Windows OS (uses Windows COM objects to resolve shortcuts)
• VS Code 1.75.0 or later
• PowerShell 5.1 or later (included with Windows)

Extension Settings

This extension currently has no user-configurable settings.

Known Limitations

• Works only on Windows systems (uses Windows COM objects)
• Requires valid .lnk files (corrupted shortcuts cannot be resolved)
• The target file or folder must exist for successful opening

Development

Project Structure

src/
  ├── extension.ts           # Main extension entry point
  ├── shortcutResolver.ts    # Shortcut resolution logic
  └── test/
      ├── runTest.ts         # Test runner
      └── shortcutResolver.test.ts  # Unit tests

Building

npm install
npm run compile

Testing

npm test

Integration Tests

The project includes integration tests with real .lnk shortcut files:

1. Unit Tests (src/test/shortcutResolver.test.ts) - Tests file validation and error handling
2. Integration Tests (src/test/integration.test.ts) - Creates actual .lnk shortcuts and tests resolution

The integration tests automatically:

• Create a test target file
• Generate a real Windows .lnk shortcut using PowerShell COM objects
• Test shortcut resolution against the actual file
• Clean up test files after completion

Manual Testing with Test Fixtures

To create test shortcut files you can manually open and test, run:

scripts\setup-test-fixtures.bat

This creates test shortcuts in the test-fixtures/ directory that you can use for manual testing.

Debugging & Building

Using F5 (Recommended):

1. Press F5 to compile, package, and install the extension
2. Test the extension in a new VS Code window that opens
3. Use the installed extension or test with test-fixtures/test-shortcut.lnk

Manual Build Commands:

# Compile and package only (skip installation)
./build.ps1 -Install:$false

# Show help with all options
./build.ps1 -Help

License

This project is released into the public domain under the Unlicense. You are free to use, modify, and distribute this software for any purpose without any restrictions.