I am using cx-freeze to create an MSI installer for a Python application. How can I install a link to the application from the desktop?
To create a shortcut to the application, give the shortcut_name and shortcut_dir options to the Executable. The shortcut_dir can name any of the System Folder Properties (thanks Aaron). For example:
from cx_Freeze import *
setup(
executables = [
Executable(
"MyApp.py",
shortcut_name="DTI Playlist",
shortcut_dir="DesktopFolder",
)
]
)
You can also add items to the MSI Shortcut table. This lets you create multiple shortcuts and set the working directory (the "start in" setting of the shortcut).
from cx_Freeze import *
# http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa371847(v=vs.85).aspx
shortcut_table = [
("DesktopShortcut", # Shortcut
"DesktopFolder", # Directory_
"DTI Playlist", # Name that will be show on the link
"TARGETDIR", # Component_
"[TARGETDIR]playlist.exe",# Target exe to exexute
None, # Arguments
None, # Description
None, # Hotkey
None, # Icon
None, # IconIndex
None, # ShowCmd
'TARGETDIR' # WkDir
)
]
# Now create the table dictionary
msi_data = {"Shortcut": shortcut_table}
# Change some default MSI options and specify the use of the above defined tables
bdist_msi_options = {'data': msi_data}
setup(
options = {
"bdist_msi": bdist_msi_options,
},
executables = [
Executable(
"MyApp.py",
)
]
)