Fix: Creating shortcuts from the Windows 11 Navigation Pane (Left Sidebar) creates them in the parent folder / level above

[Yervant-Kas]

Problem Description

When using the {path} parameter to create custom shortcuts, there is a known limitation/bug regarding the Windows 11 Navigation Pane (Left Sidebar).
If a user right-clicks a folder inside the Left Navigation Pane, the application passes a path that Windows interprets dynamically as the container or parent folder. As a result, the shortcut (.lnk) is created a level above (in the parent directory) instead of inside the current folder the user is interacting with.

Additionally, trying to resolve this strictly via VBScript text manipulation paths (like fso.GetParentFolderName or mathematical cleanups) fails because Windows internally hooks the focus onto the container directory.

Solution

The fix requires changing the logic from basic path manipulation to an Interface Focus Detection approach using the native Shell.Application engine. By analyzing the graphic window active element (.Document.FocusedItem), the script can mathematically deduce if the click came from the Left Navigation Pane (when the active focused item on the right pane does not match the triggered path).

Once detected, the script overrides the default behavior and forces the shortcut's destinationFolder strictly inside the target path. It also implements an automatic "Rescue to Desktop" rule if Windows UAC blocks file creation on root units like C:\.

Recommended Configuration in Custom Context Menu App:

• Casillas activas (Type): Check ONLY Directory (leave Background, Desktop, and Drive unchecked).
• Match Expression (RegEx): ^(?!.*\.lnk$).*$
• Exe: wscript.exe
• Param: "C:\Path\To\Your\Script\crear_acceso.vbs" "{path}"

Universal VBScript Code (crear_acceso.vbs):

On Error Resume Next

Set args = WScript.Arguments
If args.Count = 0 Then WScript.Quit

Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set shell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
desktopPath = shell.SpecialFolders("Desktop") & "\"

path = fso.GetAbsolutePathName(args(0))
If path = "" Then WScript.Quit

If Right(path, 1) = "\" And Len(path) > 3 Then
    path = Left(path, Len(path) - 1)
End If

If LCase(fso.GetExtensionName(path)) = "lnk" Then WScript.Quit

If Len(path) <= 3 Then
    driveLetter = Left(path, 1)
    Set lnk = shell.CreateShortcut(desktopPath & "Disco " & driveLetter & ".lnk")
    lnk.TargetPath = path & "\"
    lnk.Save
    WScript.Quit
End If

vieneDeIzquierda = False
Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application")
Set objWindows = objShell.Windows

For i = 0 To objWindows.Count - 1
    If InStr(LCase(objWindows.Item(i).FullName), "explorer.exe") > 0 Then
        Set focusedItem = objWindows.Item(i).Document.FocusedItem
        If Not focusedItem Is Nothing Then
            If LCase(focusedItem.Path) <> LCase(path) Then
                vieneDeIzquierda = True
            End If
        Else
            vieneDeIzquierda = True
        End If
        Exit For
    End If
Next

If fso.FolderExists(path) Then
    folderName = fso.GetFileName(path)
    If folderName = "" Then folderName = "Acceso_Carpeta"
    
    If LCase(folderName) = "desktop" Then
        destinationFolder = desktopPath
        fileNameLnk = "Acceso a Escritorio"
    ElseIf vieneDeIzquierda Then
        destinationFolder = path & "\"
        fileNameLnk = folderName
    Else
        parentFolder = fso.GetParentFolderName(path)
        If parentFolder <> "" Then
            If Right(parentFolder, 1) <> "\" Then parentFolder = parentFolder & "\"
        End If
        destinationFolder = parentFolder
        fileNameLnk = folderName
    End If
    
    Set lnk = shell.CreateShortcut(destinationFolder & fileNameLnk & ".lnk")
    lnk.TargetPath = path
    lnk.Save

ElseIf fso.FileExists(path) Then
    parentFolder = fso.GetParentFolderName(path)
    fileName = fso.GetBaseName(path)
    
    If parentFolder <> "" Then
        If Right(parentFolder, 1) <> "\" Then parentFolder = parentFolder & "\"
        Set lnk = shell.CreateShortcut(parentFolder & fileName & ".lnk")
        lnk.TargetPath = path
        lnk.Save
    End If
End If