How to resolve a .lnk in c#

Question

Hi,

I need to find out the file/directory name that a .lnk is pointing to using c#.

What is the simplest way to do this?

Thanks.

Answer 1

This may help:

http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?s=3ad7f1ffb995ba84999376f574e9250f&showtopic=658928&st=0&p=589667108&#entry589667108

In essence...

Add reference to Windows Script Host Object Model in COM tab of Add Reference dialogue.

IWshRuntimeLibrary.IWshShell shell = new IWshRuntimeLibrary.WshShell();

IWshRuntimeLibrary.IWshShortcut shortcut = (IWshRuntimeLibrary.IWshShortcut)shell.CreateShortcut(link);

Console.WriteLine(shortcut.TargetPath);

Answer 2

Adding to what Kev said...

If you are using csc.exe instead of Visual Studio, to add a reference to the Windows Script Host Object Model, you have to:

• Use the tlbimp.exe tool to create a managed assembly:

  tlbimp.exe c:\windows\system32\wshom.ocx /out:IWshRuntimeLibrary.dll

• Reference the .dll using the /r switch in csc.exe:

  csc.exe Lnk.cs /r:IWshRuntimeLibrary.dll

Answer 3

I wrote this for video browser, it works really well

        #region Signitures imported from http://pinvoke.net

        [DllImport("shfolder.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
        internal static extern int SHGetFolderPath(IntPtr hwndOwner, int nFolder, IntPtr hToken, int dwFlags, StringBuilder lpszPath);

        [Flags()]
        enum SLGP_FLAGS
        {
            /// <summary>Retrieves the standard short (8.3 format) file name</summary>
            SLGP_SHORTPATH = 0x1,
            /// <summary>Retrieves the Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path name of the file</summary>
            SLGP_UNCPRIORITY = 0x2,
            /// <summary>Retrieves the raw path name. A raw path is something that might not exist and may include environment variables that need to be expanded</summary>
            SLGP_RAWPATH = 0x4
        }

        [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
        struct WIN32_FIND_DATAW
        {
            public uint dwFileAttributes;
            public long ftCreationTime;
            public long ftLastAccessTime;
            public long ftLastWriteTime;
            public uint nFileSizeHigh;
            public uint nFileSizeLow;
            public uint dwReserved0;
            public uint dwReserved1;
            [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = 260)]
            public string cFileName;
            [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst = 14)]
            public string cAlternateFileName;
        }

        [Flags()]

        enum SLR_FLAGS
        {
            /// <summary>
            /// Do not display a dialog box if the link cannot be resolved. When SLR_NO_UI is set,
            /// the high-order word of fFlags can be set to a time-out value that specifies the
            /// maximum amount of time to be spent resolving the link. The function returns if the
            /// link cannot be resolved within the time-out duration. If the high-order word is set
            /// to zero, the time-out duration will be set to the default value of 3,000 milliseconds
            /// (3 seconds). To specify a value, set the high word of fFlags to the desired time-out
            /// duration, in milliseconds.
            /// </summary>
            SLR_NO_UI = 0x1,
            /// <summary>Obsolete and no longer used</summary>
            SLR_ANY_MATCH = 0x2,
            /// <summary>If the link object has changed, update its path and list of identifiers.
            /// If SLR_UPDATE is set, you do not need to call IPersistFile::IsDirty to determine
            /// whether or not the link object has changed.</summary>
            SLR_UPDATE = 0x4,
            /// <summary>Do not update the link information</summary>
            SLR_NOUPDATE = 0x8,
            /// <summary>Do not execute the search heuristics</summary>
            SLR_NOSEARCH = 0x10,
            /// <summary>Do not use distributed link tracking</summary>
            SLR_NOTRACK = 0x20,
            /// <summary>Disable distributed link tracking. By default, distributed link tracking tracks
            /// removable media across multiple devices based on the volume name. It also uses the
            /// Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path to track remote file systems whose drive letter
            /// has changed. Setting SLR_NOLINKINFO disables both types of tracking.</summary>
            SLR_NOLINKINFO = 0x40,
            /// <summary>Call the Microsoft Windows Installer</summary>
            SLR_INVOKE_MSI = 0x80
        }


