.url files

[J. P. Gilliver]

Occasionally, I want to store a URL - say, next to something I've
downloaded, so I remember where I got it from, but not as a bookmark in
a browser.

I'm sure in the past (XP maybe?) I did this by creating a .txt file, and
pasting the URL into it, then renaming it from .txt to .url; but now,
that creates a file which, if clicked on, gives an error box saying

The target "" of this Internet Shortcut is not valid. Go to the
Internet Shortcut property sheet and make sure the target is
correct.

(Of course, I cannot find the "Internet Shortcut property sheet"; if I
right-click and select Properties, the General tab does indeed say it is
an "Internet Shortcut (.URL)" file, but nowhere can I find the URL to
edit it.)

Having renamed it from .txt to .URL, also, the extension (I have show
extensions turned on, of course) disappears, so can't easily be turned
back - it's obviously one of those filetypes, like .lnk, that doesn't
show the extension even if you have show extensions on. (I can do it, by
using DOS-type commands.) I also can't open it with Notepad - the "Open
with" option isn't there.

[R.Wieser]

J. P. ,

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Occasionally, I want to store a URL - say, next to something I've
downloaded, so I remember where I got it from, but not as a bookmark
in a browser.

[snip]

I see a problem description, but no question ...

If the above is your "this is what I want" (and not eding a .URL file) than
possibly just dragging the URL from the browser to the desktop/a folder will
automatically create the .URL shortcut for you - at least, that is what I do
using FireFox.

Post by J. P. Gilliver
I'm sure in the past (XP maybe?) I did this by creating a .txt file,
and pasting the URL into it, then renaming it from .txt to .url;

You could try to drag a bookmark from your internet browser onto the desktop
and than open it with a text-editor. When I look into such a file (using
"open with") I see this :

[InternetShortcut]
URL=https://...

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

[J. P. Gilliver]

Post by R.Wieser
J. P. ,

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Occasionally, I want to store a URL - say, next to something I've
downloaded, so I remember where I got it from, but not as a bookmark
in a browser.

[snip]
I see a problem description, but no question ...
If the above is your "this is what I want" (and not eding a .URL file) than

Both!

Post by R.Wieser
possibly just dragging the URL from the browser to the desktop/a folder will
automatically create the .URL shortcut for you - at least, that is what I do
using FireFox.

Ingenious. I hadn't thought of dragging a bookmark outside the browser.
[]

Post by R.Wieser
You could try to drag a bookmark from your internet browser onto the desktop
and than open it with a text-editor. When I look into such a file (using

Admittedly I haven't tried it from the desktop, but from another folder
where I'd created a .url file ...
... the "open with" option wasn't available.

Post by R.Wieser
[InternetShortcut]
URL=https://...
Hope that helps.
Regards,
Rudy Wieser

Hmm. I've just tried adding the

[InternetShortcut]
URL=

to my file, and I'm still getting 'The target "" of this Internet
Shortcut ...". Maybe it needs the double entry of a URL Java Jive
suggests.

[R.Wieser]

J. P. ,

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Admittedly I haven't tried it from the desktop, but from another folder
where I'd created a .url file ...
... the "open with" option wasn't available.

In that case, open a basic flat-text editor - notepad? - and see what
happens when you drop the .URL file ontop of it. On XP notepad opens the
file as if it contains text, and shows the contents I posted.

Ofcourse, using, from the commandline "notepad file.url" should work too.

After that, do it again, but now with a shortcut FireFox itself created, and
see if you can spot any differences.

Post by J. P. Gilliver
to my file, and I'm still getting 'The target "" of this Internet Shortcut
...".

There is a slight possibility that the registry-entry for te .URL shortcut
got damaged.

Create a drag-and-drop .URL link try to open it by double-clicking. Also
try to drag-and-drop it onto your internet browser itself. If the latter
works but the former fails than the registry might be to blame.

Do the same with an .URL file you created yourself. If it fails the same
way (former fails, latter works) it (again) indicates its not the file that
is the problem.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

[Java Jive]

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Occasionally, I want to store a URL - say, next to something I've
downloaded, so I remember where I got it from, but not as a bookmark in
a browser.
I'm sure in the past (XP maybe?) I did this by creating a .txt file, and
pasting the URL into it, then renaming it from .txt to .url; but now,
that creates a file which, if clicked on, gives an error box saying
The target "" of this Internet Shortcut is not valid. Go to the
Internet Shortcut property sheet and make sure the target is
correct.
(Of course, I cannot find the "Internet Shortcut property sheet"; if I
right-click and select Properties, the General tab does indeed say it is
an "Internet Shortcut (.URL)" file, but nowhere can I find the URL to
edit it.)
Having renamed it from .txt to .URL, also, the extension (I have show
extensions turned on, of course) disappears, so can't easily be turned
back - it's obviously one of those filetypes, like .lnk, that doesn't
show the extension even if you have show extensions on. (I can do it, by
using DOS-type commands.) I also can't open it with Notepad - the "Open
with" option isn't there.

