Desktop Shortcut Management Scripts

These scripts are designed to add, remove, and check desktop shortcuts on Windows machines for all users. They can read parameters from the command line, a configuration file (config.json), or use default values. If any required parameter is missing and cannot be resolved, the scripts will fail with an appropriate error message.

This repository is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPLv3).

Developed by Tommy Vange Rød.

Configuration

The scripts use a configuration file (config.json) to store default values for the shortcut settings. Here is an example of the configuration file:

Web icon:

{
    "ShortcutName": "MyShortcut",
    "ShortcutUrl": "https://www.example.com",
    "IconUrl": "https://www.example.com/icon.ico",
    "Logging": false,
    "CommonDesktop": false
}

Local icon:

{
    "ShortcutName": "MyShortcut",
    "ShortcutUrl": "https://www.example.com",
    "IconUrl": "./icon.ico",
    "Logging": false,
    "CommonDesktop": false
}

No icon:

{
    "ShortcutName": "MyShortcut",
    "ShortcutUrl": "https://www.example.com",
    "Logging": false,
    "CommonDesktop": false
}

Add Shortcut Script

Description

The add shortcut script creates a desktop shortcut for all users using the specified parameters. If an icon URL is provided, the script will download the icon and apply it to the shortcut. The icon URL can be a web URL or a local path. For local paths, it will be resolved relative to the script directory.

Usage

To run the add shortcut script, use the following command:

.\add_shortcut.ps1 -ShortcutName "<ShortcutName>" -ShortcutUrl "<ShortcutUrl>" [-IconUrl "<IconUrl>"] [-Logging] [-CommonDesktop]

Parameters

• ShortcutName: The name of the shortcut.
• ShortcutUrl: The URL that the shortcut points to.
• [Optional] IconUrl: The URL to the icon file (.ico) to be used for the shortcut (can be a web URL or local path).
• [Optional] Logging: Enables transcript logging if set. Default is false.
• [Optional] CommonDesktop: Creates the shortcut on the common (public) desktop if set. Default is false (user's desktop).

Fallback to Configuration File

If a parameter is not provided via the command line, the script will attempt to read it from the config.json file. If the parameter is still not available, the script will fail and provide an error message.

Example

To specify values directly via the command:

.\add_shortcut.ps1 -ShortcutName "MyShortcut" -ShortcutUrl "https://www.example.com" [-IconUrl "https://www.example.com/icon.ico"] [-Logging] [-CommonDesktop]

To use the default values from the configuration file:

.\add_shortcut.ps1

Script Workflow

• Check if the shortcut name and URL are provided.
• Start transcript logging if enabled.
• Create the shortcut on the specified desktop (user's or common).
• If an icon URL is provided:
  • Download the icon if it's a web URL or resolve it if it's a local path.
  • Copy the icon to a persistent location based on the desktop type: C:\Users\Public\DesktopIcons for common desktops and C:\Users\[Username]\DesktopIcons for user-specific desktops.
  • Apply the icon to the shortcut if available.
• Save the shortcut.

Remove Shortcut Script

Description

The remove shortcut script removes a specified desktop shortcut.

Just comment out the lines and populate the data. The script will then use this data instead of requiring CLI arguments or conmfig.json

Usage

To run the remove shortcut script, use the following command:

.\remove_shortcut.ps1 -ShortcutName "<ShortcutName>" [-Logging] [-CommonDesktop]

Parameters

• ShortcutName: The name of the shortcut to remove.
• [Optional] Logging: Enables transcript logging if set.
• [Optional] CommonDesktop: Removes the shortcut from the common (public) desktop if set. Default is false (user's desktop).

Fallback to Configuration File

If a parameter is not provided via the command line, the script will attempt to read it from the config.json file. If the parameter is still not available, the script will fail and provide an error message.

Example

To specify values directly via the command:

.\remove_shortcut.ps1 -ShortcutName "MyShortcut" [-Logging] [-CommonDesktop]

To use the default values from the configuration file:

.\remove_shortcut.ps1

Script Workflow

1. Check if the shortcut name is provided.
2. Start transcript logging if enabled.
3. Remove the shortcut from the specified desktop (user's or common) if it exists.
4. Remove the associated icon from the persistent location (ProgramData\DesktopIcons) if it exists.

Check Shortcut Script

Description

The check shortcut script verifies if a specified desktop shortcut exists on the specified desktop (user's or common) and outputs "Detected" or "NotDetected". It uses exit codes compatible with Intune: 0 for success (detected) and 1 for failure (not detected).

Usage

To run the check shortcut script, use the following command:

.\check_shortcut.ps1 -ShortcutName "<ShortcutName>" [-Logging] [-CommonDesktop]

Usage without config.json or Command Arguments

If you are running this as a check script in environments such as Intune, it is best to populate the variables directly in the code. Intune does not allow passing CLI arguments or using config.json for check scripts, so the only way is to set the variables within the script itself.

