[RESOLVED] Creating short-cuts

[TysonJ33T]

I was wondering how i can write a program to create a shortcut in the startup folder of a different program. So i have one program on my computer that should run at startup, i just need another program to create a shortcut to it, and then copy this shortcut into the startup folder. Thanks

[Vectris]

Google "vb.net create shortcut"

[jmcilhinney]

Creating shortcuts in VB.NET is not simple and requires unmanaged code, i.e. referencing a Windows COM library. If it's not inappropriate, it's far easier to add a Registry entry to the Run key to run your app at startup. It makes it harder, although far from impossible, for the user to edit or delete it, which may be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the circumstances.

[Vectris]

jmc has a good point, you should probably stick to the registry if its just for startup.

But also to prove my point about googling things, very first link.
http://www.tek-tips.com/faqs.cfm?fid=6127

[TysonJ33T]

Yeah I tried the code from the google link
i have heaps of errors. Firstly the bit at the top -

Imports IWshRuntimeLibrary

has green underline and says - "Namespace or type specified in the Imports 'IWshRuntimeLibrary' doesnt contain any public member or cannot be found.

And there are blue lines underneath wShell and IWshRuntimeLibrary.IWshShortcut
Here is the code

Imports IWshRuntimeLibrary

Private Function CreateShortCut(ByVal shortcutName As String, ByVal creationDir As String, ByVal targetFullpath As String, ByVal workingDir As String, ByVal iconFile As String, ByVal iconNumber As Integer) As Boolean
  Try
    If Not IO.Directory.Exists(creationDir) Then
      Dim retVal As DialogResult = MsgBox(creationdir & " does not exist. Do you wish to create it?", MsgBoxStyle.Question Or MsgBoxStyle.YesNo)
      If retVal = DialogResult.Yes
        IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(creationDir)
      Else
        Return False
      End If
    End If

    Dim shortCut As IWshRuntimeLibrary.IWshShortcut
    shortCut = CType(wShell.CreateShortcut(creationDir & "\" & shortcutName & ".lnk"), IWshRuntimeLibrary.IWshShortcut)
    shortCut.TargetPath = targetFullpath
    shortCut.WindowStyle = 1
    shortCut.Description = shortcutName
    shortCut.WorkingDirectory = workingDir
    shortCut.IconLocation = iconFile & ", " & iconNumber
    shortCut.Save()
    Return True
  Catch ex As System.Exception
    Return False
  End Try
End Function

[jmcilhinney]

Did you read that page and perform the steps that it specifies, particularly steps 2 and 3, or did you just copy and paste the code?

[TysonJ33T]

Copy and Paste

Most is good but there is still this error - "Name wShell is not declared"

in this bit of code -

shortCut = CType(wShell.CreateShortcut(creationDir & "\" & shortcutName & ".lnk"),

[jmcilhinney]

If you don't follow instructions then it's isn't really surprising it didn't work. That said, it should be noted that the COM component you need to reference is named "Windows Script Host Object Model". Also, it looks like the wShell variable used in that code has not been declared. It should be type IWshShell3.

[TysonJ33T]

If you don't follow instructions then it's isn't really surprising it didn't work. That said, it should be noted that the COM component you need to reference is named "Windows Script Host Object Model". Also, it looks like the wShell variable used in that code has not been declared. It should be type IWshShell3.

So how do i make the type IwshShell3?

[minitech]

Add the reference. Did you do that?

Just use Dim var As IWshShell3, as usual. (With the Import, of course.)

[TysonJ33T]

So what should my code look like?
could you post an example?
Sorry, i am just a beginner

[Vectris]

Your code should look just like that in the example. You just need to go back and add all of the correct references. I would suggest making a new project and going through every step in that link again, this time don't just copy and paste code.

[TysonJ33T]

Ok i've done that and it still has the same error. "Name 'wShell' is not declared."

[jmcilhinney]

So declare it.

[TysonJ33T]

HOW?
Im a noob at this
I taught myself vb, and missed most basics

[minitech]

The extremely complicated and advanced piece of code you will need is "Dim".

Add a variable declaration of wShell as type IWshShell3 in your code (class-level).

[TysonJ33T]

MY GOD how complex
thanks its fine now

[jmcilhinney]

I taught myself vb, and missed most basics

Being self-taught doesn't mean you have to have missed out on the basics. I strongly suggest that you find yourself a beginners tutorial and work through it so that you cover those fundamental concepts that you may currently be missing.

[RonR]

MY GOD how complex
thanks its fine now

it is not clear how you actually solved the issue of adding the reference.

I added the scripting reference but the Imports still gives me an error.

[minitech]

Project > Add Reference is how you did it, right?

[RonR]

Project > Add Reference is how you did it, right?

the only place to add it is in the project properties?

I only found it there.