*.url files were and AFAIAA still are IE bookmarks. If you look in your
IE Favourites folder you should find examples there. They have a format
such as the following:

[DEFAULT]
BASEURL=https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-uk/product-support/product/precision-m6700/overview
[InternetShortcut]
URL=https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-uk/product-support/product/precision-m6700/overview

To make one, what I usually do is take an existing one, copy and rename
it, and then edit the two URLs in it to point to a new location, that is
how the above example was made a few days ago when one of my old laptops
died and I replaced it with a new model. However, so deep is (Internet)
Explorer's infestation of (Windows) Explorer and vice versa, that you
may have to reboot or perhaps just log out, or else wait a very long
time until (Windows) Explorer 'forgets' the old location pointed to by
the file and allows you to go to the new one. What I mean is that, for
some indeterminate length of time after you have edited the file,
<double-click>ing it still takes you to the original location, not the
new one, which is just plain absurd.

[J. P. Gilliver]

In message <uv0lpt$3fne8$***@dont-email.me> at Mon, 8 Apr 2024 12:52:28,
Java Jive <***@evij.com.invalid> writes
[]

Post by Java Jive
*.url files were and AFAIAA still are IE bookmarks. If you look in
your IE Favourites folder you should find examples there. They have a
[DEFAULT]
BASEURL=https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-uk/product-support/product/
precision-m6700/overview
[InternetShortcut]
URL=https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-uk/product-support/product/prec
ision-m6700/overview

Well, I tried

[DEFAULT]
BASEURL=https://crosswords-static.guim.co.uk/obs.everyman.20240407.pdf
[InternetShortcut]
URL=https://crosswords-static.guim.co.uk/obs.everyman.20240407.pdf

and still got 'The target "" of this ...'.

Post by Java Jive
To make one, what I usually do is take an existing one, copy and rename
it, and then edit the two URLs in it to point to a new location, that
is how the above example was made a few days ago when one of my old
laptops died and I replaced it with a new model. However, so deep is
(Internet) Explorer's infestation of (Windows) Explorer and vice versa,
that you may have to reboot or perhaps just log out, or else wait a
very long time until (Windows) Explorer 'forgets' the old location
pointed to by the file and allows you to go to the new one. What I
mean is that, for some indeterminate length of time after you have
edited the file, <double-click>ing it still takes you to the original
location, not the new one, which is just plain absurd.

When I finally found a favorites folder that both wasn't empty and I
could actually access, I copied a .url file from it to the folder I'd
been trying in. Although it is also a .url file, it shows up (that
folder is currently set to "Large Icons") as a different icon. The one
I'd created by renaming a .txt file shows as a world globe on a clear
background; the copied one shows as a Firefox symbol on a dark blue
sheet. (Maybe the globe is the IE logo.) Double-clicking on _that_ one
opened Firefox. Looking inside it, I see

[{000214A0-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
Prop3=19,2
[InternetShortcut]
URL=http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=121315
IDList=
[MonitoredItem]
FeedUrl=http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=121315
IsLivePreview=true

!

This sounds like far too much work! I didn't actually _want_ shortcuts
(though it'd have been handy if they'd worked), I just wanted to store a
URL, and it seemed logical to call the file .URL, since I'd seen that
type existed. I'll just make a text file! (Maybe with URL in the
filename.)

[Java Jive]

Post by Java Jive
[DEFAULT]
BASEURL=https://crosswords-static.guim.co.uk/obs.everyman.20240407.pdf
[InternetShortcut]
URL=https://crosswords-static.guim.co.uk/obs.everyman.20240407.pdf

Works for me.

[Reinhard Skarbal]

In article <***@255soft.uk>, ***@255soft.uk
says...