The script includes a section designed for this purpose:

# Manually fill these variables if using ex. Intune (Intune does not support CLI args or config files with check scripts)
# $ManualShortcutName = "MyShortcut"
# $ManualCommonDesktop = $false  # Set to $true for Common Desktop, $false for User Desktop
# $ManualLogging = $false  # Set to $true to enable logging

To use this feature, simply uncomment these lines and populate the variables with your desired values. The script will prioritize these manual settings over CLI arguments and config.json, ensuring that the specified data is used during execution. This approach allows seamless integration with Intune and similar deployment tools.

Parameters

• ShortcutName: The name of the shortcut to check.
• [Optional] Logging: Enables transcript logging if set.
• [Optional] CommonDesktop: Checks for the shortcut on the common (public) desktop if set. Default is false (user's desktop).

Fallback to Configuration File

If a parameter is not provided via the command line, the script will attempt to read it from the config.json file. If the parameter is still not available, the script will fail and provide an error message.

Example

To specify values directly via the command:

.\check_shortcut.ps1 -ShortcutName "MyShortcut" [-Logging] [-CommonDesktop]

To use the default values from the configuration file:

.\check_shortcut.ps1

Script Workflow

1. Check if the shortcut name is provided.
2. Start transcript logging if enabled.
3. Check if the shortcut exists on the specified desktop (user's or common).
4. Output "Detected" if the shortcut exists, otherwise output "NotDetected".

Logging

Description

All the scripts support transcript logging to capture detailed information about the script execution. Logging can be enabled via the -Logging parameter or the configuration file.

How It Works

When logging is enabled, the scripts will start a PowerShell transcript at the beginning of the execution and stop it at the end. This transcript will include all commands executed and their output, providing a detailed log of the script's actions.

Enabling Logging

Logging can be enabled by setting the -Logging parameter when running the script, or by setting the Logging property to true in the config.json file.

Log File Location

The log files are stored in the temporary directory of the user running the script. The log file names follow the pattern:

• For the add shortcut script: desktop_shortcut_add_log_<ShortcutName>.txt
• For the remove shortcut script: desktop_shortcut_remove_log_<ShortcutName>.txt
• For the check shortcut script: desktop_shortcut_check_log_<ShortcutName>.txt

Example log file paths:

• C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local\Temp\desktop_shortcut_add_log_MyShortcut.txt
• C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local\Temp\desktop_shortcut_remove_log_MyShortcut.txt
• C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local\Temp\desktop_shortcut_check_log_MyShortcut.txt

System Account Exception: When scripts are run as the System account, such as during automated deployments or via certain administrative tools, the log files will be stored in the C:\Windows\Temp directory instead of the user's local temporary directory.

Example

To enable logging via the command line:

.\add_shortcut.ps1 -ShortcutName "MyShortcut" -ShortcutUrl "https://www.example.com" -IconUrl "https://www.example.com/icon.ico" -Logging

Or by setting the Logging property in the configuration file:

{
    "ShortcutName": "MyShortcut",
    "ShortcutUrl": "https://www.example.com",
    "IconUrl": "https://www.example.com/icon.ico",
    "Logging": true,
	"CommonDesktop": false
}

Icon Management

Description

The scripts manage desktop shortcut icons by downloading and storing them in a persistent location, ensuring they are available even after system reboots or user profile changes.

How It Works

When an icon URL is provided, the script downloads the icon and saves it to a persistent directory within C:\Users\Public\DesktopIcons for common desktops or C:\Users\[Username]\DesktopIcons for user-specific desktops. This ensures the icon remains available and is not affected by temporary file cleanups.

Persistent Icon Path

Icons are stored in the following directory depending on the desktop type:

• C:\Users\Public\DesktopIcons for common desktops
• C:\Users\[Username]\DesktopIcons for user-specific desktops

Handling Icons

• Adding Icons: When adding a shortcut, if an icon URL is provided, the script downloads the icon and stores it in the appropriate directory. This icon is then assigned to the shortcut.
• Removing Icons: When removing a shortcut, the script also deletes the

Error Handling

All scripts include error handling to provide clear messages when parameters are missing or actions fail. If any required parameter is missing and cannot be resolved, the scripts will fail with an appropriate error message.

Notes

• Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to add, remove, and check shortcuts on the specified desktop (user's or common).

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues, ensure that all parameters are correctly specified. Check the error messages provided by the scripts for further details on what might have gone wrong.

GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPLv3)

The GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPLv3) is a free, copyleft license for software and other creative works. It ensures your freedom to share, modify, and distribute all versions of a program, keeping it free software for everyone.

Full license can be read here or at gnu.org.

Key Points:

1. Freedom to Share and Change:

   • You can distribute copies of GPLv3-licensed software.
   • Access the source code.
   • Modify the software.
   • Create new free programs using parts of it.

2. Responsibilities:

   • If you distribute GPLv3 software, pass on the same freedoms to recipients.
   • Provide the source code.
   • Make recipients aware of their rights.

3. No Warranty:

   • No warranty for this free software.
   • Developers protect your rights through copyright and this license.

4. Marking Modifications:

   • Clearly mark modified versions to avoid attributing problems to previous authors.