Automatically add .LNK extension to shortcuts in mobile CAB

[cbono]

I've just been experimenting with converting our old .INF CAB builder script to a Windows Mobile CAB project. So far it's easy and intuitive like its big-brother counterpart; I like it.

One thing that threw me off was the requirement to manually add the .LNK extension to shortcuts created on the "Files and Folders" page. I did eventually find something about it in the documentation, but I had to go digging for it -- and that was only to see if it was there after I had solved the problem for myself. It seems like, if Advanced Installer knows it's a shortcut, go ahead and append the .LNK extension for me. I don't have a choice -- either the extension is there and the shortcut works, or it's not and the shortcut is broken.

This is also the sort of thing that might stump a new user making their first CAB installer -- especially since Windows Mobile hides file extensions, making it all the harder to detect a problem.

[GabrielBarbu]

Hello,

I have tested this in the latest Advanced Installer(7.1.3). The ".lnk" extension is always appended when creating a shortcut.
Please give me more details about the problem you are encountering.

Regards,
Gabriel

[cbono]

Hi Gabriel,

I looked closer at the behavior, and I see that you are right -- AI does initially append .LNK to a shortcut when you create it.

Where I ran into problems was I quickly created a shortcut with the default name (i.e. "Shortcut to file.exe.lnk"). The length of that string exceeded the column width on the Files and Folder page:


When I renamed it I didn't notice it had a LNK extension, and didn't know I needed to preserve it.

So I'd revise my suggestion to drop the whole requirement for .LNK extensions, and manage it behind the scenes -- like AI does for a standard Windows installer project. You can name a shortcut anything you want, and it takes care of the extension at install time.

-Chris

[Cosmin]

Hi Chris,

I added this improvement on our TODO list and it will be included in a future version. Thank you for your suggestion.

Regards,
Cosmin