Share this page 

Create an Internet Shortcut (Windows)Tag(s): Environment


import java.io.*;

public class WindowsUtils {

  private WindowsUtils() {  }
  
  // see note
  private static final String WINDOWS_DESKTOP = "Desktop";
  
  /**
   * the current user desktop path
   * @return the current user desktop path
   */
  public static String getWindowsCurrentUserDesktopPath() {
    return System.getenv("userprofile") + "/" + WINDOWS_DESKTOP ;
  }
    
  /**
   * Create an Internet shortcut on User's Desktop no icon specified
   * @param name    name of the shortcut
   * @param target  URL  
   * @throws IOException
   */
  public static void createInternetShortcutOnDesktop(String name, String target) 
    throws IOException 
  {
     String path = getWindowsCurrentUserDesktopPath() + "/"+ name + ".URL";
     createInternetShortcut(name, path, target, "");
  }

  /**
   * Create an Internet shortcut on User's Desktop, icon specified
   * @param name    name of the shortcut 
   * @param target  URL
   * @param icon    URL (ex. http://www.server.com/favicon.ico)
   * @throws IOException
   */
  public static void createInternetShortcutOnDesktop
      (String name, String target, String icon) 
    throws IOException
  {
    String path = getWindowsCurrentUserDesktopPath() + "/"+ name + ".URL";
    createInternetShortcut(name, path, target, icon);
  }

  /**
   * Create an Internet shortcut
   * @param name     name of the shortcut
   * @param where    location of the shortcut
   * @param target   URL 
   * @param icon     URL (ex. http://www.server.com/favicon.ico)
   * @throws IOException
   */
  public static void createInternetShortcut
      (String name, String where, String target, String icon) 
    throws IOException
  {
    FileWriter fw = new FileWriter(where);
    fw.write("[InternetShortcut]\n");
    fw.write("URL=" + target + "\n");
    if (!icon.equals(""))  {
      fw.write("IconFile=" + icon + "\n");  
    }
    fw.flush();
    fw.close();
  }
  
  /**
   * @param args
   */
  public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
    WindowsUtils.createInternetShortcutOnDesktop
       ("GOOGLE", "http://www.google.com");
  }
}
NOTE:
Prior Vista, the desktop path for a localized Windows can be different. With an english version, it's Desktop while for a french version, it's called Bureau.

The only way to get the right name is to ask the Registry, see this HowTo.