Environment variable set in batch isn't expanded in shortcut

Question

How can I make my environment variable (set in batch file) visible in application executed right after setting this envvar?

Here's the scenario that I use:

1. In my external script (not quite important here) I create Windows shortcuts to jpg files, with the target looking like:

   %MYPHOTOSDRIVE%:\private\photos\photo001.jpg
   

   %MYPHOTODRIVE% should contain just a current drive letter.

2. I start IrfanView using the following BAT script (script is located in the same directory as all the .lnk files):

   set MYPHOTOSDRIVE=%cd:~0,2%
   "c:\Program Files\IrfanView\i_view32.exe" "i:\private\photolinks\photo001.lnk"
   "c:\Program Files\IrfanView\i_view32.exe" /slideshow="%cd%"
   

The problem is that neither the single image, nor a slideshow (for the second call to IrfanView) is executed properly.

Shouldn't this "MYPHOTODRIVE" variable be expanded to a proper value upon Irfan execution? Doesn't it get the same environment as the parent script?

Answer 1

The problem is that you are not passing an environment variable to IrfanView eg:

C:\> i_view32.exe %%myphotosdrive%%:\private\photos\photo001.jpg

You are passing it a .LNK file (which is binary). IrfanView does not know how to interpret shortcut files; it only handles graphics files and such.

Your best bet is to request that Irfan add the ability to resolve shortcut files (he is quite responsive and good at handling support questions and feature requests).