that will only work if the exe supports command line arguments Windows MVP 2010-11, XP, Vista, 7. Expanding into Windows Server 2008 R2, SQL Server, SharePoint, Cloud, Virtualization etc. etc. Hardcore Games, Legendary is the only Way to Play Developer | Windows IT | Chess | Economics | Vegan Advocate | PC Reviews

that will only work if the exe supports command line arguments Windows MVP 2010-11, XP, Vista, 7. Expanding into Windows Server 2008 R2, SQL Server, SharePoint, Cloud, Virtualization etc. etc. Hardcore Games, Legendary is the only Way to Play Developer | Windows IT | Chess | Economics | Vegan Advocate | PC Reviews

There is no real limit to the number of shortcuts to a file as long as each does not have a name collision. Shortcuts could be widely used depending on the needs Windows MVP 2010-11, XP, Vista, 7. Expanding into Windows Server 2008 R2, SQL Server, SharePoint, Cloud, Virtualization etc. etc. Hardcore Games, Legendary is the only Way to Play Developer | Windows IT | Chess | Economics | Vegan Advocate | PC Reviews

From what I can tell, it appears that setting properties on the shortcut actually sets them on the .exe file itself. Thus when you create another shortcut, it changes the properties on the .exe again and both shortcuts just mirror the properties of the .exe file. Depending on the .exe file, you might create a copy of it with a different name.

that is correct, shortcuts are simply links to the file, so any properties will be applied to the actual file making a copy of an EXE may or may not work depending on the way its developed. My programs often have tables that are opened from the main EXE so the file name is expected to be the default Depends on the program, of course Windows MVP 2010-11, XP, Vista, 7. Expanding into Windows Server 2008 R2, SQL Server, SharePoint, Cloud, Virtualization etc. etc. Hardcore Games, Legendary is the only Way to Play Developer | Windows IT | Chess | Economics | Vegan Advocate | PC Reviews

Comes down to apparently doing something like REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers" /v "C:\temp\compatmodel\iconsext.exe" /t REG_SZ /d "WINXPSP3 RUNASADMIN" /f With a batch file. Not very practicle. Thanks for the responses

I originally asked in answers.microsoft. Some one said it was a bit advanced for that! My Q. can you have multiple shortcuts pointing to same exe, ie one to open exe in compatability mode and another to run in win 7, atm they all link together and inherit the same properties. A change to one shortcut to the program changes all shortcuts and the program exe launch properties. Bug or feature. From Xp I thought this was a no brainer but apparently not.... To add a little more detail. I am trying to run a specific exe. The prefered performance method is to run it in XP compatability service pack 3 mode. Which is fine. However I am trying to compare different performance options. Having two shortcuts to the same exe with differing properties makes life simpler. So, to run through. I create the shortcut from exe ala rmb click create shortcut etc. Move this to Desktop and rename it, shortcut A Repeat the process and call it shortcut B. I alter the properties of shortcut A to run as win xp svp3. When I check shortcut B's properties they have morphed to be identical to that of A. I then check the properties on the exe itself, and they also match A. Not very helpful and not what I set for B or the original exe. I wanted to create a quick launch option to run in xp3 or 7 standard. The file is exactly where it should be, has never been deleted. Its like I am creating a link to a link to and exe and not two differing shortcuts.

Can I not have a target line switch ? Can't find quite the correct syntax. But Google indicates something link -WINXPSP3, or -RUNASADMIN something along those lines. I can't find any specifics, but you can add those entries to the registry to make a permenant option. I assume this is what ticking the properties box does. Just wondering if it can be accomplished on the fly. Then I could have multiple links with different launch properties. There also appears to be a ultility which configures options at run time when used as a batch job. Seemed too excessive. Since I know you can run certain command line options from a linked shortcut. Again thanks for the time taken and in advance folks. :) Regards