Installing Shortcuts on Desktop and in Programs Menu

Step 1

Define the Directories (Folders) for the Shortcuts (We have done this already in the chapter Installing the Files…)

<!--****************************************************************************************-->
<!--Define Folders for the Setup-->
<!--****************************************************************************************-->
<Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
  <Directory Id="ProgramFilesFolder">
    <!--Folder for All Programm Files-->
    <Directory Id="COMPANYROOTDIRECTORY" Name="$(var.ManufacturerFolderName)">
      <Directory Id="APPLICATIONROOTDIRECTORY" Name="$(var.ProductName)">
        <Directory Id="APPLICATIONDATADIRECTORY" Name="DataSubDir" />
      </Directory>
    </Directory>

    <!--Folder for Menu Items-->
    <Directory Id="ProgramMenuFolder">
      <Directory Id="ProgramMenuCompanyFolder" Name="$(var.ManufacturerFolderName)">
        <Directory Id="ProgramMenuAppFolder" Name="$(var.ProductName)"/>
      </Directory>
    </Directory>

    <!--FOlder for Desktop-->
    <Directory Id="DesktopFolder" Name="Desktop" />
  </Directory>
</Directory>

Step 2

Place the following code in the Product.wxs to create the Program Menu items.

<DirectoryRef Id="ProgramMenuAppFolder">
  <Component Id="ApplicationShortcut" Guid="{A469B906-8CA9-4a85-96AF-2A00F7DF5CD6}">

    <CreateFolder Directory="ProgramMenuAppFolder" />

    <RemoveFolder Id="RemoveProgramMenuAppFolder"
                  Directory="ProgramMenuAppFolder"
                  On="uninstall"/>

    <RemoveFolder Id="RemoveProgramMenuCompanyFolder"
                  Directory="ProgramMenuCompanyFolder"
                  On="uninstall"/>

    <Shortcut Id="ApplicationStartMenuShortcut"
              Name="$(var.ProductName)"
              Description="The ONE and ONLY $(var.ProductName)"
              Target="[APPLICATIONROOTDIRECTORY]TheTester.exe"
              WorkingDirectory="APPLICATIONROOTDIRECTORY"
              Icon="APP.ico" />
    <Shortcut Id="UninstallProduct"
              Name="Remove $(var.ProductName)"
              Description="Remove $(var.ProductName) form the Computer."
              Target="[System64Folder]msiexec.exe"
              Arguments="/x [ProductCode]"
              Icon="Setup.ico"
              />
    <!--We need the Registry Key just to give the Component a KeyPath-->
    <RegistryValue Root="HKCU" Key="Software\$(var.ManufacturerFolderName)\$(var.ProductName)" Name="installed" Type="integer" Value="1" KeyPath="yes"/>
  </Component>
</DirectoryRef>

Step 3

Place the following Code in the Product.wxs File to create the Desktop Icon.

<DirectoryRef Id="DesktopFolder">
  <Component Id="ApplicationShortcutDesktop" Guid="{abd65e7e-3d42-4192-9839-9e7c010449de}">
    <Shortcut Id="DesktopShortcut"
          Name="$(var.ProductName)"
          Description="starts $(var.ProductName)"
          Target="[APPLICATIONROOTDIRECTORY]TheTester.exe"
          WorkingDirectory="APPLICATIONROOTDIRECTORY"
          Icon="APP.ico" />
    <!--We need the Registry Key just to give the Component a KeyPath-->
    <RegistryValue Root="HKCU" Key="Software\$(var.ManufacturerFolderName)\$(var.ProductName)" Name="installedDesktopShortcut" Type="integer" Value="1" KeyPath="yes"/>
  </Component>
</DirectoryRef>

<= Back to Content