[jecilop]

UPDATE: SOLVED by batch renaming file extensions to allow import.
Prior ability was actually due to a bug.
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Shortcut ".lnk" file no longer imports as before - now target import vs .lnk file

I reported this as a Bug, but I'm posting here also just in case someone has an alternative in the meantime.

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I used to be able to import mass numbers of Shortcut .lnk files into Calibre to help with ease of adding MANY files to the database.

It has been awhile since I did this. That last time would have been on Windows 10 vs 11 now. Also, it would have been many Calibre updates ago, especially prior to the last major update to 6.0.

Recently, I found trying to import the shortcuts caused Calibre to stop responding...repeatedly requiring a Task Mgr Process Stop to close it.

I played around with some things and foundd the following as approached in this order:

1) I can no longer find an interface that shows or allows choice of file types that Calibre will allow if users can choose this now. Pref/Adding Books/Auto Adding has no check marks set to ignore, but it also doesn't feature the lnk file type in listings if this matters. I seemed to recall such a preference, but I may be wrong or mixing that up with this auto add filter.

2) I created a single test text file and then a shortcut from that. I was able to drag/drop to add an entry in Calibre easily, BUT I found that it added the actual target text file and not the short .lnk (which is a file 2k in size).
I then deleted the original text, but kept the shortcut and attempted the import again. It stopped responding. THIS TELLS ME that it will only import it now IF the original reference file exists and in referenced location AND IMPORTS THE ACTUAL FILE and not the ".lnk" file instead.


It used to import the shortcut ".lnk", and it didn't matter if the original existed. This method is a HUGE timesaver for someone with my use who also doesn't want the actual large zip files in the Calibre database. HUGE!


So, is this a change in Calibre, or is it a change somehow with how Windows 11 creates shortcut links vs. 10? I doubt the latter, but I have to consider it.
Looking at the Properties of the shortcut.lnk files doesn't yield anything different than it used to indicate. It still shows File Type as "Shortcut (.lnk)" .


I can't come up with any other way to do these entries in mass (shortcuts are actually references to zip folder names). BetterRed told me about .lnks (I think it was him) a long time ago on the forums. It was exactly what I needed. I don't want the actual zip or it's contents imported.