        /// <summary>The IShellLink interface allows Shell links to be created, modified, and resolved</summary>
        [ComImport(), InterfaceType(ComInterfaceType.InterfaceIsIUnknown), Guid("000214F9-0000-0000-C000-000000000046")]
        interface IShellLinkW
        {
            /// <summary>Retrieves the path and file name of a Shell link object</summary>
            void GetPath([Out(), MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] StringBuilder pszFile, int cchMaxPath, out WIN32_FIND_DATAW pfd, SLGP_FLAGS fFlags);
            /// <summary>Retrieves the list of item identifiers for a Shell link object</summary>
            void GetIDList(out IntPtr ppidl);
            /// <summary>Sets the pointer to an item identifier list (PIDL) for a Shell link object.</summary>
            void SetIDList(IntPtr pidl);
            /// <summary>Retrieves the description string for a Shell link object</summary>
            void GetDescription([Out(), MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] StringBuilder pszName, int cchMaxName);
            /// <summary>Sets the description for a Shell link object. The description can be any application-defined string</summary>
            void SetDescription([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string pszName);
            /// <summary>Retrieves the name of the working directory for a Shell link object</summary>
            void GetWorkingDirectory([Out(), MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] StringBuilder pszDir, int cchMaxPath);
            /// <summary>Sets the name of the working directory for a Shell link object</summary>
            void SetWorkingDirectory([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string pszDir);
            /// <summary>Retrieves the command-line arguments associated with a Shell link object</summary>
            void GetArguments([Out(), MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] StringBuilder pszArgs, int cchMaxPath);
            /// <summary>Sets the command-line arguments for a Shell link object</summary>
            void SetArguments([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string pszArgs);
            /// <summary>Retrieves the hot key for a Shell link object</summary>
            void GetHotkey(out short pwHotkey);
            /// <summary>Sets a hot key for a Shell link object</summary>
            void SetHotkey(short wHotkey);
            /// <summary>Retrieves the show command for a Shell link object</summary>
            void GetShowCmd(out int piShowCmd);
            /// <summary>Sets the show command for a Shell link object. The show command sets the initial show state of the window.</summary>
            void SetShowCmd(int iShowCmd);
            /// <summary>Retrieves the location (path and index) of the icon for a Shell link object</summary>
            void GetIconLocation([Out(), MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] StringBuilder pszIconPath,
                int cchIconPath, out int piIcon);
            /// <summary>Sets the location (path and index) of the icon for a Shell link object</summary>
            void SetIconLocation([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string pszIconPath, int iIcon);
            /// <summary>Sets the relative path to the Shell link object</summary>
            void SetRelativePath([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string pszPathRel, int dwReserved);
            /// <summary>Attempts to find the target of a Shell link, even if it has been moved or renamed</summary>
            void Resolve(IntPtr hwnd, SLR_FLAGS fFlags);
            /// <summary>Sets the path and file name of a Shell link object</summary>
            void SetPath([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string pszFile);

        }

        [ComImport, Guid("0000010c-0000-0000-c000-000000000046"),
        InterfaceType(ComInterfaceType.InterfaceIsIUnknown)]
        public interface IPersist
        {
            [PreserveSig]
            void GetClassID(out Guid pClassID);
        }


        [ComImport, Guid("0000010b-0000-0000-C000-000000000046"),
        InterfaceType(ComInterfaceType.InterfaceIsIUnknown)]
        public interface IPersistFile : IPersist
        {
            new void GetClassID(out Guid pClassID);
            [PreserveSig]
            int IsDirty();

            [PreserveSig]
            void Load([In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)]
            string pszFileName, uint dwMode);

            [PreserveSig]
            void Save([In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string pszFileName,
                [In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] bool fRemember);

            [PreserveSig]
            void SaveCompleted([In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string pszFileName);

            [PreserveSig]
            void GetCurFile([In, MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string ppszFileName);
        }

        const uint STGM_READ = 0;
        const int MAX_PATH = 260;

        // CLSID_ShellLink from ShlGuid.h 
        [
            ComImport(),
            Guid("00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046")
        ]
        public class ShellLink
        {
        }

        #endregion 


        public static string ResolveShortcut(string filename)
        {
            ShellLink link = new ShellLink();
            ((IPersistFile)link).Load(filename, STGM_READ);
            // TODO: if I can get hold of the hwnd call resolve first. This handles moved and renamed files.  
            // ((IShellLinkW)link).Resolve(hwnd, 0) 
            StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(MAX_PATH);
            WIN32_FIND_DATAW data = new WIN32_FIND_DATAW();
            ((IShellLinkW)link).GetPath(sb, sb.Capacity, out data, 0);
            return sb.ToString(); 
        }