In version 2.1.1.644, a new Action called "Drive Path" was added to the Action Catalog. This Action will launch a utility, that is bundled with Quicklaunch, which launches Windows Explorer to a configurable and dynamic folder location (Network Folder, Network Share). Below are instructions for adding this Action from the Catalog, configuring its arguments, and how to use the utility.


Add Drive Path from Action Catalog

  1. Enter Design Mode by entering <CTRL+ALT+D> on the keyboard or selecting the "Design" button on the top right corner of Quicklaunch
  2. Select the Change Action Tiles menu item from an Action Group
  3. Add a new Action

  4. Either enter "Drive Path" in the search bar or navigate to Add Action From Catalog > Utilities > Drive Path; then click Select to add the Action


The Drive Path Action should now be in your list of Actions.


Configure the Arguments for the Drive Path Action

The Drive Path utility accepts 3 different command line arguments: Title, Path, and ParameterNames.


NOTE: if you are using a Workgroup or attaching to a Workgroup from a Domain, you may need to add the /UseShellExecute parameter to properly prompt for userid/password.



Title

Purpose: Allow the customization of the title bar for the Drive Path utility


Example: /Title "Network Share Launcher"


Note: This argument is optional. If you do not supply a value for this argument, "Network Share Launcher" will be displayed as shown in the example above.


Path

Purpose: A folder path structure that should be launched in Windows Explorer.

Example: /Path "C:\Program Files\AMD"

Note: This argument is required. If you do not supply a value for this argument, an error message will be displayed in the Drive Path utility indicating as such.


This argument is designed so that you can substitute parts of the folder structure with input from the user. For example, rather than hardcoding the "Program Files" and "AMD" folders, you can substitute "{0}" and "{1}" in their place, and the user can then enter whichever folders they need.

Example: /Path C:\{0}\{1}


The same substitution number (e.g. "{0}") can be used multiple times in the folder path if the same value should be repeated in the path.

Example: /Path C:\{0}\{0}\{0}


There is no limit to the number of substitutable pieces in the folder path; however, the unique substitution numbers need to start at 0 ("{0}") with no gaps (e.g. "{0} {1} {2}"; "{0} {2} {4}" is invalid). The numbers do not need to be in increasing order (e.g. "{0} {2} {1}" is valid), so long as the previous requirement is still met.


Since a folder in Windows can contain "{" or "}" and the replacement macro is in the form of "{n}", where n is a number, if a folder in the path contains the replacement macro value it needs to be wrapped in an additional "{" and "}" so that it is not erroneously replaced.

Example: /Path C:\Folder {0}\Subfolder {{0}}


ParameterNames

Purpose: Provides a label for each of the substitutable pieces in the folder path.

Example: /ParameterNames MainFolder Subfolder1 Subfolder2

Note: This argument is optional.


If the label should include a space, then the argument must be surrounded by quotes so that the system knows that the separate words are part of the same label.

Example: /ParameterNames "Main Folder" Subfolder


If the folder path is configured to contain multiple substitutable pieces, the ParameterNames argument should be configured in ascending order for the unique substitution numbers.

Example: /Path C:\{0}\{1}\{2} /ParameterNames "Main Folder" "Subfolder 1" "Subfolder 2"


Even if the unique substitutable pieces are listed out of order in the folder path, the ParameterNames argument needs to be configured in ascending order, not in the order that the substitution numbers are listed.

Example: /Path C:\{2}\{1}\{0} /ParameterNames "Subfolder 2" "Subfolder 1" "Main Folder"


How to use the Drive Path Utility

When the Drive Path Action tile is clicked, Quicklaunch by default will transition into Docked Mode and the Drive Path utility will be shown.


If the Path argument was configured with substitutable pieces, textboxes will be shown for user input. Similarly, if the ParameterNames argument was configured, labels will be displayed next to each textbox.


As text is entered into the textboxes, the path above them will be updated to display the folder structure that will be opened in Windows Explorer when the Submit button is clicked.


If the configured folder structure is invalid or inaccessible, a new instance of Windows Explorer will be opened to a default location.


Clicking cancel will close the Drive Path without opening a new instance of Windows Explorer.