Creating and Moving File and Folder Shortcuts

You can create shortcuts to installation program files and folders, and specify where to place them on the target machine, by working in the File System editor. You can:

• Create a single-file shortcut.
  
  
• Create a single-folder shortcut.
  
  
• Create multiple-file shortcuts.
  
  
• Move file or folder shortcuts.
  
  
• Create and move file or folder shortcuts in a single step.

  Important   Before you start, make sure any files or folders you will create shortcuts for have been added to the solution containing your installer project.

To create a single-file shortcut

1. In the Project Explorer window, expand the Target Machine node under your installer project.
   
   
2. Double-click File System.
   
   
3. In the left pane of File System editor, select the destination folder (where you want to install the shortcut).
   
   
4. Right-click a blank area in the right pane of the File System editor.

   Important   Do not select anything in the right pane of the File System editor.

5. Select Create Shortcut from the context menu.

   The Shortcut Properties dialog box is displayed.

6. Select the file you want to create a shortcut for, and click OK.

   The file shortcut is created and shown in the right pane of the File System editor. When the application is installed, the shortcut will be added to the selected destination folder on the target machine.

   To move file shortcuts to a different folder, see To move shortcuts.

To create a single-folder shortcut

1. In the Project Explorer window, expand the Target Machine node under your installer project.
   
   
2. Double-click File System.
   
   
3. In the File System editor, right-click the folder for which you want to create a shortcut.
   
   
4. Select Create Shortcut from the context menu.

   A shortcut for the folder is created and shown in the right pane of the File System editor and is located in the same location as the folder the shortcut points to. When the application is installed, shortcuts will be added to this location on the target machine.

   Note   Shortcuts to any special folders are placed in the Application Folder.

   To move the shortcut to a different location than the folder it points to, see To move shortcuts.

To create multiple-file shortcuts

1. In the Project Explorer window, expand the Target Machine node under your installer project.
   
   
2. Double-click File System.
   
   
3. In the left pane of File System editor, select the folder maintaining the files for which you want to create shortcuts.
   
   
4. In the right pane of the File System editor, select multiple files for which to create shortcuts.
   
   
5. Right-click any of the selected files.
   
   
6. Select Create Shortcut from the context menu.

   A shortcut for each selected file is created and shown in the right pane of the File System editor and is located in the same folder as the files they point to. When the application is installed, shortcuts will be added to this folder on the target machine.

   To move shortcuts to a different folder, see To move shortcuts.

To move shortcuts

You must create file or folder shortcuts before you can move them to a new target machine folder. For information about creating shortcuts, see To create a single-file shortcut, To create a single-folder shortcut, or To create multiple-file shortcuts.

Note   This procedure explains moving a file shortcut. To move a folder shortcut, follow the same steps and work with the folder shortcut.

1. Open the File System editor.
   
   
2. In the left pane of the File System editor, find and select the folder containing the shortcut you want to move.
   
   
3. In the right pane of the File System editor, find and select the shortcut to move.

   Note   You can select multiple shortcuts to move them from the same source to the same destination folder.

4. Drag the selected shortcuts to their new destination folder in the left pane of the File System editor.

   When the application is installed, shortcuts will be added to target machine folders as shown in the File System editor.

To create and move shortcuts in a single step

Note   This procedure explains creating and moving a file shortcut. To create and move a folder shortcut, follow the same steps and work with the folder for which you want to create a shortcut.

1. In the Project Explorer window, expand the Target Machine node under your installer project.
   
   
2. Double-click File System.
   
   
3. In the left pane of File System editor, select the folder maintaining the file for which you want to create a shortcut.
   
   
4. In the right pane of the File System editor, select the file for which you will create a shortcut.

   Note   You can select multiple files to create multiple shortcuts and move them from the same source to the same destination folder.

5. Holding down the right mouse button, drag the selected file names to their new destination folder in the left pane of the File System editor.

   A context menu is displayed.

6. Select Create Shortcut Here from this context menu.

   A shortcut for each selected file is created and placed in the destination folder. You can open the destination folder in the left pane of the File System editor to see the shortcuts listed in the right pane.

   When the application is installed, shortcuts will be added to target machine folders as shown in the File System editor.