Open Desktop Shortcuts

Open Desktop Shortcuts (Windows)

How to invoke in CoPaw (read this first)

• The YAML field name: open_desktop_shortcuts is the skill folder id for discovery — not a callable tool exposed to the model as open_desktop_shortcuts(...).
• There is no function like open_desktop_shortcuts with parameters such as shortcut: "微信". Calling that name causes FunctionNotFoundError.
• To actually run the steps below, use the built-in tool execute_shell_command with a command string containing the PowerShell one-liner (set $MATCH inside that string for a single shortcut). Do not invent another tool name.
• Example shape: execute_shell_command → command: paste the one-liner from Open one shortcut (by name), with $MATCH="微信" or $MATCH="WeChat" depending on the real file BaseName on disk.

Use PowerShell (these snippets are not cmd.exe one-liners). If your shell is cmd, run via powershell -NoProfile -Command "...", or write a .ps1 and run powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File script.ps1 (see CoPaw Windows shell rules).

Scope

Scripts below search these roots (missing folders are skipped):

• Recursive under each root (so subfolders under Start Menu are included).
• Files: *.lnk and *.url (internet shortcuts). For .url, the script uses Start-Process on the file so the system opens the URL like double‑click.
• Not covered: Taskbar pins / tiles with no .lnk in these trees, UWP-only entries, or items outside the four roots above.
• Single target only: This skill does not describe “open every shortcut at once”. Each run launches at most one matching file (first hit); do not use it to mass-launch all shortcuts.

Open one shortcut (by name)

When the user asks to open one shortcut (e.g. “open Chrome”, “launch 微信”, “run the shortcut named X”):

1. Choose a substring MATCH that should appear in the file BaseName (name without extension), for .lnk or .url.
2. MATCH must be non-empty.
3. -like "*$MATCH*" treats * ? [ inside MATCH as wildcard characters. If needed, list files first (see below).

Single line (set MATCH then run — only the first matching file is launched; roots are scanned in table order, first hit wins):

$MATCH="WeChat"; if ([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($MATCH)) { throw "MATCH must not be empty" }; $roots=@([Environment]::GetFolderPath('Desktop'),[Environment]::GetFolderPath('CommonDesktopDirectory'),[Environment]::GetFolderPath('Programs'),[Environment]::GetFolderPath('CommonPrograms')); $s=New-Object -ComObject WScript.Shell; $one=$null; foreach($r in $roots){ if(-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $r)){continue}; $one=Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath $r -Recurse -File -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Where-Object { $_.Extension -match '\.(lnk|url)$' -and $_.BaseName -like "*$MATCH*" } | Select-Object -First 1; if($one){break} }; if($one){ $p=$one.FullName; try { if($one.Extension -match '\.url$'){ Start-Process -FilePath $p -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue } else { $t=$s.CreateShortcut($p).TargetPath; if($t){ Start-Process $t -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue } else { Start-Process $p -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue } } } catch { try { Start-Process $p -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue } catch {} } }

• If multiple files match the pattern, only one is started (first found). If the wrong program opens, list files (below), then use a tighter MATCH, or ask the user which name to use.
• If nothing launches: try another substring for BaseName (e.g. 微信 vs WeChat), or list files across roots (example one-liner):

$roots=@([Environment]::GetFolderPath('Desktop'),[Environment]::GetFolderPath('CommonDesktopDirectory'),[Environment]::GetFolderPath('Programs'),[Environment]::GetFolderPath('CommonPrograms')); foreach($r in $roots){ if(Test-Path -LiteralPath $r){ Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath $r -Recurse -File -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Where-Object { $_.Extension -match '\.(lnk|url)$' } | Select-Object FullName,BaseName } }

Limitations

• .lnk: CreateShortcut(...).TargetPath ignores arguments / working directory / “run as admin”; for closest behavior to double‑click, you can use Start-Process -FilePath $_.FullName instead (same paths as above).
• .url: Opens with the default browser via Start-Process on the file; not every site behaves like in-app webview.
• Start Menu recurse can be slow on large profiles; use a narrower $MATCH when possible.
• Pinned-only items with no file under the four roots are still not reachable by these scripts.