Question

I am having a problem with creating a url link (shortcut) in a non-system folder. The link is getting created properly on the desktop without any problem, but if I change the path to a non-system folder the folder remains empty and there is no error message either. Is there a restriction on the paths allowed? Why is there no error message? Code is given below:

private void urlShortcutToFolder(string linkName, string linkUrl)
{
    //string deskDir = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.DesktopDirectory);
    //using (StreamWriter writer = new StreamWriter(deskDir + "\\" + linkName + ".url"))
    string nonSystemDir = "C\\Downloads";
    using (StreamWriter writer = new StreamWriter(nonSystemDir + "\\" + linkName + ".url"))
    {
        writer.WriteLine("[InternetShortcut]");
        writer.WriteLine("URL=" + linkUrl);
        writer.Flush();
    }
}

Answer 1

For as far I know this no proper path:

string nonSystemDir = "C\\Downloads";

Shouldn’t it be

string nonSystemDir = "C:\\Downloads";

or more readable

string nonSystemDir = @"C:\Downloads";

You could also add System.IO.Directory.Exists like so

private void urlShortcutToFolder(string linkName, string linkUrl)
{
    //string deskDir = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.DesktopDirectory);
    //using (StreamWriter writer = new StreamWriter(deskDir + "\\" + linkName + ".url"))
    string nonSystemDir = @"C:\Downloads";
    if(!System.IO.Directory.Exists(nonSystemDir))
    {
        throw New Exception("Path " + nonSystemDir + " is not valid");
    }
    using (StreamWriter writer = new StreamWriter(nonSystemDir + "\\" + linkName + ".url"))
    {
        writer.WriteLine("[InternetShortcut]");
        writer.WriteLine("URL=" + linkUrl);
        writer.Flush();
    }
}