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VB6 routine to retrieve URL from shortcut

The simple code block below retrieves the target path of a "*.lnk" file: a shortcut pointing to another file or directory to which the user has reference. In the event that the shortcut is a URL, the extension will be *.url, and the code below will not work.
(The verbiage of "CreateShortcut" here is confusing because if the shortcut already exists, as I intend, "CreateShortcut" will report back on the existing shortcut, not, as the name implies, overwrite the existing one.)
I've built the infrastructure to accomodate a little added challenge: I would like the code below to be dual-purpose. It should test whether the extension is ".lnk" or ".url" and, in either case, return the shortcut path. Thanks, ~Peter Ferber

Function RetrieveShortcutPath(strShortcutPath As String) As String
    Dim MyShell As New WshShell
    Dim MyShortcut As WshShortcut
    
    If (instr(ucase(strShortcutPath), ".LNK") > 0) then
        Set MyShortcut = MyShell.CreateShortcut(strShortcutPath)
        RetrieveShortcutPath = MyShortcut.TargetPath
    Else
    End If
End Function

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PeterFrb

ASKER

P.S. If the object in question requires me to make a reference other than "Windows Script Host Object Model", which allows me to instantiate WshShell and WshShortcut, please specify that as well.
~Peter

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

peetm

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PeterFrb

ASKER

Well done, thanks.

PeterFrb

ASKER

You clearly understood the assignment fully and delivered on the answer. I appreciate your comment indicating that the two choices are "WshShortcut and WshURLShortcut" -- the latter of which I was unaware. I've added the code as a function, which I personally find useful, by merely modifying your code into a form I find useful.
Thanks,
~Peter

Function RetrieveShortcutPath(strShortcutPath As String) As String
    Dim fso As New FileSystemObject
    Dim wsh As New WshShell
    
    Dim f As File
        
    ' No polymorphism for WshShortcut and WshURLShortcut - except through a generic 'object'.
    Dim o As Object
    
    ' Get the user's 'Desktop'.
    Set o = Nothing
    ' Is this file *Either* link type?
    RetrieveShortcutPath = ""
    If (Right$(strShortcutPath, 4) = ".lnk" Or Right$(strShortcutPath, 4) = ".url") Then
        Set o = wsh.CreateShortcut(strShortcutPath)
        If (Not o Is Nothing) Then
            RetrieveShortcutPath = o.TargetPath
        End If
    End If
End Function

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peetm

Glad to be of help.

Looks like you can remove the FileSystemObject reference, and the declaration of f As File now?

Oh, and the ' Get the user's 'Desktop' comment.