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Occasionally, I want to store a URL - say, next to something I've
downloaded, so I remember where I got it from, but not as a bookmark in
a browser.
I'm sure in the past (XP maybe?) I did this by creating a .txt file, and
pasting the URL into it, then renaming it from .txt to .url; but now,
that creates a file which, if clicked on, gives an error box saying
The target "" of this Internet Shortcut is not valid. Go to the
Internet Shortcut property sheet and make sure the target is
correct.
(Of course, I cannot find the "Internet Shortcut property sheet"; if I
right-click and select Properties, the General tab does indeed say it is
an "Internet Shortcut (.URL)" file, but nowhere can I find the URL to
edit it.)
Having renamed it from .txt to .URL, also, the extension (I have show
extensions turned on, of course) disappears, so can't easily be turned
back - it's obviously one of those filetypes, like .lnk, that doesn't
show the extension even if you have show extensions on. (I can do it, by
using DOS-type commands.) I also can't open it with Notepad - the "Open
with" option isn't there.

Hi !
Windows-11 can do it. I thing windows-7 will it do
similar.
Right Click
New
Link
Write the location like www.somewhere.com
Next
Windows will ask "New internet connection" or something
else.

My Windows is in german, so i'm not sure.

And maybe : make a file "my-new-internet-link.url" and put
"www.somewhere.com" in.
(Or was this on vax-vms ?)

Regards
Reinhard

[J. P. Gilliver]

In message <***@news.eternal-september.org> at
Mon, 8 Apr 2024 16:58:25, Reinhard Skarbal <***@aon.at>
writes
[]

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
Windows-11 can do it. I thing windows-7 will it do
similar.
Right Click
New
Link

Unfortunately, right-click | New gives me quite a long list of things I
can create - including Contact, Journal Document, and Briefcase, none of
which I've ever used - but Link is not one of them )-:.
[]

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
My Windows is in german, so i'm not sure.

I don't think it's that.

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
And maybe : make a file "my-new-internet-link.url" and put
"www.somewhere.com" in.

That's what I tried - making a .txt file, putting the URL in it, then
renaming it. But apparently I need something in [] first.

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
(Or was this on vax-vms ?)

I haven't used a VAX for a long time! (At the other end of B block in
Marconi Research Centre, using a BBC model B as a terminal - happy
days!)

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
Regards
Reinhard

[Reinhard Skarbal]

In article <zu7iavxAdBFmFw$***@255soft.uk>, ***@255soft.uk
says...

Post by J. P. Gilliver
writes
[]

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
Windows-11 can do it. I thing windows-7 will it do
similar.
Right Click
New
Link

Unfortunately, right-click | New gives me quite a long list of things I
can create - including Contact, Journal Document, and Briefcase, none of
which I've ever used - but Link is not one of them )-:.
[]

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
My Windows is in german, so i'm not sure.

I don't think it's that.

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
And maybe : make a file "my-new-internet-link.url" and put
"www.somewhere.com" in.

That's what I tried - making a .txt file, putting the URL in it, then
renaming it. But apparently I need something in [] first.

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
(Or was this on vax-vms ?)

I haven't used a VAX for a long time! (At the other end of B block in
Marconi Research Centre, using a BBC model B as a terminal - happy
days!)

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
Regards
Reinhard

Hi

I took my old Dell Inspiron 1501 with Windows 7
Professional (in german) out of the cellar to check the
InternetShortcut-creation-problem.

right click (on an empty place of the desktop, or a
folder)
=> popup-window
selected "Neu"
=> popup-window
(second line) selected "Verknuepfung"
I put "http://www.heise.de" into this new file.
pressing "Weiter"
Inserted an name for the link "HEISE"
pressing "Fertig stellen"
=> and it was done.

Now I looked into this new InternetShortcut "HEISE" with
an editor :

[{000214A0-0000-0000-C000000000000046}]
Prop3=19,2
[InternetShortcut]
URL=http:www.heise.de
IDList=

A new text-file with those lines dosn't work.
I think I have to use an Hex-Editor to find the trick.
And maybee it has to be a special file, because the icon
of the file differs.



Maybe you have a windows-home-version with reduced
functions ?

Regards Reinhard

[J. P. Gilliver]

In message <***@news.eternal-september.org> at
Mon, 8 Apr 2024 18:52:03, Reinhard Skarbal <***@aon.at>
writes
[]

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
I took my old Dell Inspiron 1501 with Windows 7
Professional (in german) out of the cellar to check the
InternetShortcut-creation-problem.

I have 7-32 Home Premium

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
right click (on an empty place of the desktop, or a
folder)
=> popup-window
selected "Neu"

Right-clicking in a folder, selecting New

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
=> popup-window
(second line) selected "Verknuepfung"

Select Shortcut

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
I put "http://www.heise.de" into this new file.

https://crosswords-static.guim.co.uk/obs.everyman.20240407.pdf

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
pressing "Weiter"

Next

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
Inserted an name for the link "HEISE"
pressing "Fertig stellen"

Finish

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
=> and it was done.

