Easiest way to open a random Windows folder at will

[Jerry Friedman]

There are about a dozen folders scattered about I like to open when needed.
I want to open them by name (because that is what I remember, that's why!).
:)

I could put a shortcut to each named folder on the taskbar or desktop.
I could pin a menu to each of the named folders on the taskbar.
But that uses up important real estate for things used only sporadically.

All I remember is the name of the folder when I need that folder.

I wish I could just type the name and that would open the folder.
Win+R Folder_A Enter

But I can't just put that name in the app paths registry key.
App Paths = C:\pathto\Folder_A

But I can create a SHORTCUT to the folder & put THAT in the registry.
Target = C:\pathto\Folder_A
App Paths = C:\differentpath\Folder_A.lnk

That's pretty efficient given it's easy to create them at will.
Win+R Folder_A Enter

And more important, it's easy to REMEMBER what they are when needed.
But is there anything even faster and more efficient and even easier?

Like maybe a batch file that can handle ANY folder that can run easily?
Win+R Batchfile_A-Z Enter

[Zaidy036]

Post by Jerry Friedman
There are about a dozen folders scattered about I like to open when needed.
I want to open them by name (because that is what I remember, that's
why!). :)
I could put a shortcut to each named folder on the taskbar or desktop.
I could pin a menu to each of the named folders on the taskbar.
But that uses up important real estate for things used only sporadically.
All I remember is the name of the folder when I need that folder.
I wish I could just type the name and that would open the folder.
Win+R Folder_A Enter
But I can't just put that name in the app paths registry key.
App Paths = C:\pathto\Folder_A
But I can create a SHORTCUT to the folder & put THAT in the registry.
Target = C:\pathto\Folder_A
App Paths = C:\differentpath\Folder_A.lnk
That's pretty efficient given it's easy to create them at will.
Win+R Folder_A Enter
And more important, it's easy to REMEMBER what they are when needed.
But is there anything even faster and more efficient and even easier?
Like maybe a batch file that can handle ANY folder that can run easily?
Win+R Batchfile_A-Z Enter

batch run by one shortcut;
- 1. asks for a name (SET /P _Folder=) which operator types in
- 2. batch contains one line for each folder name:
IF %_Folder% EQU aFolderName (explorer "[path]" & EXIT)
- 3. at end: echo _Folder does not exist
- 4. cmd /k

[JJ]

Post by Jerry Friedman
There are about a dozen folders scattered about I like to open when needed.
I want to open them by name (because that is what I remember, that's why!).
:)
I could put a shortcut to each named folder on the taskbar or desktop.
I could pin a menu to each of the named folders on the taskbar.
But that uses up important real estate for things used only sporadically.
All I remember is the name of the folder when I need that folder.
I wish I could just type the name and that would open the folder.
Win+R Folder_A Enter
But I can't just put that name in the app paths registry key.
App Paths = C:\pathto\Folder_A
But I can create a SHORTCUT to the folder & put THAT in the registry.
Target = C:\pathto\Folder_A
App Paths = C:\differentpath\Folder_A.lnk
That's pretty efficient given it's easy to create them at will.
Win+R Folder_A Enter
And more important, it's easy to REMEMBER what they are when needed.
But is there anything even faster and more efficient and even easier?
Like maybe a batch file that can handle ANY folder that can run easily?
Win+R Batchfile_A-Z Enter

Where the radomization takes part on this? What you've described requires
that you specifically inputted an exact folder name.

[Dallas]

Post by JJ

Post by Jerry Friedman
There are about a dozen folders scattered about I like to open when needed.
I want to open them by name (because that is what I remember, that's why!).
:)
I could put a shortcut to each named folder on the taskbar or desktop.
I could pin a menu to each of the named folders on the taskbar.
But that uses up important real estate for things used only sporadically.
All I remember is the name of the folder when I need that folder.
I wish I could just type the name and that would open the folder.
Win+R Folder_A Enter
But I can't just put that name in the app paths registry key.
App Paths = C:\pathto\Folder_A
But I can create a SHORTCUT to the folder & put THAT in the registry.
Target = C:\pathto\Folder_A
App Paths = C:\differentpath\Folder_A.lnk
That's pretty efficient given it's easy to create them at will.
Win+R Folder_A Enter
And more important, it's easy to REMEMBER what they are when needed.
But is there anything even faster and more efficient and even easier?
Like maybe a batch file that can handle ANY folder that can run easily?
Win+R Batchfile_A-Z Enter

Where the radomization takes part on this? What you've described requires
that you specifically inputted an exact folder name.

I interpreted that as "an arbitrary Windows folder" where it was written "a random Windows folder"
(after I read the context of the post)

[Philip Herlihy]

Post by Jerry Friedman
There are about a dozen folders scattered about I like to open when needed.
I want to open them by name (because that is what I remember, that's why!).
:)
I could put a shortcut to each named folder on the taskbar or desktop.
I could pin a menu to each of the named folders on the taskbar.
But that uses up important real estate for things used only sporadically.
All I remember is the name of the folder when I need that folder.
I wish I could just type the name and that would open the folder.
Win+R Folder_A Enter
But I can't just put that name in the app paths registry key.
App Paths = C:\pathto\Folder_A
But I can create a SHORTCUT to the folder & put THAT in the registry.
Target = C:\pathto\Folder_A
App Paths = C:\differentpath\Folder_A.lnk
That's pretty efficient given it's easy to create them at will.
Win+R Folder_A Enter
And more important, it's easy to REMEMBER what they are when needed.
But is there anything even faster and more efficient and even easier?
Like maybe a batch file that can handle ANY folder that can run easily?
Win+R Batchfile_A-Z Enter

I think there's an easier way, and that's to rely on Windows Search. Just tap
the Windows key, and start typing the name of your folder. Unless you have
loads with very similar names, it should pop up in the search results. For my
folder 'manuals' I have to type the whole thing before the various folders of
that name come up among the results of all types (including web results), but
if you click on the top bar "More" and then "Folders" you exclude all that
other stuff. Search learns from your search history as well, so it becomes
progressively easier. Worth a look at the associated settings, too.