Solved Create a Shortcut to SharePoint Folder on User's Desktop

D

dgreen

Member
Local time
Today, 02:13
Joined
Sep 30, 2018
Messages
397
New user setup requirement. They must have a desktop shortcut to a specific folder that opens a SharePoint site using windows explorer.

Here's the code I think should be on the button, that isn't working. Very likely operator error.
Compile error expect =
Code: 
Private Sub Command29_Click()
   fnCreateShortcut ("Database_Shortcut", "\\sharepointxxxxxx.com\Files")
End Sub

The Public Function is
Code: 
Public Function fnCreateShortcut(strName As String, strAppPath As String, strIconPath As String, strDesc As String)
'https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/2e03b9d1-8a0f-44e6-a5fc-6c08a5f05138/creating-shortcuts-in-vba-for-windows-xp-and-7-using-wshshortcut-problems?forum=isvvba
' this function creates a desktop shortcut for any file or folder or application
' You need to reference Windows Script Host Object Mode for the code to work
Dim WshShell, strDesktop, oShellLink
Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
strDesktop = WshShell.SpecialFolders("Desktop")
'we first check that the object does not exist already
If (Dir(strfilepath & "\" & strName & ".lnk") = "") Then
    Set oShellLink = WshShell.CreateShortcut(strDesktop & "\" & strName & ".lnk") 
    With oShellLink
             .TargetPath = strAppPath
             .WindowStyle = 1
             .Hotkey = "CTRL+W"
             .IconLocation = strIconPath
             .Description = strDesc
             .WorkingDirectory = strDesktop
             .Save
    End With
End If
End Function
 
Hi. Can you do it manually? Does it have to be automated? Do they need multiple shortcuts to different folders/libraries?
 
It needs to be automated. My users are spread across the country. Setting up their computers has to be done remotely and automated to the maximum extend possible.
 
Nothing to do with function expecting 4 parameters and you are only passing 2?
 
dgreen said:
It needs to be automated. My users are spread across the country. Setting up their computers has to be done remotely and automated to the maximum extend possible.
Click to expand...
Hi. I was just curious; because if the shortcut is to only one specific site, then you should be able to manually create it and then email the shortcut file to the users. Or, you can maybe post it on SharePoint, and they can download it. I was just wondering why use code at all. Just my 2 cents...
 
Still getting an error when I add 4 parameters. I've tried without the " ", removed the ( ), added Call in front of the whole string.
Code: 
fnCreateShortcut ("Database_Shortcut", "\\sharepointxxxxxx\Files","\\sharepointxxxxxx\Icons\E2E_FE.ico","Database Files")

Gasman said:
Nothing to do with function expevting 4 parameters and you are only passing 2?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Good options and if I can't get this to work, what I'll need to do....

theDBguy said:
Hi. I was just curious; because if the shortcut is to only one specific site, then you should be able to manually create it and then email the shortcut file to the users. Or, you can maybe post it on SharePoint, and they can download it. I was just wondering why use code at all. Just my 2 cents...
Click to expand...
 
dgreen said:
Good options and if I can't get this to work, what I'll need to do....
Click to expand...
Okay, just as a test, I manually created the attached shortcut to my website. Does it work for you?
 

Attachments

dgreen said:
Good options and if I can't get this to work, what I'll need to do....
Click to expand...
I created a shortcut with the correct values and copied that to the user's desktop on the db setup.
Admittedly mine was for the FE DB being used, but the logic should be the same?
 
I have just tested your code.
Firstly your variables are not dimmed correctly, but I just dimmed the str variables as I did not know what the others were.
strFilePath does not exist. Once created and given values I had a shortcut on my desktop albeit without icon as the path for an existing icon in another shortcut is %SystemRoot%\System32\SHELL32.dll. Not sure how to specify a particular icon from within that.

HTH

Edit:
Select icon by it's index number in the file if not an individual ico file?
Code: 
strIconPath= "c:\windows\System32\SHELL32.dll" & ",46"
 
Last edited:
@Gasman

Can you post the code on both the Public Function and Button that you got to work on your computer?

I don't understand your notes below and what you changed to make it work locally.

Gasman said:
Firstly your variables are not dimmed correctly, but I just dimmed the str variables as I did not know what the others were.
Click to expand...
 
I've got it working. Thanks for the assistance and coaching. The key was making changes to the Public Function as @Gasman recommended. I also like the technique for pulling in icons from the dll.

