Windows: make application installed in Program Files seen like it has no spaces

Question

I have Matlab installed in 'Program Files', and I need to install the toolbox that requires a path without any spaces. The problem is I can't perform reinstallation of that program in another location. Is there any way to make application is seen by other programs or dependencies like it is installed in a folder without spaces? I considered making some links or editing register entries but I don't have any idea how to deal with that.

Answer 1

The tool to use is mklink, and the call you are looking for is:

mklink /J C:\myfolder "C:\my path\with blanks"

This will create a hard link pointing to the directory, also known as a directory junction, and will make Windows work with C:\myfolder as if it was the other directory C:\my path\with blanks.

Answer 2

You don't need to make links, etc. Windows has had "short file names" that fit the old DOS 8.3 format hidden in the background since Win95.

For example, C:\Program Files is really C:\PROGRA~1\

Check out How can I find the short path of a Windows directory/file?