It was indeed!

I think my problem was I was blind to "Shortcut" being there. I don't
know why I didn't see it: maybe I was looking for "Link". Or, I assumed
"Shortcut" was for files. I think it was your "(second line)" that
helped me see it!

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
Now I looked into this new InternetShortcut "HEISE" with
[{000214A0-0000-0000-C000000000000046}]
Prop3=19,2
[InternetShortcut]
URL=http:www.heise.de
IDList=

I get the same (different URL, obviously), except:
• there's an extra "-" after C000
• I have Prop3=19,11

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
A new text-file with those lines dosn't work.
I think I have to use an Hex-Editor to find the trick.

I can't see anything special in it with a hex-viewer!

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
And maybee it has to be a special file, because the icon
of the file differs.

Indeed!

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
Maybe you have a windows-home-version with reduced
functions ?
Regards Reinhard

No, I think it was just that I didn't see the "Shortcut" in the "New"
menu, or assumed it was for something else!

Thanks.

Now, just to _remember_ that's what I should use, as I don't often make
this sort of file!

[g***@aol.com]

Post by J. P. Gilliver
writes
[]

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
I took my old Dell Inspiron 1501 with Windows 7
Professional (in german) out of the cellar to check the
InternetShortcut-creation-problem.

I have 7-32 Home Premium

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
right click (on an empty place of the desktop, or a
folder)
=> popup-window
selected "Neu"

Right-clicking in a folder, selecting New

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
=> popup-window
(second line) selected "Verknuepfung"

Select Shortcut

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
I put "http://www.heise.de" into this new file.

https://crosswords-static.guim.co.uk/obs.everyman.20240407.pdf

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
pressing "Weiter"

Next

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
Inserted an name for the link "HEISE"
pressing "Fertig stellen"

Finish

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
=> and it was done.

It was indeed!
I think my problem was I was blind to "Shortcut" being there. I don't
know why I didn't see it: maybe I was looking for "Link". Or, I assumed
"Shortcut" was for files. I think it was your "(second line)" that
helped me see it!

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
Now I looked into this new InternetShortcut "HEISE" with
[{000214A0-0000-0000-C000000000000046}]
Prop3=19,2
[InternetShortcut]
URL=http:www.heise.de
IDList=

• there's an extra "-" after C000
• I have Prop3=19,11

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
A new text-file with those lines dosn't work.
I think I have to use an Hex-Editor to find the trick.

I can't see anything special in it with a hex-viewer!

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
And maybee it has to be a special file, because the icon
of the file differs.

Indeed!

Post by Reinhard Skarbal
Maybe you have a windows-home-version with reduced
functions ?
Regards Reinhard

No, I think it was just that I didn't see the "Shortcut" in the "New"
menu, or assumed it was for something else!
Thanks.
Now, just to _remember_ that's what I should use, as I don't often make
this sort of file!

W/7 here to and the other guy is right. If you just light up the
browser url bar and drag it to the desktop, it creates a shortcut you
can drag somewhere else. Saves a few steps.

[VanguardLH]

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Occasionally, I want to store a URL - say, next to something I've
downloaded, so I remember where I got it from, but not as a bookmark in
a browser.
I'm sure in the past (XP maybe?) I did this by creating a .txt file, and
pasting the URL into it, then renaming it from .txt to .url; but now,
that creates a file which, if clicked on, gives an error box saying
The target "" of this Internet Shortcut is not valid. Go to the
Internet Shortcut property sheet and make sure the target is
correct.
(Of course, I cannot find the "Internet Shortcut property sheet"; if I
right-click and select Properties, the General tab does indeed say it is
an "Internet Shortcut (.URL)" file, but nowhere can I find the URL to
edit it.)
Having renamed it from .txt to .URL, also, the extension (I have show
extensions turned on, of course) disappears, so can't easily be turned
back - it's obviously one of those filetypes, like .lnk, that doesn't
show the extension even if you have show extensions on. (I can do it, by
using DOS-type commands.) I also can't open it with Notepad - the "Open
with" option isn't there.

