Creating a Windows shortcut in C++

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

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.

I found this:

Code:

---

/*
  -------------------------------------------------------------------
  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