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Using a Windows Symbolic Link to Keep PDF Links Working After Moving Files

ormesulmondo

I use Garmin BaseCamp to manage a large collection of PDF documents linked to waypoints.

The problem is that BaseCamp stores the full file path. If the document archive is moved to another drive or its folder location changes, existing links can become invalid.

A simple solution is to use a Windows symbolic link.

The idea is to give BaseCamp a permanent path that never changes, while the real document archive can be moved whenever necessary.

How it works

In my example, BaseCamp always uses:

C:\docBC

This is the permanent "bridge".

The real archive is currently located at:

Z:\BASECAMP\ARTICLES

The structure is:

Garmin BaseCamp

↓

C:\docBC

↓

Symbolic Link

↓

Z:\BASECAMP\ARTICLES

BaseCamp only needs to know about C:\docBC.

Step 1 — Create the bridge folder

Create an empty folder on the C: drive:

C:\docBC

The folder must be empty.

Step 2 — Open Command Prompt as Administrator

  1. Click Start

  2. Type cmd

  3. Right-click Command Prompt

  4. Select Run as administrator

Step 3 — Create the symbolic link

Enter this command:

mklink /D "C:\docBC" "Z:\BASECAMP\ARTICLES"

Press Enter.

Windows should report that the symbolic link was created.

Step 4 — Check that it works

Open:

C:\docBC

You should see the same files and folders that are physically stored in:

Z:\BASECAMP\ARTICLES

Nothing has been copied. The files are still physically stored on the Z: drive.

C:\docBC is simply a permanent access point.

Important: How to add new documents to BaseCamp

This is the most important rule.

When adding a new PDF to a BaseCamp waypoint, always select or drag the PDF from the bridge folder:

C:\docBC

Do not select it directly from:

Z:\BASECAMP\ARTICLES

For example, BaseCamp should use:

C:\docBC\Hiking\Trail.pdf

and not:

Z:\BASECAMP\ARTICLES\Hiking\Trail.pdf

This ensures that BaseCamp stores the permanent path through the bridge.

What happens if I move the archive?

For example, suppose I move the archive from:

Z:\BASECAMP\ARTICLES

to:

E:\ARCHIVE\ARTICLES

I don't need to change the paths stored in BaseCamp.

I simply recreate the symbolic link so that:

C:\docBC

points to:

E:\ARCHIVE\ARTICLES

The paths used by BaseCamp remain:

C:\docBC\Hiking\Trail.pdf

etc.

What about reinstalling Windows?

The symbolic link will be lost because it is located on the C: drive.

The actual documents on the other drive are not affected.

After reinstalling Windows, I simply recreate the link:

mklink /D "C:\docBC" "Z:\BASECAMP\ARTICLES"

If the archive has been moved somewhere else, I use the new location instead.

In short

BaseCamp always uses:

C:\docBC

The real archive can move:

Z:\BASECAMP\ARTICLES → E:\ARCHIVE\ARTICLES

Only the symbolic link needs to be recreated or updated.

This provides a simple way to keep BaseCamp document links independent from the physical location of the document archive.