• Creating Batch Files to Switch to Specific Virtual Desktops Using PowerShell and the VirtualDesktop Tool
• Prerequisites
• Step 1: Ensure Eight Virtual Desktops Exist
• Step 2: Create a PowerShell Script to Generate Batch Files
• Step 3: Run the PowerShell Script
• Step 4: Add C:\QuickAccess to Your PATH Environment Variable
• Step 5: Use the Batch Files to Switch Workspaces

#Creating Batch Files to Switch to Specific Virtual Desktops Using PowerShell and the VirtualDesktop Tool

This guide will help you create a PowerShell script that generates batch files (1.bat to 8.bat) to switch directly to any of your eight virtual desktops (workspaces) on Windows 11. We will use the VirtualDesktop command-line tool by Markus Scholtes to manage virtual desktops via command-line commands.

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#Prerequisites

1. Download the VirtualDesktop Tool:

   • Access the VirtualDesktop repository on GitHub:

     https://github.com/MScholtes/VirtualDesktop

   • Download Precompiled Binaries:

     • Navigate to the Releases section:

       https://github.com/MScholtes/VirtualDesktop/releases

     • Download the latest release ZIP file (e.g., VirtualDesktop_v1.19.zip).

   • Extract the Executable:

     • Extract the contents of the ZIP file to a folder accessible to your user account, e.g., C:\Tools\VirtualDesktop.

     • Ensure you use the correct executable for your Windows version:

       • For Windows 11, use VirtualDesktop11.exe.

       • For Windows 10, use VirtualDesktop.exe.

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#Step 1: Ensure Eight Virtual Desktops Exist

We need to make sure that you have exactly eight virtual desktops. We will use PowerShell to create additional desktops if necessary.

1. Open PowerShell:

   • Press Win + X and select Windows PowerShell or Windows Terminal.

2. Navigate to the VirtualDesktop Directory:

   Set-Location "C:\Tools\VirtualDesktop"

3. Check the Current Number of Virtual Desktops:

   $virtualDesktopExe = "C:\Tools\VirtualDesktop\VirtualDesktop11.exe" if (-Not (Test-Path -Path $virtualDesktopExe)) { Write-Error "VirtualDesktop executable not found at $virtualDesktopExe" exit 1 } $countOutput = & $virtualDesktopExe /Count $currentDesktopCount = ($countOutput -match 'Desktops: (\d+)') ? [int]$Matches[1] : 0 Write-Host "Current number of desktops: $currentDesktopCount"

4. Create Additional Desktops if Necessary:

   for ($i = $currentDesktopCount + 1; $i -le 8; $i++) { & $virtualDesktopExe /New | Out-Null Write-Host "Created virtual desktop $i" }

5. Optionally, Name Your Desktops:

   for ($i = 1; $i -le 8; $i++) { & $virtualDesktopExe /GetDesktop:$i /Name:"Workspace $i" | Out-Null Write-Host "Named desktop $i as 'Workspace $i'" }

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#Step 2: Create a PowerShell Script to Generate Batch Files

We will create a PowerShell script that automatically generates the batch files needed to switch to each of the eight virtual desktops.

1. Create the Output Directory for Batch Files:

   • We’ll use C:\QuickAccess as the folder to store the batch files.
   $outputFolder = "C:\QuickAccess" if (-Not (Test-Path -Path $outputFolder)) { New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $outputFolder -Force | Out-Null Write-Host "Created output directory: $outputFolder" }

2. Create the PowerShell Script:

   • Open Notepad or your preferred text editor.

3. Script Content:

   Paste the following PowerShell script:

# Path to the VirtualDesktop executable $virtualDesktopPath = "G:\05-portable\VirtualDesktop11-24H2.exe" # Output folder for the batch files $outputFolder = "C:\QuickAccess" # Ensure the VirtualDesktop executable exists if (-Not (Test-Path -Path $virtualDesktopPath)) { Write-Error "VirtualDesktop executable not found at $virtualDesktopPath" exit 1 } # Ensure the output folder exists if (-Not (Test-Path -Path $outputFolder)) { New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $outputFolder -Force | Out-Null Write-Host "Created output directory: $outputFolder" } # Generate batch files for desktops 1 to 8 for ($desktopNumber = 1; $desktopNumber -le 8; $desktopNumber++) { # Batch file content $batFileContent = "@echo off`n" $batFileContent += "`"$virtualDesktopPath`" /Switch:$desktopNumber" # Batch file path $batFilePath = Join-Path $outputFolder "$desktopNumber.bat" # Create the batch file try { Set-Content -Path $batFilePath -Value $batFileContent -Encoding ASCII Write-Host "Created batch file: $batFilePath" } catch { Write-Error "Error creating batch file ${batFilePath}: $_" # Or using the -f operator: # Write-Error ("Error creating batch file {0}: {1}" -f $batFilePath, $_) } } Write-Host "All batch files have been generated in $outputFolder."

Notes:

• Replace $virtualDesktopPath with the actual path to your VirtualDesktop executable if it’s different.

• Ensure that the path to the output folder $outputFolder matches your desired location.

• The script includes error handling to alert you if the VirtualDesktop executable is not found or if there are issues creating the batch files.

1. Save the Script:

   • Save the script as GenerateBatchFiles.ps1 in a folder of your choice, e.g., C:\Scripts.

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#Step 3: Run the PowerShell Script

1. Run the Script:

   • Open PowerShell and navigate to the script’s directory:

     Set-Location "C:\Scripts"

   • Execute the script:

     .\GenerateBatchFiles.ps1

   • You should see output indicating that each batch file has been created.

2. Verify the Batch Files:

   • Navigate to C:\QuickAccess and confirm that 1.bat to 8.bat have been created.

   • Open one of the batch files (e.g., 1.bat) to verify its content:

     @echo off "C:\Tools\VirtualDesktop\VirtualDesktop11.exe" /Switch:1

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#Step 4: Add C:\QuickAccess to Your PATH Environment Variable

Adding the C:\QuickAccess folder to your PATH allows Windows to recognize the batch files when using the Run dialog or Command Prompt.

1. Modify User PATH Variable:

   • Press Win + X and select System (or Settings > System > About > Advanced system settings).

   • Click on Advanced system settings.

   • In the System Properties window, click Environment Variables.

   • Under User variables, select Path and click Edit.

   • Click New and add:

     C:\QuickAccess

   • Click OK to save changes.

2. Restart Any Open Command Prompts or Applications:

   • For the changes to take effect, restart any applications that might use the PATH variable.

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#Step 5: Use the Batch Files to Switch Workspaces

You can now switch to any workspace by running the corresponding batch file.

• From the Run Dialog:

  • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.

  • Type the number of the workspace you want to switch to (e.g., 1 for workspace 1) and press Enter.

• From Command Prompt or PowerShell:

  • Simply type the number (which corresponds to the batch file’s name) and press Enter: C:\Users\YourUsername> 3

#CODE

.\00-QuickAccess\0.bat

.\00-QuickAccess\1.bat

.\00-QuickAccess\2.bat

.\00-QuickAccess\3.bat

.\00-QuickAccess\4.bat

.\00-QuickAccess\5.bat

.\00-QuickAccess\6.bat

.\00-QuickAccess\7.bat

.\00-QuickAccess\8.bat

.\00-QuickAccess\9.bat

.\00-QuickAccess\b.bat

.\00-QuickAccess\t.bat