VB to create .lnk files

[Robert_L_Ross]

Is there any way you can have VB create .lnk files (shortcut files) on a
user's desktop or a network folder?

This sounds like a wild question, but let me elaborate...

We decided to 'clean up' our network drives. I obtained lists of
paths/files/owners/acess dates from our NetOps group and loaded them into a
database. I had each file 'owner' go in and determine if they needed to
archive, delete or move the file they owned. If they decided to 'move' the
file, they had to provide a new path.

Now that we have evaluated all of the files, we are getting ready to move
them. I'd like to know if there's a way I can write something that will put
a 'link' file (.lnk) into the OLD directory for each file that then points to
the NEW directory. That way, if they look for a file and can't find it in
the old directory, the link will take them to the new directory and they can
'learn' where the files went.

My fallback is to create .txt files for each 'old' folder that lists what
files were present and where they went, but that's time consuming at best.
The most ideal method would be to write something that creates the .lnk file
for me.

I know we've got a ton of geniuses out there...any ideas?

Thanks guys!

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

Take a look at my March, 2004 "Access Answers" column in Pinnacle
Publication's "Smart Access".

You can download the column (and sample database) for free at
http://www.accessmvp.com/djsteele/SmartAccess.html

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi, Robert.

...any ideas?

It's probably easier to create NTFS junction points to point from the old
directories to the new directories, instead of creating individual shortcuts
for each file in each of the moved directories. For more information,
please see the following Web pages:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTFS_junction_point

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/205524/en-us

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
Blog: http://DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.com
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for contact
info.

 

[Robert_L_Ross]

Gunny,

I initially thought about that, but our NOS group doesn't want to do that
(and of course they won't provide a 'why', just that they don't).

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi, Robert.

(and of course they won't provide a 'why', just that they don't).

If it's not set up correctly to prevent deletion of the junction points
through Windows Explorer or the DOS shell, someone could accidentally delete
the junction point without the proper tool, inadvertently deleting all the
subdirectories and files in the directory that the junction point points to.
My guess is that they're afraid of that happening . . . again. ;-)

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
Blog: http://DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.com
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for contact
info.