Creating a Windows shortcut in C++

[leoalvesmachado]

Hi everyone,

I have the following problem to solve:
I have a configuration file that contains only a path (like C:/Program Files/install for instance). In this path, I have to unzip an Apache. I do not install Apache because the zip I have contains special configuration I need in my project.
With the Apache unpacked, I have 2 things to do:
1- Edit the httpd.conf file in order to contain the "unzip" path correctly
2- Create a "start Apache" shortcut.

The problem I have is exactly in the step 2. I just don't know how to create a shortcut from inside a C++. As most of you should know, this shortcut is not just an executable call. In my PC, the shortcut has the following meaningful info:

Target: "C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\bin\httpd.exe" -w -f "C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\conf\httpd.conf" -d "C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\."
Start in: "C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\"


So, is it possible to create this shortcut?


thanks in advance for your help

[ninja9578]

Why do you need to code this? Why can't you just create it normally?

Are you trying to write an installer program or something? C++ is not meant for that and I don't think anyone does that. Most people use NSIS.

[Amleto]

I found this:

/*
  -------------------------------------------------------------------
  Description:
    Creates the actual 'lnk' file (assumes COM has been initialized).

  Parameters:
    pszTargetfile    - File name of the link's target.
    pszTargetargs    - Command line arguments passed to link's target.
    pszLinkfile      - File name of the actual link file being created.
    pszDescription   - Description of the linked item.
    iShowmode        - ShowWindow() constant for the link's target.
    pszCurdir        - Working directory of the active link. 
    pszIconfile      - File name of the icon file used for the link.
    iIconindex       - Index of the icon in the icon file.

  Returns:
    HRESULT value >= 0 for success, < 0 for failure.
  --------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
  static HRESULT CreateShortCut(LPSTR pszTargetfile, LPSTR pszTargetargs,
                                LPSTR pszLinkfile, LPSTR pszDescription, 
                                int iShowmode, LPSTR pszCurdir, 
                                LPSTR pszIconfile, int iIconindex)
  {
    HRESULT       hRes;                  /* Returned COM result code */
    IShellLink*   pShellLink;            /* IShellLink object pointer */
    IPersistFile* pPersistFile;          /* IPersistFile object pointer */
    WORD          wszLinkfile[MAX_PATH]; /* pszLinkfile as Unicode 
                                            string */
    int           iWideCharsWritten;     /* Number of wide characters 
                                            written */

    hRes = E_INVALIDARG;
    if (
         (pszTargetfile != NULL) && (strlen(pszTargetfile) > 0) &&
         (pszTargetargs != NULL) &&
         (pszLinkfile != NULL) && (strlen(pszLinkfile) > 0) &&
         (pszDescription != NULL) && 
         (iShowmode >= 0) &&
         (pszCurdir != NULL) && 
         (pszIconfile != NULL) &&
         (iIconindex >= 0)
       )
    {
      hRes = CoCreateInstance(
        &CLSID_ShellLink,     /* pre-defined CLSID of the IShellLink 
                                 object */
        NULL,                 /* pointer to parent interface if part of 
                                 aggregate */
        CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER, /* caller and called code are in same 
                                 process */
        &IID_IShellLink,      /* pre-defined interface of the 
                                 IShellLink object */
        &pShellLink);         /* Returns a pointer to the IShellLink 
                                 object */
      if (SUCCEEDED(hRes))
      {
        /* Set the fields in the IShellLink object */
        hRes = pShellLink->lpVtbl->SetPath(pShellLink, 
                                             pszTargetfile);
        hRes = pShellLink->lpVtbl->SetArguments(pShellLink, 
                                              pszTargetargs);
        if (strlen(pszDescription) > 0)
        {
          hRes = pShellLink->lpVtbl->SetDescription(pShellLink, 
                                                  pszDescription);
        }
        if (iShowmode > 0)
        {
          hRes = pShellLink->lpVtbl->SetShowCmd(pShellLink, 
                                                       iShowmode);
        }
        if (strlen(pszCurdir) > 0)
        {
          hRes = pShellLink->lpVtbl->SetWorkingDirectory(pShellLink, 
                                                          pszCurdir);
        }
        if (strlen(pszIconfile) > 0 && iIconindex >= 0)
        {
          hRes = pShellLink->lpVtbl->SetIconLocation(pShellLink, 
                                            pszIconfile, iIconindex);
        }

        /* Use the IPersistFile object to save the shell link */
        hRes = pShellLink->lpVtbl->QueryInterface(
          pShellLink,                /* existing IShellLink object */
          &IID_IPersistFile,         /* pre-defined interface of the 
                                        IPersistFile object */
          &pPersistFile);            /* returns a pointer to the 
                                        IPersistFile object */
        if (SUCCEEDED(hRes))
        {
          iWideCharsWritten = MultiByteToWideChar(CP_ACP, 0, 
                                               pszLinkfile, -1, 
                                               wszLinkfile, MAX_PATH);
          hRes = pPersistFile->lpVtbl->Save(pPersistFile, 
                                                   wszLinkfile, TRUE);
          pPersistFile->lpVtbl->Release(pPersistFile);
        }
        pShellLink->lpVtbl->Release(pShellLink);
      }

    }
    return (hRes);
  }

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/winsdk/makelink.aspx