Shortcut to 64-bit Program

[jlippey]

Is there a thread here about opening shortcuts to 64-bit programs? I don't know if my problem is mine alone or has been addressed.

[highend]

Why, is there any problem with opening them?

[TheQwerty]

Is there a thread here about opening shortcuts to 64-bit programs? I don't know if my problem is mine alone or has been addressed.

If the program's installer incorrectly creates shortcuts using %ProgramFiles% instead of using the more specific %ProgramFiles(x86)% or %ProgramFilesW6432% then you can run into problems opening those shortcuts within XY.

Previously discussed:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15621
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=12937
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=12997


As for the discussion of shell integration see here:
http://www.xyplorer.com/xyfc/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=14882

[jlippey]

So far as I grasp the conversation, it's the way things work. I can live with that.

[bdeshi]

This is an unfortunate result of the way MS implemented 64-bitness, no fault of XY.

For the problematic shortcuts, you can do right click > show 64-bit ctx menu > open (or just right click > open if the 64-bit option isn't there).

[jlippey]

Right-click/open works just fine.

[chuckhebert40]

I have been using XY as my normal file manager for some time now and recommended it to others. However, I am increasingly frustrated with links to 64-bit programs not always working. This has been mentioned as resulting from some installers not using the correct variables, but this would not appear to be the only cause.

Step 1: I find the (64-bit) program in an XY pane, and with the right mouse button held down I drag it to the Desktop folder in another XY pane. One of the offered options is "Create Shortcut(s) here". I choose that and create a shortcut; this presumably only uses XY functionality. The shortcut works by double-clicking, whether I do this in the XY pane or by using the link on the actual desktop.

Step 2: I need to add some parameters/arguments, and do this by right-clicking on the link, selecting Properties and adding the parameters to the target. If I double-click on the link on the actual desktop it works. If I double-click on the link in the desktop folder in an XY pane it doesn't work - it looks for the program in the x86 program folder.

This suggests to me that the issue is in this instances caused by the Windows function that is used when you want to modify a link. While the link can be made to work, as suggested, by right-clicking and selecting the Open command, I do find it frustrating having to remember that on certain links I can't use the normal double-click - all the more so because double-clicking does work with the other file managers I have access to.

[highend]

Welcome to the club.

Please post two screenshots:
1. The properties of the shortcut after creating it
2. "" after you've added your parameters

If the targets aren't completely visible because folder paths / file names are too long, copy and paste them as well.
This sounds very strange...

[chuckhebert40]

Having just reorganised my machine and updated various programs, I have created a number of new shortcuts. I encountered a problem with some shortcuts for 64bit programs going to the Program Files (x86) folder. I looked in the forum to see if anyone else had reported it and was dismayed to find that I had, back in May. I'd completely forgotten I'd reported it, and clearly failed to supply screenshots as requested. Apologies! (Most shortcuts I need are on my desktop, where they work). I've done some further research, and added some screenshots.

1. Right click on a 64bit program, drag it to the Desktop (i.e. the actual desktop) with the Ctrl key pressed, and create a shortcut on the desktop. The shortcut appears in the Desktop folder in XYplorer (e.g. in a second pane). It has the correct icon, and double clicking on that entry in the Desktop folder in XYplorer starts the program OK
2. As 1, but creating the shortcut in the Desktop folder in the other XYplorer pane. The shortcut is created with the wrong icon, and double clicking on it produces the error previously reported.
3. In XYplorer, open the properties of the working shortcut created in 1, and add a parameter to the Target. The icon changes to that shown in case 2, and the shortcut doesn't work.

The two screenshots labelled "XY link...." show the properties of a shortcut to CCleaner, one created directly on the desktop (case 1, which works), and the other (copy) with an added parameter, per case 3, which doesn't work. Another screenshot shows the two shortcuts as listed in XYplorer, and a further screenshot shows how they appear in File (Windows) Explorer. Clicking on either shortcut in File Explorer works, but the one with the added parameter, and the wrong icon, does not work in XYplorer.

While the incorrect icon drew my attention to other troublesome shortcuts, I have had another example where the icon is the one associated with the program but the shortcut doesn't work - i.e. the error I'm encountering is not always associated with an incorrect icon.

I have experienced different problems with LibreOffice (64bit). I have a LibreOffice shortcut in a folder \Desktop\Icons, which I noticed had the wrong icon in XYplorer. When I double-clicked this I got a message about not being able to find the program (see screenshot "LibrOffice missing shortcut message"). The properties of this are as in the screenshot "LibreOffice shortcut" (the Target in full is "C:\Program Files\LibreOffice 5\program\soffice.exe", which is correct), and this shortcut works when double-clicked in File Explorer.
I have also created new links to LibreOffice, and the behaviour differs from what I've reported above in connection with CCleaner. If I create a shortcut directly on the actual desktop (i.e. per 1 above), clicking that shortcut in the Desktop folder in XYplorer does not work - it produces the error I initially reported (see screenshot "LibreOffice x86 error"). However, if I create the shortcut in the Desktop folder within XYplorer, double clicking on that (on the desktop, or within XYplorer) does work(!) - i.e. these are the opposite behaviours within XYplorer to what I've reported above. The shortcut properties are as per the screenshot already mentioned, except for the name of the shortcut (LibreOfice 5.2).
I've also reinstalled LibreOffice. This creates a shortcut in the Users\Public\Desktop folder; clicking on this within XYplorer does not work (i.e. it looks in the Program Files (x86) folder). Again, the properties appear to be the same as the supplied screenshot, but named LibreOffice 5.2

As mentioned in my previous post (19 May), the problem shortcuts do work from XYplorer if I right click and select Open from the menu.

I'm using Windows 10 Professional, but in May was using Windows 7. If any further info is needed I will this time try and supply it. As you said in May, highend, this sounds very strange

Thanks

[chuckhebert40]

I have now found another thread, from March, about the same issue ( viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15621 ), and in that thread there is a link to this viewtopic.php?p=115245#p115245; in these threads there are suggestions that the problem stems from the fact that XYplorer is a 32bit application, and that the underlying problem is Microsoft's. I'm no expert when it comes to the question of environment variables etc, but I have looked at a couple of other 32bit file managers, and on the basis of my findings don't accept that the 32bit + Microsoft to be the source of the problem - as others have pointed out, there are other 32bit file managers which work OK.

If it's of help/interest I can supply more details of what I've done and found, but my findings are to quite some degree on how those other two file managers behave, so for the moment I'd just mention something I find odd. Adding a parameter to a program using XYplorer, by editing the Target in the shortcut's properties, causes the shortcut to fail. If I look at the properties of the shortcut I see this: "C:\Program Files\IrfanView\i_view64.exe" /one [I used IrfanView (64bit), since it can use parameters]

However, if I double click on the link, the error message says this: “C:\Program Files (x86)\IrfanView\i_view64.exe /one”.

It is clear that this must involve two different sources of information within the shortcut. What is also clear is that the process of editing the Target to add a program parameter causes the shortcut to get corrupted. This does not happen if I make the change using Explorer++ or FreeCommander (32bit versions in each case, although I'm using 64bit Win 10).

[admin]

There is no problem with shortcuts to 64-bit programs, unless those shortcuts have been incorrectly created. The software that creates the shortcuts is responsible here. So, how are you creating the shortcuts in question?