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How to Add a Shortcut to the `Startup Folder` with Parameters in Adobe AIR

When developing applications with Adobe AIR, developers often aim to enhance user experience by allowing their applications to launch automatically when Windows starts. One common challenge is creating a shortcut to the application in the Startup folder, particularly when you want to pass parameters to the application upon startup. In this post, we will explore the approach to achieve this with minimal complication.

Understanding the Challenge

You may be trying to add a link to your application in the Startup folder with specific parameters passed to it. At first glance, this may seem straightforward, but the Adobe AIR framework presents some restrictions during the installation process. Your goal is to automate this link creation, ensuring the application can start up with the necessary parameters without requiring user intervention.

Solution Overview

Although Adobe AIR does not provide direct installation settings for adding shortcuts with parameters, there are workarounds that you can implement. Let’s break it down into manageable sections.

First and foremost, ensure that your application is set to start automatically when the user logs into their Windows account. You can achieve this by using the following line of code in your application:

NativeApplication.nativeApplication.startAtLogin = true;

This setup allows the application to run on startup, but passing parameters requires additional steps.

Step 2: Create a Shortcut Locally

Create Shortcut: You can manually create a shortcut file (startup.lnk) that points to your application with the required parameters.
Example Path: Use the following code to resolve the path where you want the shortcut to be created:
```
File.userDirectory.resolvePath("Start Menu\\Programs\\Startup\\startup.lnk");
```

Step 3: Handle Parameter Passing

To pass parameters to your application upon startup, you can implement the following approach:

Settings File: Instead of embedding parameters directly in the shortcut, consider storing them in a settings file located in either the application or user directory. By doing this, you can customize how the application behaves upon startup without modifying the shortcut itself.

Step 4: Copy Shortcut on First Run

You may want your application to copy this shortcut to the Startup folder on its first run. Here’s a simplified process:

Check First Run: Implement a check in your application to identify if this is the first run.
Copying the Shortcut: If it’s the first run, copy the previously created shortcut file to the Startup folder.

Conclusion

While Adobe AIR limits certain aspects of the installation process, you can still accomplish adding a shortcut to the Startup folder with parameters. By utilizing the startAtLogin property, creating a shortcut, and leveraging a settings file for parameters, you can ensure that your application is user-friendly and starts with the necessary configurations.

Final Thoughts

Always remember to test your implementation thoroughly across different Windows setups to ensure the startup behavior works as intended. With these steps, you’ll be more equipped to enhance your Adobe AIR applications and provide a seamless experience for your users.

How to Add a Shortcut to the Startup Folder with Parameters in Adobe AIR