The following routine checks whether a shortcut or a file with a given
name is either on the desktop, in the start menu or in its programs submenu.
It will both check in the user's private desktop/ start menu.. as in
the all-users settings.
The return value shows where the first installation was found,
it may be used as in .FormCreate() at the bottom of the example.
Because shortcuts are just files, it is not case-sensitive.
LinkExists ('SourceCoder') = LinkExists ('sourcecoder')
uses
Registry;
type
TInstallationPlace = (le_None, le_CommonDesktop, le_CommonProgs, le_CommonStart,
le_UserDesktop, le_UserProgs, le_UserStart);
// check whether a shortcut or a file with name s is either on
// the desktop, in the start menu or in its programs submenu.
function LinkExists (const s : String) : TInstallationPlace;
var
cDesktop,
cProgs,
cStart,
uDesktop,
uProgs,
uStart : String;
function myExists(const s : String): boolean;
begin
// s can be directory or a file, so FileExists() won't do it..
myExists := FileGetAttr(s) >= 0;
end;
begin
// check whether we have the link in All_User's Desktop!
cDesktop := '';
cProgs := '';
cStart := '';
uDesktop := '';
uProgs := '';
uStart := '';
with TRegistry.Create do
begin
RootKey:=HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE;
if OpenKey('\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders', false) then
begin
cDesktop := ReadString('Common Desktop');
cProgs := ReadString('Common Programs');
cStart := ReadString('Common Start Menu');
end;
CloseKey;
RootKey:=HKEY_CURRENT_USER;
if OpenKey('\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders', false) then
begin
uDesktop := ReadString('Desktop');
uProgs := ReadString('Programs');
uStart := ReadString('Start Menu');
end;
CloseKey;
Free;
end;
// check in all 3 places for our link
Result := le_None;
s := '\' + s;
if myExists(cDesktop + s) then Result := le_CommonDesktop
else
if myExists(cProgs + s) then Result := le_CommonProgs
else
if myExists(cStart + s) then Result := le_CommonStart
else
if myExists(cDesktop + ChangeFileExt(s, '.lnk')) then Result := le_CommonDesktop
else
if myExists(cProgs + ChangeFileExt(s, '.lnk')) then Result := le_CommonProgs
else
if myExists(cStart + ChangeFileExt(s, '.lnk')) then Result := le_CommonStart
else
if myExists(uDesktop + s) then Result := le_UserDesktop
else
if myExists(uProgs + s) then Result := le_UserProgs
else
if myExists(uStart + s) then Result := le_UserStart
else
if myExists(uDesktop + ChangeFileExt(s, '.lnk')) then Result := le_UserDesktop
else
if myExists(uProgs + ChangeFileExt(s, '.lnk')) then Result := le_UserProgs
else
if myExists(uStart + ChangeFileExt(s, '.lnk')) then Result := le_UserStart
end;
procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
begin
if LinkExists ('SourceCoder') <> le_None then
ShowMessage('yes')
else
ShowMessage('no');
end;