Create shortcut to desktop using WiX - wix

Question

How do I create a shortcut on the desktop from a wix setup project?

Answer 1

The shortcut is a non-advertised one.
Remember to put the component in your feature tag.
<Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
<Directory Id="DesktopFolder" Name="Desktop">
<Component Id="ApplicationShortcutDesktop" Guid="*">
<Shortcut Id="ApplicationDesktopShortcut"
Name="Text under your icon"
Description="Comment field in your shortcut"
Target="[MYAPPDIRPROPERTY]MyApp.exe"
WorkingDirectory="MYAPPDIRPROPERTY"/>
<RemoveFolder Id="DesktopFolder" On="uninstall"/>
<RegistryValue
Root="HKCU"
Key="Software\MyCompany\MyApplicationName"
Name="installed"
Type="integer"
Value="1"
KeyPath="yes"/>
</Component>
</Directory>
<Directory Id="ProgramFilesFolder" Name="PFiles">
<Directory Id="MyCompany" Name="MyCompany">
<Directory Id="MYAPPDIRPROPERTY" Name="MyAppName">
<!-- main installation files -->
</Directory>
</Directory>
</Directory>
</Directory>

Answer 2

I think my way is easier, no need for you to create a registry key:
<Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
<Directory Id="DesktopFolder" SourceName="Desktop" />
<Directory Id="MergeRedirectFolder">
<Component Id="MyExeComponent" Guid="{PUT-GUID-HERE}">
<File Id="MyExeFile" Source="$(var.ExeSourcePath)" KeyPath="yes">
<Shortcut
Id="DesktopShortcut"
Directory="DesktopFolder"
Name="$(var.ShortcutName)"
WorkingDirectory="MergeRedirectFolder" />
</File>
</Component>
</Directory>
</Directory>

Answer 3

Thanks for example. In WIX 3.8 it still raises:
"Error 3 ICE43: Component ... has non-advertised shortcuts. It should use a registry key under HKCU as its KeyPath, not a file."
So I did this such way in a file with features:
<Component Id="cmp79F6D61F01DD1060F418A05609A6DA70"
Directory="dirBin" Guid="*">
<File Id="fil34B100315EFE9D878B5C2227CD1454E1" KeyPath="yes"
Source="$(var.SourceDir)\FARMS.exe" >
<Shortcut Id="DesktopShortcut"
Directory="DesktopFolder"
Name="FARMS $(var.FarmsVersion)"
Description="Local Land Services desktop application"
WorkingDirectory="INSTALLFOLDER"
Icon="FARMS.exe"
IconIndex="0"
Advertise="yes" >
<Icon Id="FARMS.exe" SourceFile="$(var.SourceDir)\FARMS.exe" />
</Shortcut>
</File>
</Component>
And mentioned desktop folder in a file with product definition:
<Fragment>
<Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
<Directory Id="DesktopFolder" Name="Desktop" />
<Directory Id="ProgramFilesFolder">
<Directory Id="INSTALLFOLDER" Name="FARMS" >
</Directory>
</Directory>
</Directory>
</Fragment>

Answer 4

It seems lot easier in this documentation.
First, you have to point your DesktopFolder,
<Fragment>
<Directory Id="TARGETDIR" Name="SourceDir">
<Directory Id="DesktopFolder" Name="Desktop"/>
Then you should create Shortcut component for file that you want to create shortcut of.
<Component Id="PutYourComponentIdHere" Directory="FileDirectory" Guid="*">
<File Id="NotYourComponentId" KeyPath="yes" Source="..\YourFileSource\YourExecutable.exe">
<Shortcut Id="desktopServer" Directory="DesktopFolder" Name="YourShourtcutName" WorkingDirectory='WhereShouldYourShortcutPoint' Advertise="yes"/>
</File>
</Component>
It worked for me. I need to put icon but thats easy part. Hope it works.

Answer 5

After too much effort, I used this way:
<Product ...>
<Feature Id="ProductFeature" Title="SetupProject" Level="1">
...
...
<ComponentRef Id="cmpDesktopShortcut" />
</Feature>
<Component Id="cmpDesktopShortcut" Guid="PUT-GUID-HERE" Directory="DesktopFolder" >
<Shortcut Id="MyDesktopShortcut"
Name="Setup Project"
Description="Opens the program."
Directory="DesktopFolder"
Target="[INSTALLFOLDER]App.exe"
WorkingDirectory="INSTALLFOLDER"/>
<RegistryValue Root="HKCU" Key="Software\My Company\Sample Application" Name="installed" Type="integer" Value="1" KeyPath="yes" />
</Component>
</Product>

Answer 6

I believe that using a "Current User" (HKCU) registry key as Key Path causes problems on a multi-user machine tool. Because the registry key is only created for the current user and when a different user logs in, then the auto-repair of the installation kicks in.