Link a photo to an executable file like mp4

 

FROM a batch file TO a picture icon executable

To create a setup where clicking a picture launches a batch file that plays an .mp4 video, you can create shortcuts with custom icons for each video. Here’s how you can achieve this:

1. Create the Batch File:

• Open Notepad or any text editor.

• Write the following script for each video file. This example uses Windows Media Player, but you can replace it with any media player you prefer.

• Replace "path\to\your\video.mp4" with the full path to your video file. For example, if your video file is named video.mp4 and is located in C:\Movies, you would write:

@echo off

start "" "C:\Movies\video.mp4"

2. Save the Batch File:

• Save the file with a .bat extension, such as play_video.bat.

3. Create a Shortcut with an Image Icon:

• Right-click the .bat file you just created and select Create shortcut.

• Rename the shortcut to something meaningful, like the name of the movie.

• Right-click the shortcut and select Properties.

• Click the Change Icon button. If you receive a warning about no icons being available, click OK.

• Browse to where your .jpg image is saved. Note that .jpg files aren’t directly supported as icons, so you’ll need to convert your image to a .ico file. You can use an online converter for this.

• Select your .ico file and click OK.

4. Place the Shortcut with the Icon:

• Move the shortcut with the custom icon to wherever you want your grandkids to find it, like the Desktop.

Now, when the picture (shortcut with the custom icon) is clicked, it will run the batch file, which will play the corresponding .mp4 video file.

Converting JPG to ICO

To convert a .jpg to a .ico file, you can use an online service like ConvertICO. Simply upload your .jpg file and download the converted .ico file. Then, use it as the icon for your shortcut.