Link points are a feature of SchoolSuite and can be very useful in helping to simplify the roll-out of new software or resolve other difficulties that can occur when trying to make applications available across a wide variety of systems using a single desktop profile.

The principle of a link point is fairly simple. A link point is a settings file created by the Link Wizard tool that is capable of running a sequence of actions prior to launching a program. Standard Windows shortcut files are replaced with Link Wizard shortcuts that will ensure the correct environment exists for an application before it is loaded.

Some uses for Link Points:

• Displaying a useful message to the user if a piece of software does not exist on a particular computer. This can be useful if an application is only available in certain locations but still appears on everyone's desktop.
• Installing a packaged setup or installer file prior to loading an application if the software is not present on a particular computer.
• Dynamic mapping or reusing a series of network drives for an application before it is loaded. This can help enable applications that must run from a mapped drive but do not warrant a permanent drive mapping.
• Concurrent launching of other programs at the same time as the required application. This can be useful when multiple applications are required at the same time, such as a maths package that also starts the Windows calculator.