QuickLaunch Refresh - How to

[Guest Bob]

Hi,

 

I've my domain users %AppData% redirected to a server share and part of that

is the QuickLaunch area (next to the "Start" button). Because I have a

mixed environment (Vista/XP & Office 2003/2007), the shortcuts in the

QuickLaunch need to be reassembled depending upon the workstation the user

logs onto.

 

I've written a script that will perform this task for me, but on occasion

the QuickLaunch will not refresh so as to display the correct icons (even

though my script has the proper shortcuts in place).

 

The only solution I have for this is to have the user disable "Show Quick

Launch" and then re-enable it. (Or log on/off).

 

The Desktop on the other hand can be refreshed easily via the context

(right-click) menu.

 

Is there a way a better way to refresh the QuickLaunch area in Windows

(XP/2003 and Vista)?

 

--

Thanks,

Bob

[Guest Holz]

Re: QuickLaunch Refresh - How to

 

On Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:15:54 -0500, Bob wrote:

> Is there a way a better way to refresh the QuickLaunch area in Windows

> (XP/2003 and Vista)?

 

BA is the only way I know... it refresh the folder of which the quick

launch icons exist.

 

 

 

--

:-)

[Guest David Shen [MSFT]]

RE: QuickLaunch Refresh - How to

 

Hello Bob,

 

Thank you for your post.

 

My understanding is that you use a script to redirect %AppData% and

QuickLaunch folders for different client computers. You want to know how to

refresh the QuickLaunch changes in the script. Am I correct?

 

If so, I am sorry to say that we are not the best support resource for this

kind of script coding issue. Please note that the partner newsgroups are

provided for specific break/fix issues. For assistance with this

coding/development issue, please consider these resources:

 

1. MSDN Forums:

 

http://forums.microsoft.com/msdn/default.aspx?siteid=1

 

2. Scripting newsgroups:

 

microsoft.public.windows.server.scripting

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/newsgroups/dgbrowser/en-us/defaul

t.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.scripting.vbscript

 

I hope this information is helpful in getting started and we invite you to

post again with any specific break/fix issues.

 

Thanks & Regards,

 

David Shen

Microsoft Online Partner Support

Microsoft Global Technology Support Center

[Guest Bob]

Re: QuickLaunch Refresh - How to

 

Hi David,

 

No, I don't need help with a script. That works just fine. I redirect my

%AppData% to the redirect folders on the server using group policy. So

there is no problem there.

 

Both XP and Vista have the ability to refresh the display (such as refresh

the Desktop or refresh Windows Explorer). Those two refresh functions work

fine.

 

The problem is with the workstations (XP, but more so Vista). I can't find

anyway to refresh the QuickLaunch

(which has its shortcuts located at: "%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet

Explorer\Quick Launch").

 

Windows has a problem with shortcuts located at the folder mentioned above.

Once the user is logged on, any changes made to the QuickLaunch folder

listed above, are not always reflected in the display in the toolbar. A

solution to this problem is to force Windows to refresh the QuickLaunch

display, but such a function does not seem to exist (as it does exist for

the Desktop for instance).

 

 

--

Thanks,

Bob

[Guest Bob]

Re: QuickLaunch Refresh - How to

 

Okay, after some thought, I modified my QuickLaunchFix script to accomplish

what I want.

 

I'll attach the script to this post incase anyone else might like to use it.

(note you'll need a newsreader like Outlook Express as Microsoft's web-based

newsgroups don't display attachments).

 

The script will do the following:

 

1) Determine platform (XP/2003 or Vista/2008)

2) Arrange proper Windows QuickLaunch shortcuts. e.g. "Show Desktop.scf"

for XP or "Shows Desktop.lnk" for Vista

3) Copy over proper Office shortcuts (2003 or 2007)

4) Refresh QuickLauch and arrange shortcuts in a consistent order.

 

This script is used is a domain environment where %AppData% (and therefore

the QuickLauch folder) is redirected to a server share.

 

It resolves the problem where users move from one workstation to another and

the Windows and Office versions vary and therefore the QuickLaunch shortcuts

won't work on all workstations.

 

The script depends upon having both the XP and Vista "Windows Explorer"

shortcuts residing in the QuickLaunch folder. Because these two shortcuts

use the same file name, one should be renamed "Windows Explorer.vista" and

the other Windows Explorer.xp". Both need to have their "hidden" attribute

set. For future profile creation, you can place both of these shortcuts in

the appropriate default domain profile folders.

 

Problem solved (for me). Thanks for the help just the same!

 

--

Thanks,

Bob

[Guest David Shen [MSFT]]

RE: QuickLaunch Refresh - How to

 

Hi Bob,

 

Thank you for keeping us informed that the problem has been resolved. I'd

appreciate your knowledge sharing with us for this script you wrote.

 

If you have any other problem, please feel free to post here.

 

Thanks for using newsgroup.

 

David Shen

Microsoft Online Partner Support

Microsoft Global Technology Support Center