Create shortcuts¶

This page allows you to create shortcuts for your extracted files and place them on the user's desktop, in the Start menu, or within a Start menu folder (a "Program Group"). While shortcuts can be managed through custom actions, the Shortcut Manager provides a simpler interface for this task.

Using the Shortcut Manager¶

• Add a Shortcut: Click Add to display the list of files in your package. Select the file the shortcut should point to, then configure it in the Shortcut Editor dialog.
• Remove a Shortcut: Select the shortcut and click Remove or press DEL.
• Edit a Shortcut: Select the shortcut and click Edit, or double-click it.

Using the mouse context menu (right-click a shortcut), you can also copy, cut, or paste shortcuts. This is particularly useful for creating multiple shortcuts with similar properties by copying an existing shortcut and modifying its details. You can also adjust icon display size (small or large).

Creating a Start Menu Folder for Shortcuts¶

If you want to organize shortcuts for your application or document files, consider placing them in a Start Menu sub-folder (referred to as a "Start Menu Folder" or "Program Group").

Default Start Menu Folder Name¶

Specify the name of the Start Menu Folder (e.g., "My Application 1.0"). You can use resource strings in this field.

The resulting path will be stored in the variable %SHORTCUTPATH%, which you can use when creating shortcuts.

Prompt End Users for the Start Menu Folder¶

Enable this option to allow users to select or specify a Start Menu Folder name during installation. The default folder name you entered above will be pre-filled. The selected folder path will also be stored in the %SHORTCUTPATH% variable.

Create Shortcuts for All Users¶

Enable this option to create shortcuts for all users instead of just the current user. When enabled, %SHORTCUTPATH% will be based on %COMPROGMENUDIR% instead of %PROGMENUDIR%.

Shortcut Properties¶

Shortcut Filename¶

Enter the full path to the shortcut file, including the .lnk extension. Use variables to reference special shell folders like the Desktop or Start Menu.

• Example: %DESKTOPDIR%\My Application.lnk creates a shortcut on the user's desktop.
• %SHORTCUTPATH%: This variable is automatically set by the package to store the Start Menu Folder path selected by the user.

Target Filename¶

Specify the file to be executed when the shortcut is activated. For document files (e.g., text or help files), the associated application will open the file. Use the Browse button to select a file.

• Example: %DESTPATH%\Binaries\MyApp.exe.

Command Parameters¶

Enter any command-line switches or parameters to pass to the target application or file. This field is optional.

Shortcut Description¶

Provide an optional description for the shortcut (not the filename). This text appears as a tooltip when users hover over the shortcut icon.

Icon Resource File¶

Specify the full path to the file containing the icon for the shortcut. If left blank, the shortcut will use the default icon of its target file. The icon resource file should be accessible to all users.

• Supported formats: .ico, .exe, .dll.
• Example: %DESTPATH%\iconres.dll|4 uses the fourth icon from iconres.dll.

Start-In Folder Path¶

Specify the folder to be set as the current directory when the shortcut is activated. This field is optional.

Component¶

Assign the shortcut to a component. Typically, a shortcut should belong to the component containing its target file. If the component is not installed, the shortcut will not be created.

• Set the component to None to ensure the shortcut is always created.