I have a Downloads folder. Under it are subfolders to group by
category, and under there to group by vendor, product, or some
identifier. Under that last subfolder is where I download a file, like
a driver or software. In that same folder, I save the URL from the web
browser (by dragging it from the web browser's address bar into the
folder). That keeps the downloaded file and a URL together. I later
know from where I got the download. I might have other URLs in the same
folder, like for an online manual, specifications, support, etc.

I use folders to group related stuff. That's the point of folders aka
directories.

[Paul]

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Occasionally, I want to store a URL - say, next to something I've
downloaded, so I remember where I got it from, but not as a bookmark in
a browser.
I'm sure in the past (XP maybe?) I did this by creating a .txt file, and
pasting the URL into it, then renaming it from .txt to .url; but now,
that creates a file which, if clicked on, gives an error box saying
The target "" of this Internet Shortcut is not valid. Go to the
Internet Shortcut property sheet and make sure the target is
correct.
(Of course, I cannot find the "Internet Shortcut property sheet"; if I
right-click and select Properties, the General tab does indeed say it is
an "Internet Shortcut (.URL)" file, but nowhere can I find the URL to
edit it.)
Having renamed it from .txt to .URL, also, the extension (I have show
extensions turned on, of course) disappears, so can't easily be turned
back - it's obviously one of those filetypes, like .lnk, that doesn't
show the extension even if you have show extensions on. (I can do it, by
using DOS-type commands.) I also can't open it with Notepad - the "Open
with" option isn't there.

There's a little icon on the left hand side of the URL bar.
Drag that icon onto the desktop. The file in the desktop should
have an Internet Shortcut Property Sheet. You can tell I use
this a lot, cause I had to look it up :-) I just toss all my
bookmarks in Bookmarks, and do my usual random access thing
with them. Everything here is random access (keyword based).

https://www.webopedia.com/reference/create-website-shortcut-on-desktop/

Even if the value of the URL stored immediately in that file
is not correct, you can copy-pasta the URL from the real location
you wanted to archive and put it in there.

Or, edit it with your text editor.

Even when you have file extensions turned on, you can't see the .URL part.

how-to-URL.URL

[Picture]

Loading Image...

My example seems to be a little short of 256 bytes, which means
at storage time, it fits in the $MFT 1024 byte slot, rather
than wasting a cluster (4K) of storage.

File 3464

\Users\username\Desktop\how-to-URL.URL
$STANDARD_INFORMATION (resident)
$FILE_NAME (resident)
$FILE_NAME (resident)
$DATA (resident)

Don't seem to be any alternate streams in there.
If you use streams64.exe from Sysinternals, on something
with an alternate stream, it looks like this.

D:\>streams64.exe libcs50-10.1.1.zip

streams v1.60 - Reveal NTFS alternate streams.
Copyright (C) 2005-2016 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

D:\libcs50-10.1.1.zip:
:Zone.Identifier:$DATA 26

The file entry for a file with an alternate stream, looks like this.
Two $DATA. Storing metadata for a file, in a separate handle like
this, is not very convenient on Windows. That's why the scheme is
hardly used. Only the "downloader" logic uses it (stamp files as "poison"
because they came from Teh Internetz -- Zones are an Internet Explorer
concept, the five security zones). You have to look up how to make
a filename for that 26 byte part, if you want to look at it :-)
Because I can never remember how to do this when I need to.

File 45
\libcs50-10.1.1.zip
$STANDARD_INFORMATION (resident)
$FILE_NAME (resident)
$DATA (nonresident)
logical sectors 492064-492103 (0x78220-0x78247)
$DATA Zone.Identifier (resident)

notepad libcs50-10.1.1.zip:Zone.Identifier:$DATA

And that shows the 26 byte contents as:

[ZoneTransfer]
ZoneId=3 <=== Zone 3 of five possible zones

But your .URL thingy (which might be different internally on
Windows 7), it's a pretty plain file, all things considered.

Paul

[J. P. Gilliver]

In message <uv178a$3k6j7$***@dont-email.me> at Mon, 8 Apr 2024 12:50:16,
Paul <***@needed.invalid> writes
[]

Post by Paul
There's a little icon on the left hand side of the URL bar.
Drag that icon onto the desktop. The file in the desktop should

Ah - the padlock (in Chrome)! I never thought of using that as a handle;
I thought it was just for information. I had been wondering how to "drag
the URL from the browser" as others have said, because if I just tried
from within it, it just highlights it or part of it.

