I use Installshield software to setup the executable file to install the
software. In that executable file, I setup a batch file to copy a
shortcut to the desktop. The executable file ran successfully. However,
the shortcut was not copied to the desktop. I got the error message "File
not found" for the shortcut command. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.

batch files cant contain spaces in file names, so
copy \program files\thisfile.ext \anydestination
fails
copy "\program files\thisfile.ext" "\anydestination in quotes around spaces"
proceeds

the copy may fail if you specify a desktop foldername, that does not exist
this pc has none of
C:\documents and settings\all users\desktop
C:\documents and settings\all users
C:\documents and settings
C:\documents and settings\user\desktop
C:\documents and settings\user

but %Homedrive%%Homepath%\desktop
works as does
%Homedrive%%allusersprofile%\desktop
windowsXP is on a virtual drive P: running as a toy in the background

batch files are unfriendly and expect you to code for all possibilities,

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"Diane Walker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:OLwC$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I use Installshield software to setup the executable file to install the
>software. In that executable file, I setup a batch file to copy a
>shortcut to the desktop. The executable file ran successfully. However,
>the shortcut was not copied to the desktop. I got the error message "File
>not found" for the shortcut command. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.
>

Your reply is basically correct but a little confusing - see below.

"AlmostBob" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> batch files cant contain spaces in file names, so
*** Yes, they can.

> copy \program files\thisfile.ext \anydestination fails
> copy "\program files\thisfile.ext" "\anydestination in quotes around
> spaces"
> proceeds
*** This is because folder/file names that have embedded spaces
*** must be surrounded by double quotes. This is a requirement
*** of console commands and has nothing to do with batch files.

> the copy may fail if you specify a desktop foldername, that does not exist
> this pc has none of
> C:\documents and settings\all users\desktop
> C:\documents and settings\all users
> C:\documents and settings
> C:\documents and settings\user\desktop
> C:\documents and settings\user
*** All of the above must be surrounded by double quotes.

> but %Homedrive%%Homepath%\desktop
> works as does
> %Homedrive%%allusersprofile%\desktop
*** No, they do not, because %HomePath% and %AllUsersProfile%
*** have embedded spaces. They must be surrounded by double quotes.

> windowsXP is on a virtual drive P: running as a toy in the background
*** Meaning?

> batch files are unfriendly and expect you to code for all possibilities,
*** Batch files, same as console commands, require precise coding.
*** They have no safety net, as opposed to GUIs.

> "Diane Walker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:OLwC$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>I use Installshield software to setup the executable file to install the
>>software. In that executable file, I setup a batch file to copy a
>>shortcut to the desktop. The executable file ran successfully. However,
>>the shortcut was not copied to the desktop. I got the error message "File
>>not found" for the shortcut command. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.
>>
>
>

"Diane Walker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:OLwC$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I use Installshield software to setup the executable file to install the
>software. In that executable file, I setup a batch file to copy a
>shortcut to the desktop. The executable file ran successfully. However,
>the shortcut was not copied to the desktop. I got the error message "File
>not found" for the shortcut command. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.

Let's have a look at your batch file!

Thank you very much all for your prompt response.

The batch file is
copy XXX.lnk "%allusersprofile\desktop"

The error message said "file not found". I interpret that the batch file
cannot find "XXX.lnk" file even though the shortcut "XXX.lnk" does exist.
Please let me know if you need additional information. Thanks.

"Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%23%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Diane Walker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:OLwC$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>I use Installshield software to setup the executable file to install the
>>software. In that executable file, I setup a batch file to copy a
>>shortcut to the desktop. The executable file ran successfully. However,
>>the shortcut was not copied to the desktop. I got the error message "File
>>not found" for the shortcut command. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.
>
> Let's have a look at your batch file!
>

Diane Walker wrote:
> Thank you very much all for your prompt response.
>
> The batch file is
> copy XXX.lnk "%allusersprofile\desktop"
>
Add the full path to XXX.lnk,
e.g. copy "C:\My Install Directory\XXX.lnk"

Bill

Instead of writing

copy XXX.lnk "%allusersprofile\desktop", try this:
copy /y XXX.lnk "%allusersprofile%\desktop"

You'll notice the missing "%". The "/y" switch will ensure
that there will be no prompt in case the file already exists.

Furthermore, to make your batch file robust, add the full path
to your source file, e.g. like so:

xcopy /y /d "U:\Some Folder\XXX.lnk" "%allusersprofile%\desktop"

Using xcopy.exe with the /d switch will prevent mindless
copying of the same file each time the use command is
invoked.



"Diane Walker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thank you very much all for your prompt response.
>
> The batch file is
> copy XXX.lnk "%allusersprofile\desktop"
>
> The error message said "file not found". I interpret that the batch file
> cannot find "XXX.lnk" file even though the shortcut "XXX.lnk" does exist.
> Please let me know if you need additional information. Thanks.
>
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%23%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> "Diane Walker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:OLwC$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>I use Installshield software to setup the executable file to install the
>>>software. In that executable file, I setup a batch file to copy a
>>>shortcut to the desktop. The executable file ran successfully. However,
>>>the shortcut was not copied to the desktop. I got the error message
>>>"File not found" for the shortcut command. Do you have any suggestions?
>>>Thanks.
>>
>> Let's have a look at your batch file!
>>
>
>

Thank you very much for your prompt response and suggestions. I still got
the same error message.

"Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Instead of writing
>
> copy XXX.lnk "%allusersprofile\desktop", try this:
> copy /y XXX.lnk "%allusersprofile%\desktop"
>
> You'll notice the missing "%". The "/y" switch will ensure
> that there will be no prompt in case the file already exists.
>
> Furthermore, to make your batch file robust, add the full path
> to your source file, e.g. like so:
>
> xcopy /y /d "U:\Some Folder\XXX.lnk" "%allusersprofile%\desktop"
>
> Using xcopy.exe with the /d switch will prevent mindless
> copying of the same file each time the use command is
> invoked.
>
>
>
> "Diane Walker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Thank you very much all for your prompt response.
>>
>> The batch file is
>> copy XXX.lnk "%allusersprofile\desktop"
>>
>> The error message said "file not found". I interpret that the batch file
>> cannot find "XXX.lnk" file even though the shortcut "XXX.lnk" does exist.
>> Please let me know if you need additional information. Thanks.
>>
>> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:%23%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>
>>> "Diane Walker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:OLwC$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>I use Installshield software to setup the executable file to install the
>>>>software. In that executable file, I setup a batch file to copy a
>>>>shortcut to the desktop. The executable file ran successfully.
>>>>However, the shortcut was not copied to the desktop. I got the error
>>>>message "File not found" for the shortcut command. Do you have any
>>>>suggestions? Thanks.
>>>
>>> Let's have a look at your batch file!
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

The date and time was 7/21/2008 5:00 PM, and on a whim, Diane Walker
pounded out on the keyboard:

> Thank you very much for your prompt response and suggestions. I still got
> the same error message.
>
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Instead of writing
>>
>> copy XXX.lnk "%allusersprofile\desktop", try this:
>> copy /y XXX.lnk "%allusersprofile%\desktop"
>>
>> You'll notice the missing "%". The "/y" switch will ensure
>> that there will be no prompt in case the file already exists.
>>
>> Furthermore, to make your batch file robust, add the full path
>> to your source file, e.g. like so:
>>
>> xcopy /y /d "U:\Some Folder\XXX.lnk" "%allusersprofile%\desktop"
>>
>> Using xcopy.exe with the /d switch will prevent mindless
>> copying of the same file each time the use command is
>> invoked.
>>
>>
>>
>> "Diane Walker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Thank you very much all for your prompt response.
>>>
>>> The batch file is
>>> copy XXX.lnk "%allusersprofile\desktop"
>>>
>>> The error message said "file not found". I interpret that the batch file
>>> cannot find "XXX.lnk" file even though the shortcut "XXX.lnk" does exist.
>>> Please let me know if you need additional information. Thanks.
>>>
>>> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:%23%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> "Diane Walker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>> news:OLwC$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>> I use Installshield software to setup the executable file to install the
>>>>> software. In that executable file, I setup a batch file to copy a
>>>>> shortcut to the desktop. The executable file ran successfully.
>>>>> However, the shortcut was not copied to the desktop. I got the error
>>>>> message "File not found" for the shortcut command. Do you have any
>>>>> suggestions? Thanks.
>>>> Let's have a look at your batch file!
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
>

Hi Diane,

Combining the suggestions of Bill and Pegasus should resolve your issue.
You need to include the full path of XXX.lnk as I doubt the batch file
is in the same folder as the LNK file.

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
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Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

The date and time was 7/21/2008 11:40 AM, and on a whim, Pegasus (MVP)
pounded out on the keyboard:

> Instead of writing
>
> copy XXX.lnk "%allusersprofile\desktop", try this:
> copy /y XXX.lnk "%allusersprofile%\desktop"
>
> You'll notice the missing "%". The "/y" switch will ensure
> that there will be no prompt in case the file already exists.
>
> Furthermore, to make your batch file robust, add the full path
> to your source file, e.g. like so:
>
> xcopy /y /d "U:\Some Folder\XXX.lnk" "%allusersprofile%\desktop"
>
> Using xcopy.exe with the /d switch will prevent mindless
> copying of the same file each time the use command is
> invoked.
>
>
>
> "Diane Walker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Thank you very much all for your prompt response.
>>
>> The batch file is
>> copy XXX.lnk "%allusersprofile\desktop"
>>
>> The error message said "file not found". I interpret that the batch file
>> cannot find "XXX.lnk" file even though the shortcut "XXX.lnk" does exist.
>> Please let me know if you need additional information. Thanks.
>>
>> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:%23%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> "Diane Walker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:OLwC$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> I use Installshield software to setup the executable file to install the
>>>> software. In that executable file, I setup a batch file to copy a
>>>> shortcut to the desktop. The executable file ran successfully. However,
>>>> the shortcut was not copied to the desktop. I got the error message
>>>> "File not found" for the shortcut command. Do you have any suggestions?
>>>> Thanks.
>>> Let's have a look at your batch file!
>>>
>>
>
>

Sorry Pegasus, I didn't see that you also suggested adding the path to
the source when I replied to Diane.

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.