# WinXP programming question
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-programming-question/517932
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 17, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-programming-question/517932 "2009-11-17T17:36:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-programming-question/517932/1 "2009-11-17T17:36:43Z")
I did RTFM, and could not find anything to do what I want.
Is there a set of WIN32 programming functions that would create a file shortcut?
I’m working on a configuration utility to run at boot time, and I need to put some non-existant shortcuts into the system startup folder. THis is supposed to work automagically, so manual creation (the only way I know to do it right now) is not an option. I looked through the file functions and saw nothing; looking for explicit shortcut routines turned nothing up, either.
Once the shortcuts exist, I have a good grasp on how to use the file functions to get them where they need to be.
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### Author:  [@Gus\_Gusterson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gus_Gusterson)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-programming-question/517932/2 "2009-11-17T18:01:09Z")
Look for CreateLink in the Shell API.
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### Author:  [@Gus\_Gusterson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gus_Gusterson)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-programming-question/517932/3 "2009-11-17T18:06:57Z")
It just occurred to me that CreateLink isn’t actually a function in the API. I’m just so used to calling it that I started thinking of it as being part of the API.
Here’s an example from CodeGuru that should get you started: [http://www.codeguru.com/cpp/w-p/files/shellapifunctions/article.php/c7209/](http://www.codeguru.com/cpp/w-p/files/shellapifunctions/article.php/c7209/)
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### Author:  [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)
#### Post date: [November 17, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-programming-question/517932/4 "2009-11-17T18:36:16Z")
**Gus** has the correct answer. But you might find the example [here](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb776891(VS.85).aspx) easier to use since it is not tied to the dialog.
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### Author:  [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-programming-question/517932/5 "2009-11-18T18:32:01Z")
> [@CaveMike](#):
>
> **Gus** has the correct answer. But you might find the example [here](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb776891(VS.85).aspx) easier to use since it is not tied to the dialog.
**Cave** , I actually used code from your example over **Gus** ’, because your’s wasn’t tied to a dialog box (simplicity). It took a little twiddling but I got it to create a shortcut to Sol.Exe, and placed it in the startup directory like I wanted. Now I have to edit my program to change all the innocuous and experimental manipulations to the ones I really need to make happen.
I’m satisfied it works, and a big thank you to both of you for helping me out.