Code: 
Private Sub Command29_Click()
   fnCreateShortcut "Database_Shortcut", "\\sharepoint\Database Files", "c:\windows\System32\SHELL32.dll" & ",46", "Database Files"
End Sub

Code: 
Public Function fnCreateShortcut(strName As String, strAppPath As String, strIconPath As String, strDesc As String)
' https://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/threads/create-a-shortcut-to-sharepoint-folder-on-users-desktop.310355/#post-1679774
' this function creates a desktop shortcut for any file or folder or application
' You need to reference Windows Script Host Object Mode for the code to work
Dim WshShell, strDesktop, oShellLink
Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
strDesktop = WshShell.SpecialFolders("Desktop")
Dim strFilePath As String

'we first check that the object does not exist already
If (Dir(strFilePath & "\" & strName & ".lnk") = "") Then
    Set oShellLink = WshShell.CreateShortcut(strDesktop & "\" & strName & ".lnk")
    With oShellLink
             .TargetPath = strAppPath
             .WindowStyle = 1
             .Hotkey = "CTRL+W"
             .IconLocation = strIconPath
             .Description = strDesc
             .WorkingDirectory = strDesktop
             .Save
    End With
End If
End Function
 
dgreen said:
I've got it working. Thanks for the assistance and coaching. The key was making changes to the Public Function as @Gasman recommended. I also like the technique for pulling in icons from the dll.

Code: 
Private Sub Command29_Click()
   fnCreateShortcut "Database_Shortcut", "\\sharepoint\Database Files", "c:\windows\System32\SHELL32.dll" & ",46", "Database Files"
End Sub

Code: 
Public Function fnCreateShortcut(strName As String, strAppPath As String, strIconPath As String, strDesc As String)
' https://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/threads/create-a-shortcut-to-sharepoint-folder-on-users-desktop.310355/#post-1679774
' this function creates a desktop shortcut for any file or folder or application
' You need to reference Windows Script Host Object Mode for the code to work
Dim WshShell, strDesktop, oShellLink
Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
strDesktop = WshShell.SpecialFolders("Desktop")
Dim strFilePath As String

'we first check that the object does not exist already
If (Dir(strFilePath & "\" & strName & ".lnk") = "") Then
    Set oShellLink = WshShell.CreateShortcut(strDesktop & "\" & strName & ".lnk")
    With oShellLink
             .TargetPath = strAppPath
             .WindowStyle = 1
             .Hotkey = "CTRL+W"
             .IconLocation = strIconPath
             .Description = strDesc
             .WorkingDirectory = strDesktop
             .Save
    End With
End If
End Function
Click to expand...
Hi. Glad to hear you got it sorted out. Good luck with your project.
 
While the code above worked for a couple of people, I just had a new user attempt to create the shortcut and we ended up with icons on the desktop, that were named correctly, BUT no website path populated NOR the image on the icon from the DLL.

The user is using a Windows based computer.

Thoughts on troubleshooting?
 
Create manually to start with. Then work back.
Run the function manually on the user's PC and step through line by line with F8.
 
To get the Windows Explorer Folder to open the shortcut needs to use Internet Explorer. I have a new user that uses Mozilla as their default browser which i believe is why the shortcut isn't populating and running correctly. While I need to get the code working, I don't want to force them to change their default browser.

Question: Within the code, can you direct a specific browser (IE) be used? I'm thinking this is where that would need to be modified.

dgreen said:
Set oShellLink = WshShell.CreateShortcut(strDesktop & "\" & strName & ".lnk")
Click to expand...
 
Not really.?

Another user was using

Code: 
Shell "C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe """ & FoldernameDestFIRE & "", vbNormalFocus
 
Working on my computer. Will have the other user test it out. Thanks.

Here's the updated code

Code: 
Option Compare Database
Option Explicit

Public Function fnCreateShortcut(strName As String, strAppPath As String, strIconPath As String, strDesc As String)
    ' https://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/threads/create-a-shortcut-to-sharepoint-folder-on-users-desktop.310355/#post-1679774
    ' https://help4windows.com/windows_7_shell32_dll.shtml
    ' this function creates a desktop shortcut for any file or folder or application
    ' You need to reference Windows Script Host Object Mode for the code to work
    Dim WshShell, strDesktop, oShellLink
    Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
    strDesktop = WshShell.SpecialFolders("Desktop")
    Dim strFilePath As String
    Shell "C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe """ & strAppPath & "", vbNormalFocus
    
    'we first check that the object does not exist already
    If (Dir(strFilePath & "\" & strName & ".lnk") = "") Then
        Set oShellLink = WshShell.CreateShortcut(strDesktop & "\" & strName & ".lnk")
        With oShellLink
            .TargetPath = strAppPath
            .WindowStyle = 1
            .Hotkey = "CTRL+W"
            .IconLocation = strIconPath
            .Description = strDesc
            .WorkingDirectory = strDesktop
            .Save
        End With
    End If
End Function

No change to the code on the button.
 
Confirmed with the modified code that this now works on a computer who's default web browser isn't IE. Thank you very much for getting this improvement rolled out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
Here is the code that I use to create a shortcut of Access database file in current directory and change the shortcut icon
Replies
3
Views
813
nhtuan
N
C
Create Desktop Shortcut
Replies
1
Views
5,099
leonidasofvegas
L
P
A solution to a specific front-end updating scenario.
Replies
3
Views
1,948
Pis7ftw
P
M
Validate the existance of a file on a SharePoint Site
Replies
0
Views
4,852
Mr. B
M
W
Deploying Access with VBScript
2
Replies
26
Views
8,419
NickCoe(UK)
NickCoe(UK)

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top Bottom