Binaryworld - Create an Internet shortcut ... [ VB -> Internet Programming ]

Unlike regular LNK shortcut, which contain data in binary file, Internet shortcut files are just text files in this format:

[InternetShortcut]
URL=www.domain.com

Thus it is simple to programmatically create an Internet shortcut that, when double-clicked, will load the default browser and have it point to the specified URL. Here is a reusable routine that does it all:

Click here to copy the following block

' Create an internet shortcut
'
' when double-clicked, this shortcut will
' load the default browser and point it to
' the specified URL page

Sub CreateInternetShortcut(ByVal FileName As String, ByVal URL As String)
  Dim fnum As Integer

  ' an Internet shortcut is just a two-line text file
  fnum = FreeFile
  Open FileName For Output As #fnum
  Print #fnum, "[InternetShortcut]"
  Print #fnum, "URL=" & URL
  Close #fnum

End Sub