FAQ: How do I add/remove application shortcuts from the Startup folder or Desktop?

Question

How do I add/remove application shortcuts from the Startup folder or Desktop?

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Answer 1

Generally, ClickOnce Deployment doesn’t create application shortcuts as you would expect.

 

However, if your project targets .Net Framework 3.5, and .Net Framework 3.5 SP1 has been installed, you can create a desktop shortcut for your application via ClickOnce deployment.

Go to Project menu -> Properties… -> Publish tab -> Options… button-> Manifests entry -> Check the "Create desktop shortcut" option

 

If your project targets other .Net Framework versions which are earlier than 3.5, or you want to create shortcut at any location, you can use the Windows Scripting Host (WSH) runtime library (IWshRuntimeLibrary) to create a shortcut programmatically as you’d expect.

 

Firstly, Add Reference -> COM tab -> Choose “Windows Script Host Object Model” and add it to your project

 

Code Sample: Create application shortcut on the Startup folder

Prerequisites: Drag&drop Button1 and Button2 onto Form1.

 

Imports IWshRuntimeLibrary
Public Class Form1

    Dim StartupFolder As String = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Startup)
    Dim shortcutFilePath As String = StartupFolder & "\MyShortcut.lnk"

    ' Add/create the shortcut to the Startup folder
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Dim WshShell As WshShellClass = New WshShellClass
        Dim MyShortcut As IWshRuntimeLibrary.IWshShortcut
        ' The shortcut will be created in the Startup folder
        MyShortcut = CType(WshShell.CreateShortcut(shortcutFilePath), IWshRuntimeLibrary.IWshShortcut)
        'Specify target file full path
        MyShortcut.TargetPath = Application.StartupPath & "\YourAppName.exe"
        ' e.g.  MyShortcut.TargetPath = "C:\WINDOWS\system32\calc.exe"
        MyShortcut.Save()
    End Sub

    'Remove the shortcut from the Startup folder
    Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
        If IO.File.Exists(shortcutFilePath) Then
            IO.File.Delete(shortcutFilePath)
        End If
    End Sub
End Class

 

You also can create the shortcut on the Desktop or Start Menu.

 

Dim DesktopFolder As String = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.DesktopDirectory)
Dim StartMenuFolder As String = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.StartMenu)

 

Related thread:

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/Vsexpressvb/thread/333add2a-95e7-4fd8-8874-bf21b653cdac/

 

For more FAQ about Visual Basic .NET General, please see Visual Basic .NET General FAQ

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Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help.
Welcome to the All-In-One Code Framework! If you have any feedback, please tell us.