How to use the same model without duplicating it between different programs? (Forge, ComfyUI, InvokeAI, Fooocus, SwarmUI, Kohya_SS...) (Windows)
Short answer: Use symbolic link feature. (0 KB duplicate file)
1)Installation
1.Download a Link Shell Extension
2.Install - HardLinkShellExt_X64.exe
2)Usage
1.Found model do you want to duplicate
2.Right click on model > Show more options (Win11) > Pick Link Source
3.Going to folder where you want to put direct link file to original model
4.Right click > Show more options (Win11) > Drop As... > Symbolic link
5.Ready
3)Important Note!
Do not copy link file to other location (you start copy original file)
4)Explanation
Symbolic Links (Soft Links):
Think of it as a shortcut or pointer to the original file/directory
It's just a reference containing the path to the target
If you delete the original file, the symlink becomes broken
Can link to files across different filesystems
Can link to directories
Shows different inode number than original file
Copy
ln -s original.txt shortcut.txt
Hard Links:
Think of it as another name for the exact same file
Points directly to the file's data on disk (same inode)
If you delete the original, the hard link still works
Can't link across different filesystems
Can't link to directories
Shares same inode number as original file
Copy
ln original.txt another_name.txt
Pros and Cons:
Symbolic Links:
Can link across filesystems
Can link to directories
Easy to identify as links
Can use relative paths
Break if original is moved/deleted
Hard Links:
Cannot break - work even if original is deleted
Same performance as original file
Save disk space (share same data)
Cannot span different filesystems
Cannot link directories
Harder to identify as links
Must use absolute paths