Post by Paul
have an Internet Shortcut Property Sheet. You can tell I use

Yes, the file I made earlier under Reinhard's guidance has an extra tab
when I select "Properties", "Web Document", where I could indeed edit
the URL if I'd wanted. (I see I could even give it a shortcut key or
change the icon!)
[]

Post by Paul
Even if the value of the URL stored immediately in that file
is not correct, you can copy-pasta the URL from the real location
you wanted to archive and put it in there.
Or, edit it with your text editor.

I can't "Send To" or "Open With", but I just tried opening Notepad first
and dragging it to, and it seemed to open. But using Properties is
easier, and will probably do any extra magic needed too.

Post by Paul
Even when you have file extensions turned on, you can't see the .URL part.

Yes, it's one of those ultra-special extensions, like .lnk .
[]

Post by Paul
My example seems to be a little short of 256 bytes, which means
at storage time, it fits in the $MFT 1024 byte slot, rather
than wasting a cluster (4K) of storage.

Mine's 152 bytes.

Post by Paul
File 3464
\Users\username\Desktop\how-to-URL.URL
$STANDARD_INFORMATION (resident)
$FILE_NAME (resident)
$FILE_NAME (resident)
$DATA (resident)
Don't seem to be any alternate streams in there.
If you use streams64.exe from Sysinternals, on something
with an alternate stream, it looks like this.
D:\>streams64.exe libcs50-10.1.1.zip
streams v1.60 - Reveal NTFS alternate streams.
Copyright (C) 2005-2016 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com
:Zone.Identifier:$DATA 26

I just got

C:\utilitie.s\NirSoft\SysInter.nls>streams D:\images\Xwords\obseve~1.url

streams v1.60 - Reveal NTFS alternate streams.
Copyright (C) 2005-2016 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com


C:\utilitie.s\NirSoft\SysInter.nls>

i. e. it didn't seem to show anything at all.

Post by Paul
The file entry for a file with an alternate stream, looks like this.
Two $DATA. Storing metadata for a file, in a separate handle like
this, is not very convenient on Windows. That's why the scheme is
hardly used. Only the "downloader" logic uses it (stamp files as "poison"
because they came from Teh Internetz -- Zones are an Internet Explorer
concept, the five security zones). You have to look up how to make

Ah, I'd occasionally wondered how it knew!
[]

Post by Paul
But your .URL thingy (which might be different internally on
Windows 7), it's a pretty plain file, all things considered.
Paul

Yes, it seems to be.

John

[Java Jive]

Post by Paul

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Occasionally, I want to store a URL - say, next to something I've
downloaded, so I remember where I got it from, but not as a bookmark in
a browser.
I'm sure in the past (XP maybe?) I did this by creating a .txt file, and
pasting the URL into it, then renaming it from .txt to .url; but now,
that creates a file which, if clicked on, gives an error box saying
The target "" of this Internet Shortcut is not valid. Go to the
Internet Shortcut property sheet and make sure the target is
correct.
(Of course, I cannot find the "Internet Shortcut property sheet"; if I
right-click and select Properties, the General tab does indeed say it is
an "Internet Shortcut (.URL)" file, but nowhere can I find the URL to
edit it.)
Having renamed it from .txt to .URL, also, the extension (I have show
extensions turned on, of course) disappears, so can't easily be turned
back - it's obviously one of those filetypes, like .lnk, that doesn't
show the extension even if you have show extensions on. (I can do it, by
using DOS-type commands.) I also can't open it with Notepad - the "Open
with" option isn't there.

There's a little icon on the left hand side of the URL bar.
Drag that icon onto the desktop. The file in the desktop should
have an Internet Shortcut Property Sheet. You can tell I use
this a lot, cause I had to look it up :-) I just toss all my
bookmarks in Bookmarks, and do my usual random access thing
with them. Everything here is random access (keyword based).
https://www.webopedia.com/reference/create-website-shortcut-on-desktop/
Even if the value of the URL stored immediately in that file
is not correct, you can copy-pasta the URL from the real location
you wanted to archive and put it in there.

I've just tried this for the first time, and it creates a different type
of shortcut, not a simple *.url file. It creates the internet
equivalent of a network shortcut, the type of shortcut you get by
clicking Add Network Place in the Network folder; viz: it creates a
sub-folder containing a single binary file, target.lnk, which, being
binary, cannot easily be edited, though if you're feeling brave you can
do so using Edit in binary mode, by giving it a command-line switch to
force wrapping at a particular column, I usually use /80. Obviously you
have to be careful not to change the size of the fields within it, so
mostly all you can do is achieve prettier capitalisation.

Post by Paul
Or, edit it with your text editor.

A *.url file, yes, a target.lnk file no, except as above.

