https://github.com/strayge/pylnk
Python library for reading and writing Windows shortcut files (.lnk). Python 3 only.
https://github.com/strayge/pylnk
forensics hactoberfest lnk lnk-files python-library shortcuts
Last synced: 2 months ago
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Python library for reading and writing Windows shortcut files (.lnk). Python 3 only.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/strayge/pylnk
- Owner: strayge
- License: lgpl-3.0
- Created: 2019-03-11T05:31:32.000Z (about 7 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2025-08-08T10:15:19.000Z (10 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-09-29T06:22:02.900Z (8 months ago)
- Topics: forensics, hactoberfest, lnk, lnk-files, python-library, shortcuts
- Language: Python
- Homepage:
- Size: 196 KB
- Stars: 94
- Watchers: 3
- Forks: 17
- Open Issues: 2
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
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README
# PyLnk 3
[](https://pypi.python.org/pypi/pylnk3/)
[](https://pypi.python.org/pypi/pylnk3/)
[](https://pypi.python.org/pypi/pylnk3/)
Python library for reading and writing Windows shortcut files (.lnk).
Converted to support python 3.
This library can parse .lnk files and extract all relevant information from
them. Parsing a .lnk file yields a LNK object which can be altered and saved
again. Moreover, .lnk file can be created from scratch be creating a LNK
object, populating it with data and then saving it to a file. As that
process requires some knowledge about the internals of .lnk files, some
convenience functions are provided.
Limitation: Windows knows lots of different types of shortcuts which all have
different formats. This library currently only supports shortcuts to files and
folders on the local machine.
## CLI
Mainly tool has two basic commands.
#### Parse existed lnk file
```sh
pylnk3 parse [-h] filename [props [props ...]]
positional arguments:
filename lnk filename to read
props props path to read
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
```
#### Create new lnk file
```sh
usage: pylnk3 create [-h] [--arguments [ARGUMENTS]] [--description [DESCRIPTION]] [--icon [ICON]]
[--icon-index [ICON_INDEX]] [--workdir [WORKDIR]] [--mode [{Maximized,Normal,Minimized}]]
target name
positional arguments:
target target path
name lnk filename to create
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
--arguments [ARGUMENTS], -a [ARGUMENTS]
additional arguments
--description [DESCRIPTION], -d [DESCRIPTION]
description
--icon [ICON], -i [ICON]
icon filename
--icon-index [ICON_INDEX], -ii [ICON_INDEX]
icon index
--workdir [WORKDIR], -w [WORKDIR]
working directory
--mode [{Maximized,Normal,Minimized}], -m [{Maximized,Normal,Minimized}]
window mode
```
#### Examples
```sh
pylnk3 p filename.lnk
pylnk3 c c:\prog.exe shortcut.lnk
pylnk3 c \\192.168.1.1\share\file.doc doc.lnk
pylnk3 create c:\1.txt text.lnk -m Minimized -d "Description"
```
## Changes
**0.4.3**
remove unnecessary print
**0.4.2**
changed logic for Lnk.path choose (in case of different paths presents at different structures)
read links with root as GUID of KNOWN_FOLDER
[FIX] disabled padding for writing LinkInfo.local_base_path
**0.4.0**
added support for network links
reworked CLI (added more options for creating links)
added entry point for call tool just like `pylnk3`
[FIX] allow build links for non-existed (from this machine) paths
[FIX] correct building links on Linux (now expect Windows-like path)
[FIX] fixed path priority at parsing with both local & remote presents
**0.3.0**
added support links to UWP apps
**0.2.1**
released to PyPI
**0.2.0**
converted to python 3