Creating Application Shortcut in a Directory

Creating application shortcut in a directory

It's not as simple as I'd have liked, but there is a great class call ShellLink.cs at
vbAccelerator

This code uses interop, but does not rely on WSH.

Using this class, the code to create the shortcut is:

private static void configStep_addShortcutToStartupGroup()
{
    using (ShellLink shortcut = new ShellLink())
    {
        shortcut.Target = Application.ExecutablePath;
        shortcut.WorkingDirectory = Path.GetDirectoryName(Application.ExecutablePath);
        shortcut.Description = "My Shorcut Name Here";
        shortcut.DisplayMode = ShellLink.LinkDisplayMode.edmNormal;
        shortcut.Save(STARTUP_SHORTCUT_FILEPATH);
    }
}

How do you create a shortcut to a folder in Windows Installer?

Finally got a response in one of the Microsoft forums that I was able to use. It goes as follows:

In the ‘Shortcut’ table, give the directory path to ‘target’ filed. You may
need Orca or something like IS direct editor to do that.

Example

Target - > [INSTALLDIR]Documents\ShortCutDir

In my case, I simply put the key name of my folder (from the Directory table) in square brackets.

Example

Target - > [MyTargetDir]

Create shortcut of application with dependencies

Try creating the shortcut using the native COM Windows API, as explained in this answer: https://stackoverflow.com/a/4909475/3670737

At first, Project > Add Reference > COM > Windows Script Host Object Model.

using IWshRuntimeLibrary;

private void CreateShortcut()
{
    object shDesktop = (object)"Desktop";
    WshShell shell = new WshShell();
    string shortcutAddress = (string)shell.SpecialFolders.Item(ref shDesktop) + @"\Notepad.lnk";
    IWshShortcut shortcut = (IWshShortcut)shell.CreateShortcut(shortcutAddress);
    shortcut.Description = "New shortcut for a Notepad";
    shortcut.Hotkey = "Ctrl+Shift+N";
    shortcut.TargetPath = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolders.System) + @"\notepad.exe";
    shortcut.Save();
}

[Edit 1] Updated after Directory.GetCurrentDirectory() issue:

From the documentation: The current directory is distinct from the original directory, which is the one from which the process was started.

Your expected directory differs from the one returned by Directory.GetCurrentDirectory() because you actually start your process from a different directory when you use a shortcut (your Desktop). Directory.GetCurrentDirectory() returns the current working directory, which is the same of your assembly if you start it by opening the .exe file, but is the shortcut directory if you start it from the .lnk file.

In your scenario I'd use Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location (check this answer for more info: https://stackoverflow.com/a/837501/3670737 )

Installer StartMenu Shortcut points to folder, not .exe

I deleted everything from the installer "File System" and started over. Although I had tried that before, this time it worked.

The problem I observed has not recurred.

Thanks to everyone for your input.

Why are windows shortcut not accessible when reading the directory

The desktop that you see is a combination of multiple desktop folders.

C:\Users\{username}\Desktop
C:\Users\Public\Desktop
…

Do a right-click properties to see where the link is stored.

How do I create add a shortcut (.lnk) for my application to the Startup folder programatically in .NET/C#

As suggested by Joel, the proper solution is to install a shortcut in your program files folder at install time and then copy the .lnk to the startup folder. Trying to create a shortcut is more difficult.

The code below does the following:

It gets the path to the All Users Startup Folder for you. Environment.GetSpecialFolder is fairly limited and doesn't have a reference to this folder and as a result you need to make a system call.
Has methods to copy and remove a shortcut.

Ultimately, I wanted to also make sure that it was gracefully handled on vista if the user running the application was a regular user they would be prompted to enter their credentials. I created a post here on the subject so check into that here if that's important to you.
How can I copy a file as a "Standard User" in Vista (ie "An Administrative Choice Application") by prompting user for admin credentials?