So, for me just now it was back to hand-editing a pre-existing *.url
file as previously described.

[Paul]

Post by Paul

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Occasionally, I want to store a URL - say, next to something I've
downloaded, so I remember where I got it from, but not as a bookmark in
a browser.
I'm sure in the past (XP maybe?) I did this by creating a .txt file, and
pasting the URL into it, then renaming it from .txt to .url; but now,
that creates a file which, if clicked on, gives an error box saying
         The target "" of this Internet Shortcut is not valid. Go to the
         Internet Shortcut property sheet and make sure the target is
         correct.
(Of course, I cannot find the "Internet Shortcut property sheet"; if I
right-click and select Properties, the General tab does indeed say it is
an "Internet Shortcut (.URL)" file, but nowhere can I find the URL to
edit it.)
Having renamed it from .txt to .URL, also, the extension (I have show
extensions turned on, of course) disappears, so can't easily be turned
back - it's obviously one of those filetypes, like .lnk, that doesn't
show the extension even if you have show extensions on. (I can do it, by
using DOS-type commands.) I also can't open it with Notepad - the "Open
with" option isn't there.

There's a little icon on the left hand side of the URL bar.
Drag that icon onto the desktop. The file in the desktop should
have an Internet Shortcut Property Sheet. You can tell I use
this a lot, cause I had to look it up :-) I just toss all my
bookmarks in Bookmarks, and do my usual random access thing
with them. Everything here is random access (keyword based).
https://www.webopedia.com/reference/create-website-shortcut-on-desktop/
Even if the value of the URL stored immediately in that file
is not correct, you can copy-pasta the URL from the real location
you wanted to archive and put it in there.

I've just tried this for the first time, and it creates a different type of shortcut, not a simple *.url file.  It creates the internet equivalent of a network shortcut, the type of shortcut you get by clicking Add Network Place in the Network folder; viz: it creates a sub-folder containing a single binary file, target.lnk, which, being binary, cannot easily be edited, though if you're feeling brave you can do so using Edit in binary mode, by giving it a command-line switch to force wrapping at a particular column, I usually use /80.  Obviously you have to be careful not to change the size of the fields within it, so mostly all you can do is achieve prettier capitalisation.

Post by Paul
Or, edit it with your text editor.

A *.url file, yes, a target.lnk file no, except as above.
So, for me just now it was back to hand-editing a pre-existing *.url file as previously described.

I have a W7 x86 in the cooker right now, put a Firefox 115.9 ESR
in it, and the drag and drop would not work at all.

It turned out, when Microsoft shipped the VM (a download from modern.ie
at the time), they put the UAC slider down to the bottom setting. I moved
the UAC back to the top. This is likely caused by the Session number of
the running Firefox, and the desktop, not being the same. And Mozilla
claims all this is for "security", as if Firefox would launch elevated
(which it should not even remotely be trying to do).

"In the Windows 7 "System and Security" control panel category, the Action Center
lets you change User Account Control (UAC) settings. In the User Account Control
Settings dialog box, you move the slide bar control for notifications, and then
you click the OK button." [Requires a reboot to work]

With UAC re-engaged after the reboot, dragging and dropping the lock icon
onto the desktop, created a .URL file.

what was also strange, is on the first invocation of my test URL, the
lock icon DID NOT appear. On re-loading the icon, the lock icon appeared
and THEN I could drag and drop it.

[Picture] Just showing evidence it did make a .URL file
Not attempting to show the browser window that did it

Loading Image...

It's like flying a 747. Practice makes perfect.

The other test I did, didn't cause grief like this.

Paul

[Java Jive]

Post by Java Jive

Post by Paul

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Occasionally, I want to store a URL - say, next to something I've
downloaded, so I remember where I got it from, but not as a bookmark in
a browser.
I'm sure in the past (XP maybe?) I did this by creating a .txt file, and
pasting the URL into it, then renaming it from .txt to .url; but now,
that creates a file which, if clicked on, gives an error box saying
         The target "" of this Internet Shortcut is not valid. Go to the
         Internet Shortcut property sheet and make sure the target is
         correct.
(Of course, I cannot find the "Internet Shortcut property sheet"; if I
right-click and select Properties, the General tab does indeed say it is
an "Internet Shortcut (.URL)" file, but nowhere can I find the URL to
edit it.)
Having renamed it from .txt to .URL, also, the extension (I have show
extensions turned on, of course) disappears, so can't easily be turned
back - it's obviously one of those filetypes, like .lnk, that doesn't
show the extension even if you have show extensions on. (I can do it, by
using DOS-type commands.) I also can't open it with Notepad - the "Open
with" option isn't there.

