Shortcut to local file with UNC path

[votegop]

Is it possible to create a shortcut with a UNC path to a resident hard drive (like c? I've tried every combination of \\mycomputername\folderonCdrive\fileonCdrive and \\mycomputername\nameofCdrive\folderonCdrive\fileonCdrive and the like.

Do UNC's not work on non-shared resources? Do UNC's work with shortcuts at all?

The reason for this is I want to distribute a sample MSAccess database on a flashdrive (removable). Since I never know what drive letter a client's machine will assign the flashdrive when they plug it in, I need to go UNC with the shortcut. The shortcut (which will also reside on the flashdrive) will point to the database with a couple of parameters included.

Any help greatly appreciated!

 

[MakeItSo]

UNC path for a flashdrive?
First: share the folder on your flashdrive, else you don't have a UNC name for the drive.
Then you can access it just as if it were on your computer:
e.g. \\computername\db\Frontend.mdb

YOu get your computer name by right clicking the "My Computer" icon on your desktop and choosing "network identification"...

Regards,
MakeItSo

Andreas Galambos
EDP / Technical Support Specialist
(andreas.galambos@bowneglobal.de)
HP:

http://home.arcor.de/andygalambos

 

[votegop]

Thanks for the help Andreas, but that won't work with the scenario I described. The USB flashdrive will be distributed to customers for them to peruse the sample database. Their machines will be assigning different drive letters when it gets plugged in. Since simplicity is the key for the customer, I cannot ask them to "share" the drive before they click the shortcut.

Sounds like I may need to do this with a batch file. I haven't a clue where to start with that...

 

[votegop]

Ok, I've got another idea, but still don't know enough to implement it...

Are there Windows command-line parameters (or "switches"?) that I can use to substitute for the absolute path? ie: %path% or %windir% ?

The parameter would need to return the path to the shortcut's folder, which is where the database will reside.

Again, any help greatly appreciated!