Shortcut creation is a common task for Windows programmers. The TSxWinShellLink component makes shortcut handling as easy as possible. Follow the example below to learn how easy to use it.

    This example uses TSxWinShellLink to implement tiny shortcut editor. This editor is even more powerful that native Windows "Create shortcut" tool. Namely it allows to assign hotkey for the shortcut on the desktop while native shortcut editor does not support this feature.

    Create a new application: File -> New... -> Application. Place a few controls onto its main form as shown on the figure below. Don't forget to add the TSxWinShellLink component:

    Save the project now.

    The next step is to set TSxWinShellLink properties. Use the values from the table below to configure the component:

    Set the event handlers now. The OnCreate event for the form is:

procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
begin
  ShellLink.New;
end;

     The OnClick event handler for the "NewLink" button is:

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  ShellLink.New;
end;

     The "LoadLink" button has the following OnClick handler:

procedure TForm1.Button2Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  if OpenDialog.Execute then
     ShellLink.LoadFromFile(OpenDialog.Filename);
  AssignValues;
end;

     The "SaveLink" button works as:

procedure TForm1.Button3Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  ShellLink.Arguments:=eArguments.Text;
  ShellLink.Description:=eDescription.Text;
  ShellLink.HotKey:=eHotKey.HotKey;
  ShellLink.Modifiers:=eHotKey.Modifiers;
  ShellLink.IconLocationPath:=eIconLocation.Text;
  ShellLink.IconLocationIndex:=StrToInt(eIconIndex.Text);
  ShellLink.Path:=ePath.Text;
  ShellLink.ShowCmd:=TSxShowCmd(eShowCmd.ItemIndex);
  ShellLink.WorkingDirectory:=eWorkingDirectory.Text;
  if SaveDialog.Execute then
     ShellLink.SaveToFile(SaveDialog.Filename);
end;

     One more button - "Resolve" - is implemented as follows:

procedure TForm1.Button4Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  if ShellLink.Resolve(Handle,[]) then
  begin
    AssignValues;
    ShowMessage('Resolve OK')
  end
  else
     ShowMessage('Resolve Failed');
end;

     The AssignValues procedure is used by handlers above. Implement it as:

procedure TForm1.AssignValues;
begin
  eArguments.Text:=ShellLink.Arguments;
  eDescription.Text:=ShellLink.Description;
  eHotKey.HotKey:=ShellLink.HotKey;
  eHotKey.Modifiers:=ShellLink.Modifiers;
  eIconLocation.Text:=ShellLink.IconLocationPath;
  eIconIndex.Text:=IntToStr(ShellLink.IconLocationIndex);
  ePath.Text:=ShellLink.Path;
  eShowCmd.ItemIndex:=Integer(ShellLink.ShowCmd);
  eWorkingDirectory.Text:=ShellLink.WorkingDirectory;
end;

    Save the project and compile it - it is ready now! Test it. Run it and press the "LoadLink" button. Select any acceptable file with a .lnk extension (it is a shortcut) and press the "OK". The shortcut file will be loaded and you will see its parameters. Now you can modify the shortcut parameters and save it.

Use links below to download source codes of this example as well as binary files:

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