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Limitations of Windows file shortcuts in User Experience Virtualization

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Summary

Microsoft User Experience Virtualization (UE-V) does not support Windows file shortcuts (also known as shell links, link files, or .lnk files). By default, the .lnk file name extension is excluded from UE-V replication. This article describes the limitations and known issues with replicating shortcuts. This behavior is by design.

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More Information

UE-V does not support replicating Windows file shortcuts. Understanding the nature of this limitation helps in the planning process for implementing custom templates.

Known limitations and issues:

  • UE-V replicates small file copies and registry import and export operations. In the case of shortcut files, a simple file copy may produce unintended consequences, and additional logic would be required to correctly choose the intended behavior.
  • By default, the .lnk file name extension is excluded in UE-V under HKLM\Software\Microsoft\UEV\Agent\Configuration\Excludedfiletypes.
  • Although you can create custom UE-V templates, only those templates that are packaged with UE-V are officially supported.
  • File copies of shortcut files across computers may trigger unintended desktop composition behavior, as follows:
    • Windows Explorer tries to repair broken links if the target does not exist or has been moved. Distributed Link Trackingtries to update the link location.
    • Shortcuts on different operating systems may point to different versions of binaries.
    • If a file is not present, Windows Explorer may display a default icon, leading to an inconsistent desktop experience across computers.
    • Deletion of a shortcut on one computer may cause the unintended deletion of a file on another computer on which the target still exists.
    • Different versions of applications that use DDE may exhibit inconsistent behavior.
    • Inconsistent icon display may occur, depending on the version of the application, the version of the operating system, and other factors.
    • Links to different file types (.txt files, for example) may be associated with different programs on different computers.

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Article Info
Article ID : 3053820
Revision : 2
Created on : 3/27/2020
Published on : 3/27/2020
Exists online : False
Views : 209