The Shortcut Properties Dialog

In this dialog you can edit the properties of a new internal or external shortcut or change the properties of an already existing one. The dialog is the same, with small differences.

General

• Name - the name of the shortcut file. It will be visible to the user, it can only be edited for new shortcuts and it can not be changed for existing ones. This field is of pseudoformatted type. You can localize this value.
• Description - of the target application. It will be visible to the user as a tooltip for the shortcut file. You can localize this value.
• Hot Key - a shortcut key combination that the user can use to start or switch to the target application.
• Advertised shortcut - select this check-box if you want to install the shortcut as advertised

Only shortcuts to a file that is key member in a component can be advertised. Once a key member has an advertised shortcut pointing to it, this file cannot be moved to another component. Also, no other file can be designated as the key member in that component.

If the box is left unchecked the shortcut will not be created if that feature will be installed as advertised. This means that the only way to add this feature is to manually rerun the installation package in "Modify" mode.

Advertised shortcuts can be used to auto-repair a broken installation when the main application starts. This can be done by following these steps:

• add the files and folders of your application to the "Files and Folders" page
• go to the Organization page and make sure that all the components are under the same feature
• create an Advertised shortcut to the main EXE of your application
• build the project and install the application

When you launch the application through the Advertised shortcut, all the components are checked. If at least one of the files is missing, the installation is repaired.

Arguments

Command line arguments of the file opened by this shortcut. This field is of Formatted Type and thus it can include references to files, folders and properties.

Paths

• Shortcut Target - path to the shortcut target file. Relative to one of the Windows Installer Folders. Can only be edited for External File shortcuts, and only at creation time.
• Shortcut Folder - the directory where the shortcut will be placed. You can change it only at creation time using the [ Browse... ] button via the Folder Picker.
• Working Directory - the working directory of the file launched by the shortcut. Change it by using the [ Browse... ] button via the Folder Picker.

Display

• Icon File - the file containing the icon for the shortcut. This file can be an executable, dynamic linked library or icon file. Select it by using the [ Browse... ] button.
• Icon Preview - this drop-down list box allows you to select one icon if more are available in the source file. For no icon at all, press the [ Reset ] button.
• Run Mode - application main-window mode at start.