What does "Create Symlink" do exactly?

[Xiarno]

I just recently learned what a Symlink is, so I know the basics of it. But when right-clicking on a build, you can "Create Symlink". What does it do exactly? Where does it put it too? Thanks!

[Victor-IX]

I am not an expert on how this works inside of the Blender Launcher, but when you create a symlink for a Blender version it creates a new folder bl_simlink in the Blender Launcher library

[eisenbruch]

In the example of Blender Launcher, what you can do with it is create a symlink to a master blender folder with your addons.
this way you can run multiple versions of blender, all with the same addons installed, without needing to do anything manually.
if you need to see how this works, I can prob record a video of it from my machine later. easiest to show rather than explain

[Victor-IX]

Oh yes! I will be interested to see how you have that setup

[Xiarno]

Hey!
I'm interested in how you set it up like you said. Because when I right click a build in the Blender Launcher and click "Create Symlink", I do not get to choose anything. So I'm not sure.

Also, wouldn't that sometime create issues when the addon is incompatible with certains version? I know some addons that the latest version is incompatible with an earlier version or just not compatible with the newest version yet.

[eisenbruch]

@Victor-IX @Xiarno here you guys go:

explorer_aj5M5nlktP.mp4

Sorry its a bit long winded but I wanted to be thorough.

Any questions, feel free to ask.

[Xiarno]

The "software" you are talking about is the one I recently found.
Here it is: https://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/linkshellextension.html

It seems to be exactly the same as you are using

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Also, while it doesn't exactly answers my original question on how do you exactly use the symlinks from the Blender Launcher (Aka what is the purpose of the "Create symlinks" button), I'll still take it as a correct answers. But feel free to add more onto it! Especially regardings assets. Addons are cool & all, but I wonder what you could do with assets.

[eisenbruch]

another video!

explorer_niaibSiywA.mp4

it creates a symbolic link to the blender install directory in your blender launcher master or library folder.

i dont know why that is helpful.

probably someone elses reasons!

this seems to be for differnt purposes than what I was explaining

[Xiarno]

Yeah that's what I also thought

[eisenbruch]

while we're in that menu. where can i find info on Register Extension and Install Template?