[C#] How to create a quick launch button ?

[Nikas]

Hi,

I have a friend who is using C# to program some software. However, she wants to know how to create a quick launch button using C#.

As i do not have C# programming knowledge, thus not able to give her any advice.

I hope that i can get some answer from here.

Thanks in advance.

Nikas

[BGM]

what do you mean by quicklaunch?

do you mean add a shortcut to the quicklaunch bar in windows?

[Nikas]

Yeah.. A shortcut to the quicklaunch bar in windows.

You know.. When u install some software, they will ask you if you wants to add in shortcut at the quicklaunch bar.

[BGM]

http://www.codeproject.com/dotnet/shortcut_installer.asp

does this help?

i have not read it properly, it seems to be for VS 2003 though

[Nikas]

Hmm.. Seem that it does help. Gonna show my friend this first.

Meanwhile, any other method or ways to do so ?

[-Alex-]

Maybe I am missing the point, but just create a shortcut to the program executable and drop it in the quick launch folder?

[BGM]

  -Alex- said:

Maybe I am missing the point, but just create a shortcut to the program executable and drop it in the quick launch folder?

yes you are, the OP wants to add a shortcut to the quick launch bar programatically, when the application is installed

[Guest Dan C]

You need to add a reference to IWshRuntimeLibrary (Windows Script Host Object Model)

using IWshRuntimeLibrary;

Then add this into an event (button or something)

WshShell = new WshShellClass();
IWshRuntimeLibrary.IWshShortcut qlShortcut;
qlShortcut = (IWshRuntimeLibrary.IWshShortcut)WshShell.CreateShortcut(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData) + "\\Microsoft\\Internet Explorer\\Quick Launch\\MyShortcut.lnk");
qlShortcut.TargetPath = Application.ExecutablePath;
qlShortcut.Description = "Application name, blabla";
qlShortcut.IconLocation = Application.StartupPath + @"\app.ico";
qlShortcut.Save();

[Nikas]

Able to explain more in more details ?

I'm not familiar with C#. So sorry.

[Guest Dan C]

Just read this tutorial on how to do it. It explains it more :)

Create shortcuts with a .NET application

The only different is that for the full path, you need to be using

Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData) + "\\Microsoft\\Internet Explorer\\Quick Launch\\MyShortcut.lnk"

[Nikas]

Alright. Thank for all the response.

[lexecutil]

The correct way to do this is by using the IShellLink interface (google it :) ) and then Persist it to the Quick Launch folder (as above) by using the IPersistFile interface, though I would try that out on a non-english PC, I'm not sure if the folder name is globalized. This is exactly what the windows scripting library does except this way you are removing a totally unnessesary dependancy.

EDIT: theres even a wrapper available here :) :

http://www.msjogren.net/dotnet/eng/samples...t_shelllink.asp

Dan

Edited April 19, 2007 by dannyres

[darthblader]

for a basic way, set the program to reduce to the system tray. it will still open the program on mouseclick and will be minimised. this is not exactly what u asked for but it would work..

although the other previously mentioned alternatives are better.

[Gibwar]

  Dan C said:

The only different is that for the full path, you need to be using

Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData) + "\\Microsoft\\Internet Explorer\\Quick Launch\\MyShortcut.lnk"

You never want to hard code in english names, what happens when you use it on another language? But even then, there was a reason they didn't give you access to the quick launch area, you should let the user decide what to stick in there, not your program.