IShellLinkW::SetRelativePath method (shobjidl_core.h)

Article
02/22/2024

Sets the relative path to the Shell link object.

Syntax

HRESULT SetRelativePath(
  LPCWSTR pszPathRel,
  DWORD   dwReserved
);

Parameters

pszPathRel

Type: LPCTSTR

The address of a buffer that contains the fully-qualified path of the shortcut file, relative to which the shortcut resolution should be performed. It should be a file name, not a folder name.

dwReserved

Type: DWORD

Reserved. Set this parameter to zero.

Return value

Type: HRESULT

If this method succeeds, it returns S_OK. Otherwise, it returns an HRESULT error code.

Remarks

Clients commonly define a relative link when it may be moved along with its target, causing the absolute path to become invalid. The SetRelativePath method can be used to help the link resolution process find its target based on a common path prefix between the target and the relative path. To assist in the resolution process, clients should set the relative path as part of the link creation process.

Examples

Consider the following scenario:

You have a link: c:\MyLink.lnk.
The link target is c:\MyDocs\MyFile.txt.
You want to move the link and MyDocs\MyFile.txt to d:\.

You can assist the resolution process by creating the original link with a relative path before the shortcut is saved.

::SetRelativePath("c:\MyLink.lnk", NULL);

Before the shortcut is resolved, set a new relative path, and the Resolve code will find the file in its new location.

::SetRelativePath("d:\MyLink.lnk", NULL);

Requirements

Requirement	Value
Minimum supported client	Windows XP [desktop apps only]
Minimum supported server	Windows 2000 Server [desktop apps only]
Target Platform	Windows
Header	shobjidl_core.h
DLL	Shell32.dll (version 4.0 or later)