win_shortcut – Manage shortcuts on Windows

New in version 2.3.

Synopsis

  • Create, manage and delete Windows shortcuts

Parameters

Parameter Choices/Defaults Comments
args
-
Additional arguments for the executable defined in src.
description
-
Description for the shortcut.
This is usually shown when hoovering the icon.
dest
path / required
Destination file for the shortcuting file.
File name should have a .lnk or .url extension.
directory
path
Working directory for executable defined in src.
hotkey
-
Key combination for the shortcut.
This is a combination of one or more modifiers and a key.
Possible modifiers are Alt, Ctrl, Shift, Ext.
Possible keys are [A-Z] and [0-9].
icon
path
Icon used for the shortcut.
File name should have a .ico extension.
The file name is followed by a comma and the number in the library file (.dll) or use 0 for an image file.
src
-
Executable or URL the shortcut points to.
The executable needs to be in your PATH, or has to be an absolute path to the executable.
state
-
    Choices:
  • absent
  • present ←
When absent, removes the shortcut if it exists.
When present, creates or updates the shortcut.
windowstyle
-
    Choices:
  • maximized
  • minimized
  • normal
Influences how the application is displayed when it is launched.

Notes

Note

  • The following options can include Windows environment variables: dest, args, description, dest, directory, icon src
  • Windows has two types of shortcuts: Application and URL shortcuts. URL shortcuts only consists of dest and src

Examples

- name: Create an application shortcut on the desktop
  win_shortcut:
    src: C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\Firefox.exe
    dest: C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Mozilla Firefox.lnk
    icon: C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\Firefox.exe,0

- name: Create the same shortcut using environment variables
  win_shortcut:
    description: The Mozilla Firefox web browser
    src: '%ProgramFiles%\Mozilla Firefox\Firefox.exe'
    dest: '%Public%\Desktop\Mozilla Firefox.lnk'
    icon: '%ProgramFiles\Mozilla Firefox\Firefox.exe,0'
    directory: '%ProgramFiles%\Mozilla Firefox'
    hotkey: Ctrl+Alt+F

- name: Create an application shortcut for an executable in PATH to your desktop
  win_shortcut:
    src: cmd.exe
    dest: Desktop\Command prompt.lnk

- name: Create an application shortcut for the Ansible website
  win_shortcut:
    src: '%ProgramFiles%\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe'
    dest: '%UserProfile%\Desktop\Ansible website.lnk'
    args: --new-window https://ansible.com/
    directory: '%ProgramFiles%\Google\Chrome\Application'
    icon: '%ProgramFiles%\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe,0'
    hotkey: Ctrl+Alt+A

- name: Create a URL shortcut for the Ansible website
  win_shortcut:
    src: https://ansible.com/
    dest: '%Public%\Desktop\Ansible website.url'

Status

Authors

  • Dag Wieers (@dagwieers)

Hint

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