This guide explains how to set up custom variables in Windows that you can use to open or reference folders faster.
Windows makes use of several preconfigured variables like %tmp% or %userprofile% that you can use when you are Windows Explorer, on the command line, and anywhere else on the system.
What many Windows users do not know that it is possible to add custom variables easily to the system as well, so that you can open folders faster or save time when you are referencing them as you do not need to type that much.
To test how those variables work, open Windows Explorer and type %tmp% in the address bar of the file explorer. You should be take to the temporary file folder of the user account you are logged in.
Some common variable names that exist by default in Windows are the following ones (assuming that Windows is installed on C:, that the username is Martin, and that the operating system is Windows 7. Directories may differ depending on the version of Windows).
To set up your own custom variables, do the following
Once Windows has started again, open Windows Explorer and test the new variables that you have just added to your system.you need to enclose the name with % to indicate that it is a variable, e.g. %music% or %code%.
If something is not working properly, repeat the steps above but instead of adding a new variable, edit the one that is not working.
You can use those variables in many different situations, from loading the folder quickly in Windows Explorer to combining it with file names on the command line and using it in programs.
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Ghacks is a technology news blog that was founded in 2005 by Martin Brinkmann. It has since then become one of the most popular tech news sites on the Internet with five authors and regular contributions from freelance writers.
I always do this for the Desktop folder .:)
This can be done programmatically using the SETX command (with /M for system variables)