Programming Forums > Application Development > Visual Basic

killcity44 · Jul 7th, 2005, 6:57 PM

Hi, ive made an application and I want it to create a shortcut to itself in the start menu's startup folder so it will run on startup. he filename of the app will be the same as it will be compiled as an exe. e.g. if the file was in c:/downloads/app.exe, then a shortcut would be made pointing to c:/downloads/app.exe, but say it was in c:/program files/other folders/downloads/app.exe then the shortcut would point there. I have found a method of creating a shortcut to a defined location but as the app will be in different directories on different machines, this wont work. all i need is a way of entering in the apps own location. ive tried this so far

Private Declare Function fCreateShellLink Lib "STKIT432.DLL" (ByVal _
lpstrFolderName As String, ByVal lpstrLinkName As String, ByVal _
lpstrLinkPath As String, ByVal lpstrLinkArgs As String) As Long

Dim lReturn As Long

obviously this part is under an event

lReturn = fCreateShellLink("\Startup", "title of app", _
"\appname.exe", "")

this just points the shortcut to the c:/appname.exe

thanks

Rory · Jul 8th, 2005, 7:33 PM

Well, if you add this function somewhere:

(Toggle Plain Text)

' Ensures hString ends in hSuffix

Public Function eSuffix(ByVal hString As String, ByVal hSuffix As String) As String
    If StrComp(Right(hString, Len(hSuffix)), hSuffix, vbTextCompare) Then
        eSuffix = hString & hSuffix
    Else
        eSuffix = hString
    End If
End Function

Then the containing folder of the application is guaranteed to be:

(Toggle Plain Text)

eSuffix(App.Path, "\")

The filename:

(Toggle Plain Text)

eSuffix(App.EXEName, ".exe")

And so the full path is obviously:

(Toggle Plain Text)

eSuffix(App.Path, "\") & eSuffix(App.EXEName, ".exe")

How are you checking to see if the shortcut already exists?

Jul 7th, 2005, 6:57 PM	#1
killcity44 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0	i need an application to create a shortcut to itself Hi, ive made an application and I want it to create a shortcut to itself in the start menu's startup folder so it will run on startup. he filename of the app will be the same as it will be compiled as an exe. e.g. if the file was in c:/downloads/app.exe, then a shortcut would be made pointing to c:/downloads/app.exe, but say it was in c:/program files/other folders/downloads/app.exe then the shortcut would point there. I have found a method of creating a shortcut to a defined location but as the app will be in different directories on different machines, this wont work. all i need is a way of entering in the apps own location. ive tried this so far Private Declare Function fCreateShellLink Lib "STKIT432.DLL" (ByVal _ lpstrFolderName As String, ByVal lpstrLinkName As String, ByVal _ lpstrLinkPath As String, ByVal lpstrLinkArgs As String) As Long Dim lReturn As Long obviously this part is under an event lReturn = fCreateShellLink("\Startup", "title of app", _ "\appname.exe", "") this just points the shortcut to the c:/appname.exe thanks

Jul 8th, 2005, 7:33 PM	#2
Rory Expert Programmer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: London Posts: 542 Rep Power: 4	Well, if you add this function somewhere: (Toggle Plain Text) ' Ensures hString ends in hSuffix Public Function eSuffix(ByVal hString As String, ByVal hSuffix As String) As String If StrComp(Right(hString, Len(hSuffix)), hSuffix, vbTextCompare) Then eSuffix = hString & hSuffix Else eSuffix = hString End If End Function ' Ensures hString ends in hSuffix Public Function eSuffix(ByVal hString As String, ByVal hSuffix As String) As String If StrComp(Right(hString, Len(hSuffix)), hSuffix, vbTextCompare) Then eSuffix = hString & hSuffix Else eSuffix = hString End If End Function Then the containing folder of the application is guaranteed to be: (Toggle Plain Text) eSuffix(App.Path, "\") eSuffix(App.Path, "\") The filename: (Toggle Plain Text) eSuffix(App.EXEName, ".exe") eSuffix(App.EXEName, ".exe") And so the full path is obviously: (Toggle Plain Text) eSuffix(App.Path, "\") & eSuffix(App.EXEName, ".exe") eSuffix(App.Path, "\") & eSuffix(App.EXEName, ".exe") How are you checking to see if the shortcut already exists?

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Programming Forums > Application Development > Visual Basic

i need an application to create a shortcut to itself