Inspecting the properties of shortcuts

[David Jackson]

Hello,

I've been asked to write a sort of "desktop clean-up" utility.

Requirements are simple: iterate through the shortcuts (*.lnk files) on the
currently logged-on user's desktop, and delete each link whose TargetPath
property no longer exists.

Iterating through the shortcuts on the desktop is easy enough using
Directory.GetFiles(*.lnk)

I found the following article which explains how to inspect the various
properties of a shortcut:
http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/Starter.asp

This uses COMInterop to inspect the shortcuts.

The author of the article says that he doesn't believe a managed solution is
available for this. Is this true?

I don't really have a problem using COMInterop but I guess I'd prefer to use
a managed solution if possible.

Does anyone know if there is one?

Thanks,

DJ

[Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]]

David,

Well, there isn't a native managed wrapper for it if that is what you
mean, or a managed way to parse the files and get the contents.

COM interop is as managed as it is going to get.
--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- mv*@spam.guard.caspershouse.com

"David Jackson" <so*****@somewhere.comwrote in message
news:u3*************@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

Hello,

I've been asked to write a sort of "desktop clean-up" utility.

Requirements are simple: iterate through the shortcuts (*.lnk files) on
the currently logged-on user's desktop, and delete each link whose
TargetPath property no longer exists.

Iterating through the shortcuts on the desktop is easy enough using
Directory.GetFiles(*.lnk)

I found the following article which explains how to inspect the various
properties of a shortcut:
http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/Starter.asp

This uses COMInterop to inspect the shortcuts.

The author of the article says that he doesn't believe a managed solution
is available for this. Is this true?

I don't really have a problem using COMInterop but I guess I'd prefer to
use a managed solution if possible.

Does anyone know if there is one?

Thanks,

DJ

[G Himangi]

Take a look at ShellLink component from ShellObjects at
http://www.ssware.com/shlobj/shlobj.htm


"David Jackson" <so*****@somewhere.comwrote in message
news:u3*************@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

Hello,

I've been asked to write a sort of "desktop clean-up" utility.

Requirements are simple: iterate through the shortcuts (*.lnk files) on
the currently logged-on user's desktop, and delete each link whose
TargetPath property no longer exists.

Iterating through the shortcuts on the desktop is easy enough using
Directory.GetFiles(*.lnk)

I found the following article which explains how to inspect the various
properties of a shortcut:
http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/Starter.asp

This uses COMInterop to inspect the shortcuts.

The author of the article says that he doesn't believe a managed solution
is available for this. Is this true?

I don't really have a problem using COMInterop but I guess I'd prefer to
use a managed solution if possible.

Does anyone know if there is one?

Thanks,

DJ

[David Jackson]

"Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]" <mv*@spam.guard.caspershouse.comwrote in
message news:%2***************@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

Hi Nicholas,

Thanks for the reply

Well, there isn't a native managed wrapper for it if that is what you
mean, or a managed way to parse the files and get the contents.

COM interop is as managed as it is going to get.

OK.

DJ

[David Jackson]

"G Himangi" <in**@ssware.comwrote in message
news:u4*************@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

Hi G,

Thanks for the reply.

Take a look at ShellLink component from ShellObjects at
http://www.ssware.com/shlobj/shlobj.htm

That certainly does look like it would do the job, and a whole lot more!

However, as this is very much a "nice-to-have", I don't really think I can
justify the expense, even at $95.

Thanks again.

DJ