SBS2003 push shortcuts to users

Dai · 28-06-2008, 17:12

Our users all need common desktop shortcuts to company shared files and folders on the server. How best can I set up the server to push these out automatically (if not exist)?
I'm thinking some sort of logon script perhaps. Is that the best way do accomplish this?

Jon T · 28-06-2008, 18:05

A windows shortcut is just a .lnk file. So, create the shortut on the server, make sure it's in a shared folder, or make the shortcut on a workstation and then copy it back to the shared folder on the server.

If you have problems finding the name of the shortcut, drop to dos, and do a dir on the directory with the shortcut in it, and then look for the file with a .lnk extension.

Let's say the shortcut you've got is called shortcut.lnk, it's in the NETLOGON folder, and your server is called server, you'd put this in your logon script:

Code:

IF NOT EXIST "c:\documents and settings\all users\desktop\shortcut.lnk" COPY \\Server\Netlogon\shortcut.lnk "c:\documents and settings\all users\desktop\shortcut.lnk"

Dai · 28-06-2008, 19:51

Thanks Jon. I think I understand all of that.

greencreeper · 28-06-2008, 20:22

Jon's solution is the one I would go with, but I wouldn't put the files in the netlogon share - would put them in a separate share, possibly hidden ($) and read-only. There are other things, such as mandatory profiles, but such things have more potential to come back and haunt you. Logon script is neater.

Dai · 29-06-2008, 06:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by greencreeper

Jon's solution is the one I would go with, but I wouldn't put the files in the netlogon share - would put them in a separate share, possibly hidden ($) and read-only. There are other things, such as mandatory profiles, but such things have more potential to come back and haunt you. Logon script is neater.

Cheers. The 'other things' sound interesting but at the moment I'm struggling up a rather steep learning curve. I'll keep it as simple as I can initially to get the client up and running, then play with more complex options later as my understanding catches up.

MovedGoalPosts · 29-06-2008, 20:36

smallbizserver.net An excellent resource site for all things SBS.

Dai · 30-06-2008, 11:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

smallbizserver.net An excellent resource site for all things SBS.

Indeed it is. Bookmarked for much future attention.

Thankee kindly.

Steve-o||[^] · 04-07-2008, 23:04

/votes CreateShortcut() via logon script

Code:

//-- straight copy-paste from my script repo..
<job>
<script language="JScript">

// roll the dice!
var ws		= WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell");
var desktop	= ws.SpecialFolders("Desktop");

// shortcut details
var server	= "blue";
var share	= "public\\netinst";	//- escape backslashes -- \ = \\
var label	= "Public Network Installations";

// create the shortcut!
var scut			= ws.CreateShortcut(desktop + "\\"+ label +".lnk");
scut.TargetPath		= "\\\\"+ server +"\\"+ share;
scut.IconLocation	= "%SYSTEMROOT%\\system32\\shell32.dll,85";	//- Network share icon
scut.Save()

</script>
</job>

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...ys(VS.85).aspx

Jon T · 05-07-2008, 10:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve-o||[^]

/votes CreateShortcut() via logon script

Code:

//-- straight copy-paste from my script repo..
<job>
<script language="JScript">

// roll the dice!
var ws		= WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell");
var desktop	= ws.SpecialFolders("Desktop");

// shortcut details
var server	= "blue";
var share	= "public\\netinst";	//- escape backslashes -- \ = \\
var label	= "Public Network Installations";

// create the shortcut!
var scut			= ws.CreateShortcut(desktop + "\\"+ label +".lnk");
scut.TargetPath		= "\\\\"+ server +"\\"+ share;
scut.IconLocation	= "%SYSTEMROOT%\\system32\\shell32.dll,85";	//- Network share icon
scut.Save()

</script>
</job>

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...ys(VS.85).aspx

Yes, there are many ways of achieving this, another way would be to package the shortcut into an .msi and deploy through group policy, but at the end of the day, why bother when you can do it all with one line in a logon script.

Steve-o||[^] · 11-07-2008, 13:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon T

Yes, there are many ways of achieving this, another way would be to package the shortcut into an .msi and deploy through group policy, but at the end of the day, why bother when you can do it all with one line in a logon script.

True, but the 'copy .lnk from network share to local system' needs you to setup the shortcut - and if you have *a lot* of them, could get messy. Whereas with the 100%-script option, you could write up a common function, include it, and pass in the specific details - giving you only one extra file rather than one extra for every shortcut.

Also, you might not want to have a shortcut on every user's desktop (of course, you've locked the share down anyways), but why clutter their desktop unnecessarily?

Personal preference really, like all, or at least many, IT problems there's no single way to do something

Jon T · 11-07-2008, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve-o||[^]

Personal preference really, like all, or at least many, IT problems there's no single way to do something

Absolutely,

Speaking from my direct experience, I work at a local authority with 700 pcs. We package up shortcuts into .msi's and deploy via group policy by either PC group membership or OU GPO links. Much more manageable, plus if a PC moves department(or is moved to another OU in AD) the OU related shortcut is removed.