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I am using DVC for a project that I'm working on, for tracking and running a data processing pipeline that needs to run on Windows. DVC uses symbolic links as a way of connecting files' original paths to the copies in the cache.
However, on Windows 11, in the Explorer window these symbolic links appear not as regular files but instead as a weird file of type ".symlink" even though the filename does not actually contain this extension:

See here:
See here.

This prevents me from being able to open these files normally.

As a result, thumbnails don't show up for images, and when clicked on, the file does not actually open with the right application for the real extension, but an application picking window for the .symlink extension shows up instead.

How can I make Windows treat these symbolic links as regular files, at least for interaction through Windows Explorer (e.g. clicking on them)?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Markus Meyer
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cgokmen
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1 Answers1

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This problem exists since Windows 7, when Windows 7 Update KB3039066 broke symbolic links in Windows Explorer and all programs that use the services provided by the Windows shell.

The problem was asked on our site in the posts :

In both posts the only workaround that was offered was to replace the symlinks by another type (hard link, directory symbolic link or Directory Junction).

If you can recreate the symlinks created by DVC using a stronger type, as above, this will be a solution. Otherwise, there might not exist a simple solution that does not pass through the Open With context-menu.

Some third-party File Explorer Alternatives might treat these files differently, but I can't recommend any of them.

harrymc
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