AutoHotkey Community

Desktop Icon Save and Restore Command (DesktopCmd.exe)
Copyright Ó 2008 by Jamie O’Connell


This console command operates on the same data as its companion Shell extension, dkticnsr.dll, although it can operate completely independently and doesn’t need the shell extension to be installed. It records the layout and positions of icons and programs on the WindowsÒ desktop, and permits restoration of the layout. This console command will only operate under Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista because of certain version specific Windows API’s that it uses.

I wrote the original shell extension program after severe frustration of having my layout trashed every time I switched screen resolutions. Sometimes other programs will switch screen size and trash your layout as well. Enough people requested a command line version, that I knuckled under and produced this one. I hope you find it useful.

Usage
Syntax: DesktopCmd [<save | restore | query> /n "Layout" /y /?]


Save Stores the positions of the desktop icons into the registry at the current screen resolution, for later restoration.
Restore Restores the icon locations previously saved for the current screen resolution.
Query Lists all Layouts stored, and then accepts a choice for which to Restore.
/n "Layout"
Use the named layout for save or restore. Quote "Layout" if it contains embedded spaces.
/y Answer ‘yes’ to any question that might be asked by the command (silent operation).
/? Print Usage information and quit.