extract path from shortcut (.lnk) file.

[jassing]

I have a need to extract the path from a desktop shortcut. Because this shortcut may point to a network path, "search everywhere" is not an option. Unfortunately; my user base cannot be trusted with a dialog box.

Any ideas how I can extract this path from the .lnk file and use it setup factory?

[Brett]

Re: extract path from shortcut (.lnk) file.

As far as I know, there is no way to resolve a shell link in Setup Factory 6.0 directly. However, you could write a C++ or VB program that you could run from your setup that goes through the Shell API to resolve the link. Try reading this.

[jassing]

Re: extract path from shortcut (.lnk) file.

thanks for the link; I tried that code and unfortunately; it fails for me.. fails at "GetPath()" call....

Any other ideas?

[jassing]

Re: extract path from shortcut (.lnk) file.

I take back my other post...

It fails at

hres = CoCreateInstance(CLSID_ShellLink, NULL, CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER,
IID_IShellLink, (LPVOID*)&psl);

Anyone out there in C land know what I can do to get around this?

Thanks.
-josh

[Brett]

Re: extract path from shortcut (.lnk) file.

I found this function:

HRESULT ShortCutLib::ShortCut::_ResolveLink(LPCWSTR LnkFile, LPWSTR FilePath,
LPWSTR LnkDesc,LPWSTR WorkDir)
{
CoInitialize(NULL);
HRESULT hres;
IShellLink* psl;
WIN32_FIND_DATA wfd;
char strfilepath[MAX_PATH];
char strlnkdesc[INFOTIPSIZE];
char strworkdir[MAX_PATH];

USES_CONVERSION;

hres = CoCreateInstance(CLSID_ShellLink, NULL,
CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER, IID_IShellLink, (LPVOID *) &psl);
if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
{
IPersistFile* ppf;
hres = psl->QueryInterface(IID_IPersistFile, (LPVOID *)&ppf);
if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
{
hres = ppf->Load(LnkFile, STGM_READ);
if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
{
hres = psl->Resolve(GetDesktopWindow(), 0);
if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
{
hres = psl->GetPath(strfilepath,MAX_PATH, &wfd,
SLGP_UNCPRIORITY );

if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
{
wcscpy(FilePath, A2W(strfilepath));
hres = psl->GetDescription(strlnkdesc,INFOTIPSIZE);
}

if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
{
wcscpy(LnkDesc,A2W(strlnkdesc));
hres = psl->GetWorkingDirectory(strworkdir,MAX_PATH);
}

if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
{
wcscpy(WorkDir,A2W(strworkdir));
}
}
}
ppf->Release();
}
psl->Release();
}
CoUninitialize();
return hres;
}

You can read the whole article here:

http://www.codeproject.com/managedcpp/mcppshortcuts.asp

[jassing]

Re: extract path from shortcut (.lnk) file.

Thanks brett!

I'll try this code.. My C++ is even worse than my C... but I should be able to fake it ..

Thanks.

[jassing]

Re: extract path from shortcut (.lnk) file.

requires .net -- I don't ahve .net... [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

[Brett]

Re: extract path from shortcut (.lnk) file.

Although the article was about .NET, the code that was for the DLL (which includes the function above) was writting in C++, so it does not use or require .NET.

[jassing]

Re: extract path from shortcut (.lnk) file.

thanks. Unfortunately; it won't compile with VC 6.0
A2W isnt' found, I found a #define in ansiapi.h, but wrong # of parameters.

Thanks for looking.. I'll keep plugging away.

[jassing]

Re: extract path from shortcut (.lnk) file.

Finally found a program that does it nicely.. If anyone needs it; let me know.