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Creating shortcuts to "non existant" executables (on CD ROM etc)

Updated: 23 May 2010 | 2 comments
Locoblade's picture
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This issue has been solved. See solution.

Hi All

Im trying to create a simple package installing from the network that includes desktop shortcuts to an executable on a CD ROM drive that users will insert at the time of using the application. The problem is when the shortcuts get installed, the Shortcut Target becomes blank. I've tried creating them as actual shortcuts in Package Editor, Ive also tried installing a pre-configured .lnk file onto the desktop as a flat file, and also tried using create shortcut in Wisescript, but on every occasion I get a blank target meaning a useless shortcut.

I assume this is because at the time of creation, the target executable isn't visible / present, which then breaks the shortcut?

Can anyone advise how to get around this please?

thanks
Chris

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EdT's picture
04
Nov
2009
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One solution

Create a launcher program for your "non existent" executables, that you install with your application and that you point your shortcuts to.
The launcher can then do other things for you, such as checking whether the executable is visible on the required target CDROM drive before it tries to run it, and reports an error to the user if the media is not in the drive.
You can write the "launcher" in Wisescript, compiling to EXE, or you could use a batch file, called as an argument to CMD.EXE in the system32 folder.

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Locoblade's picture
04
Nov
2009
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Great idea Ed, many thanks as

Great idea Ed, many thanks as always

Chris