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using System.IO;
using System.Security.Principal;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

namespace BR.Util
{
public class StartupLinkUtil
{
    [DllImport("shell32.dll")]
    static extern bool SHGetSpecialFolderPath(IntPtr hwndOwner, [Out] StringBuilder lpszPath, int nFolder, bool fCreate);

    public static string getAllUsersStartupFolder()
    {
        StringBuilder path = new StringBuilder(200);
        SHGetSpecialFolderPath(IntPtr.Zero, path, CSIDL_COMMON_STARTUP, false);
        return path.ToString();
    }


    private static string getStartupShortcutFilename()
    {
        return Path.Combine(getAllUsersStartupFolder(), Application.ProductName) + ".lnk";
    }

   public static bool CopyShortcutToAllUsersStartupFolder(string pShortcutName)
    {
        bool retVal = false;
        FileInfo shortcutFile = new FileInfo(pShortcutName);
        FileInfo destination = new FileInfo(getStartupShortcutFilename());

        if (destination.Exists)
        {
            // Don't do anything file already exists.  -- Potentially overwrite?
        }
        else if (!shortcutFile.Exists)
        {
            MessageBox.Show("Unable to RunOnStartup because '" + pShortcutName + "' can't be found.  Was this application installed properly?");
        }
        else
        {
            retVal = copyFile(shortcutFile, destination);
        }
        return retVal;
    }

    public static bool doesShortcutExistInAllUsersStartupFolder()
    {
        return File.Exists(getStartupShortcutFilename());
    }

    public static bool RemoveShortcutFromAllUsersStartupFolder() {
        bool retVal = false;
        string path = Path.Combine(getAllUsersStartupFolder(), Application.ProductName) + ".lnk";
        if( File.Exists(path) ) {
            try
            {
                File.Delete(path);
                retVal = true;
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(string.Format("Unable to remove this application from the Startup list.  Administrative privledges are required to perform this operation.\n\nDetails: SecurityException: {0}", ex.Message), "Update Startup Mode", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
            }
        }
        return retVal;
    }

    // TODO: Test this in vista to see if it prompts for credentials.
    public static bool copyFile(FileInfo pSource, FileInfo pDestination)
    {
        bool retVal = false;

        try
        {
            File.Copy(pSource.FullName, pDestination.FullName);
            //MessageBox.Show("File has successfully been added.", "Copy File", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information);
            retVal = true;
        }
        catch (System.Security.SecurityException secEx)
        {
            MessageBox.Show(string.Format("SecurityException: {0}", secEx.Message), "Copy File", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
        }
        catch (UnauthorizedAccessException authEx)
        {
            MessageBox.Show(string.Format("UnauthorizedAccessException: {0}", authEx.Message), "Copy File", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, "Copy File", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
        }

