How do i get the path name from a file shortcut ? Getting exception

Question

Possible Duplicate: Get target of shortcut folder For example, in `C:\TEMP\` I have a shortcut called `test.dll` the shortcut will lead to the file name `test.dll` I want to get from the shortcut only the path name to the file it self. So, I'm calling this function in another recursive function and put in this function each time another directory from my hard disk. For example, the first directory is `C:\TEMP` then in `C:\TEMP` there is the shortcut file which I want to get the path only to the file. In `C:\TEMP` for the test I have now 3 files : hpwins23.dat hpwmdl23.dat hpwmdl23.dat - `Shortcut` (`C:\TEMP\hpwmdl23.dat`) So, what I want to get is the path name of the shortcut in this case its C:\TEMP I tried to use this function: ``` public string GetShortcutTargetFile(string shortcutFilename) { string pathOnly = System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(shortcutFilename); string filenameOnly = System.IO.Path.GetFileName(shortcutFilename); Shell shell = new Shell(); Folder folder = shell.NameS…

Accepted Answer

To get the target of a shortcut (`.lnk` file extension) you'll need first to have the following `COM` object: `Windows Script Host Object Model`

Then, you may use `WshShell` (or `WshShellClass`) and `IWshShortcut` interfaces to get the target of a shortcut

Example

```
            string linkPathName = @"D:\Picrofo Autobot.lnk"; // Change this to the shortcut path

if (System.IO.File.Exists(linkPathName))
            {
             // WshShellClass shell = new WshShellClass();
                WshShell shell = new WshShell(); //Create a new WshShell Interface
                IWshShortcut link = (IWshShortcut)shell.CreateShortcut(linkPathName); //Link the interface to our shortcut

MessageBox.Show(link.TargetPath); //Show the target in a MessageBox using IWshShortcut
            } 
```

Thanks, I hope you find this helpful :)

You may try the following steps to add `Windows Script Host Object Model` to your project

- Under Solution Explorer, Right-click your project name and select Add Reference

- Select the tab COM from the pop-up Window

- Under Component Name, select Windows Script Host Object Model

- Click on OK

How do i get the path name from a file shortcut ? Getting exception

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