There's a little icon on the left hand side of the URL bar.
Drag that icon onto the desktop. The file in the desktop should
have an Internet Shortcut Property Sheet. You can tell I use
this a lot, cause I had to look it up :-) I just toss all my
bookmarks in Bookmarks, and do my usual random access thing
with them. Everything here is random access (keyword based).
https://www.webopedia.com/reference/create-website-shortcut-on-desktop/
Even if the value of the URL stored immediately in that file
is not correct, you can copy-pasta the URL from the real location
you wanted to archive and put it in there.

I've just tried this for the first time, and it creates a different type
of shortcut, not a simple *.url file.  It creates the internet
equivalent of a network shortcut, the type of shortcut you get by
clicking Add Network Place in the Network folder; viz: it creates a
sub-folder containing a single binary file, target.lnk,

... actually two, additionally a Desktop.ini file which contains the
icon designation, etc ...

Post by Java Jive
which, being
binary, cannot easily be edited, though if you're feeling brave you can
do so using Edit in binary mode, by giving it a command-line switch to
force wrapping at a particular column, I usually use /80.  Obviously you
have to be careful not to change the size of the fields within it, so
mostly all you can do is achieve prettier capitalisation.

Post by Paul
Or, edit it with your text editor.

A *.url file, yes, a target.lnk file no, except as above.
So, for me just now it was back to hand-editing a pre-existing *.url
file as previously described.

[Zaidy036]

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Occasionally, I want to store a URL - say, next to something I've
downloaded, so I remember where I got it from, but not as a bookmark in
a browser.
I'm sure in the past (XP maybe?) I did this by creating a .txt file, and
pasting the URL into it, then renaming it from .txt to .url; but now,
that creates a file which, if clicked on, gives an error box saying
The target "" of this Internet Shortcut is not valid. Go to the
Internet Shortcut property sheet and make sure the target is
correct.
(Of course, I cannot find the "Internet Shortcut property sheet"; if I
right-click and select Properties, the General tab does indeed say it is
an "Internet Shortcut (.URL)" file, but nowhere can I find the URL to
edit it.)
Having renamed it from .txt to .URL, also, the extension (I have show
extensions turned on, of course) disappears, so can't easily be turned
back - it's obviously one of those filetypes, like .lnk, that doesn't
show the extension even if you have show extensions on. (I can do it, by
using DOS-type commands.) I also can't open it with Notepad - the "Open
with" option isn't there.

Win 10 Pro

Drag FireFox URL to desktop makes a clickable icon which opens URL in FF.
Make a new folder "AnyTitle" and place your downloaded icon in the folder.

[g***@aol.com]

Post by Zaidy036

Post by J. P. Gilliver
Occasionally, I want to store a URL - say, next to something I've
downloaded, so I remember where I got it from, but not as a bookmark in
a browser.
I'm sure in the past (XP maybe?) I did this by creating a .txt file, and
pasting the URL into it, then renaming it from .txt to .url; but now,
that creates a file which, if clicked on, gives an error box saying
The target "" of this Internet Shortcut is not valid. Go to the
Internet Shortcut property sheet and make sure the target is
correct.
(Of course, I cannot find the "Internet Shortcut property sheet"; if I
right-click and select Properties, the General tab does indeed say it is
an "Internet Shortcut (.URL)" file, but nowhere can I find the URL to
edit it.)
Having renamed it from .txt to .URL, also, the extension (I have show
extensions turned on, of course) disappears, so can't easily be turned
back - it's obviously one of those filetypes, like .lnk, that doesn't
show the extension even if you have show extensions on. (I can do it, by
using DOS-type commands.) I also can't open it with Notepad - the "Open
with" option isn't there.

Win 10 Pro
Drag FireFox URL to desktop makes a clickable icon which opens URL in FF.
Make a new folder "AnyTitle" and place your downloaded icon in the folder.

That is how I do it, then drag that Icon wherever you want it

[J. P. Gilliver]

[]

Post by g***@aol.com

Post by Zaidy036
Drag FireFox URL to desktop makes a clickable icon which opens URL in FF.
Make a new folder "AnyTitle" and place your downloaded icon in the folder.

That is how I do it, then drag that Icon wherever you want it

I see now - I was wondering how to "Drag ... URL". I see now the
"handle" for the URL is the symbol to the left of it (such as the
padlock symbol in Chrome).