Run an application via shortcut using Process.Start()

Question

Is there a way to run an application via shortcut from a C# application?

I am attempting to run a .lnk from my C# application. The shortcut contains a significant number of arguments that I would prefer the application not have to remember.

Attempting to run a shortcut via Process.Start() causes an exception.

Win32Exception: The specified executable is not a valid Win32 application

This is the code I am using.

ProcessStartInfo info = new ProcessStartInfo ( "example.lnk" );
info.CreateNoWindow = true;
info.UseShellExecute = false;
info.RedirectStandardError = true;
info.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
info.RedirectStandardInput = true;
Process whatever = Process.Start( info );

The shortcut requires arguments or is it the target of the shortcut that requires arguments? — Jodrell, May 26 '11 at 16:27
@Jodrell updated with requested info. The target of the shortcut requires arguments. — user664939, May 26 '11 at 16:38
@Charles the shortcut does work. It points to a bat file - I can run the bat file and the shortcut via point-and-click. — user664939, May 26 '11 at 17:19

score 18 · Answer 1 · answered May 26 '11 at 16:27

18

Could you post some code. Something like this should work:

Process proc = new Process();
proc.StartInfo.FileName = @"c:\myShortcut.lnk";
proc.Start();

answered May 26 '11 at 16:27

keyboardP

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score 13 · Accepted Answer · answered May 26 '11 at 17:26

13

Setting UseShellExecute = false was the problem. Once I removed that, it stopped crashing.

answered May 26 '11 at 17:26

user664939

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1

This is even more important now because .NET core has changed the default of this property to false. I was running into this when I wasn't setting this property at all. – Cdaragorn Sep 10 '19 at 16:53

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 20 '17 at 04:39

1

If you're using UseShellExecute = false and trying to launch a batch file make sure to add .bat to the end of the filename. You don't need .bat if UseShellExecute = true though. This made me just waste an hour of work... hoping to save someone else.

answered Jun 20 '17 at 04:39

HippyPotamus

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Welcome to StackOverflow and thanks for helping. Taking the [tour] will get you your first badge. Have fun. – Yunnosch Jun 20 '17 at 04:52
I don't understand. Why would you leave off the file extension? – Rufus L Jan 11 '19 at 16:17

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 29 '14 at 07:27

0

if your file is EXE or another file type like ".exe" or ".mkv" or ".pdf" and you want run that with shortcut link your code must like this.

i want run "Translator.exe" program.

Process.Start(@"C:\Users\alireza\Desktop\Translator.exe.lnk");

answered Apr 29 '14 at 07:27

Alireza

31
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Run an application via shortcut using Process.Start()

4 Answers4

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