        return retVal;
    }

    #region Special Folder constants
    const int CSIDL_DESKTOP = 0x0000;        // <desktop>
    const int CSIDL_INTERNET = 0x0001;        // Internet Explorer (icon on desktop)
    const int CSIDL_PROGRAMS = 0x0002;        // Start Menu\Programs
    const int CSIDL_CONTROLS = 0x0003;        // My Computer\Control Panel
    const int CSIDL_PRINTERS = 0x0004;        // My Computer\Printers
    const int CSIDL_PERSONAL = 0x0005;        // My Documents
    const int CSIDL_FAVORITES = 0x0006;        // <user name>\Favorites
    const int CSIDL_STARTUP = 0x0007;        // Start Menu\Programs\Startup
    const int CSIDL_RECENT = 0x0008;        // <user name>\Recent
    const int CSIDL_SENDTO = 0x0009;        // <user name>\SendTo
    const int CSIDL_BITBUCKET = 0x000a;        // <desktop>\Recycle Bin
    const int CSIDL_STARTMENU = 0x000b;        // <user name>\Start Menu
    const int CSIDL_MYDOCUMENTS = CSIDL_PERSONAL; //  Personal was just a silly name for My Documents
    const int CSIDL_MYMUSIC = 0x000d;        // "My Music" folder
    const int CSIDL_MYVIDEO = 0x000e;        // "My Videos" folder
    const int CSIDL_DESKTOPDIRECTORY = 0x0010;        // <user name>\Desktop
    const int CSIDL_DRIVES = 0x0011;        // My Computer
    const int CSIDL_NETWORK = 0x0012;        // Network Neighborhood (My Network Places)
    const int CSIDL_NETHOOD = 0x0013;        // <user name>\nethood
    const int CSIDL_FONTS = 0x0014;        // windows\fonts
    const int CSIDL_TEMPLATES = 0x0015;
    const int CSIDL_COMMON_STARTMENU = 0x0016;        // All Users\Start Menu
    const int CSIDL_COMMON_PROGRAMS = 0x0017;        // All Users\Start Menu\Programs
    const int CSIDL_COMMON_STARTUP = 0x0018;        // All Users\Startup
    const int CSIDL_COMMON_DESKTOPDIRECTORY = 0x0019;        // All Users\Desktop
    const int CSIDL_APPDATA = 0x001a;        // <user name>\Application Data
    const int CSIDL_PRINTHOOD = 0x001b;        // <user name>\PrintHood
    const int CSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA = 0x001c;        // <user name>\Local Settings\Applicaiton Data (non roaming)
    const int CSIDL_ALTSTARTUP = 0x001d;        // non localized startup
    const int CSIDL_COMMON_ALTSTARTUP = 0x001e;        // non localized common startup
    const int CSIDL_COMMON_FAVORITES = 0x001f;
    const int CSIDL_INTERNET_CACHE = 0x0020;
    const int CSIDL_COOKIES = 0x0021;
    const int CSIDL_HISTORY = 0x0022;
    const int CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA = 0x0023;        // All Users\Application Data
    const int CSIDL_WINDOWS = 0x0024;        // GetWindowsDirectory()
    const int CSIDL_SYSTEM = 0x0025;        // GetSystemDirectory()
    const int CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES = 0x0026;        // C:\Program Files
    const int CSIDL_MYPICTURES = 0x0027;        // C:\Program Files\My Pictures
    const int CSIDL_PROFILE = 0x0028;        // USERPROFILE
    const int CSIDL_SYSTEMX86 = 0x0029;        // x86 system directory on RISC
    const int CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILESX86 = 0x002a;        // x86 C:\Program Files on RISC
    const int CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES_COMMON = 0x002b;        // C:\Program Files\Common
    const int CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES_COMMONX86 = 0x002c;        // x86 Program Files\Common on RISC
    const int CSIDL_COMMON_TEMPLATES = 0x002d;        // All Users\Templates
    const int CSIDL_COMMON_DOCUMENTS = 0x002e;        // All Users\Documents
    const int CSIDL_COMMON_ADMINTOOLS = 0x002f;        // All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
    const int CSIDL_ADMINTOOLS = 0x0030;        // <user name>\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
    const int CSIDL_CONNECTIONS = 0x0031;        // Network and Dial-up Connections
    const int CSIDL_COMMON_MUSIC = 0x0035;        // All Users\My Music
    const int CSIDL_COMMON_PICTURES = 0x0036;        // All Users\My Pictures
    const int CSIDL_COMMON_VIDEO = 0x0037;        // All Users\My Video
    const int CSIDL_RESOURCES = 0x0038;        // Resource Direcotry
    const int CSIDL_RESOURCES_LOCALIZED = 0x0039;        // Localized Resource Direcotry
    const int CSIDL_COMMON_OEM_LINKS = 0x003a;        // Links to All Users OEM specific apps
    const int CSIDL_CDBURN_AREA = 0x003b;        // USERPROFILE\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\CD Burning
    const int CSIDL_COMPUTERSNEARME = 0x003d;        // Computers Near Me (computered from Workgroup membership)
    const int CSIDL_FLAG_CREATE = 0x8000;        // combine with CSIDL_ value to force folder creation in SHGetFolderPath()
    const int CSIDL_FLAG_DONT_VERIFY = 0x4000;        // combine with CSIDL_ value to return an unverified folder path
    const int CSIDL_FLAG_DONT_UNEXPAND = 0x2000;        // combine with CSIDL_ value to avoid unexpanding environment variables
    const int CSIDL_FLAG_NO_ALIAS = 0x1000;        // combine with CSIDL_ value to insure non-alias versions of the pidl
    const int CSIDL_FLAG_PER_USER_INIT = 0x0800;        // combine with CSIDL_ value to indicate per-user init (eg. upgrade)
    #endregion
}

While I was writing this solution, I thought of a better way of handling the problem which wouldn't require users to have escalated privledges in order to disable run on startup.
My solution was to check as soon as the program loaded if a user scoped setting called RunOnStartup. To detect if the application was being started when the system loads or logs in I added an argument to the shortcut which gets added to the All Users -> Startup folder called shortcut.

        // Quit the application if the per user setting for RunOnStartup is false.
            if (args != null && args.Length > 0 && args[0].Contains("startup"))
            {
                if (Settings1.Default.RunOnStartup == false)
                {
                    Application.Exit();
                }
            }

Creating Application Shortcut in a Directory