C / C++ / MFC

HRESULT CreateShortcut(LPCSTR pszShortcutFile, LPSTR pszLink, 
  LPSTR pszDesc)
{
    HRESULT hres;
    IShellLink* psl;

    // Get a pointer to the IShellLink interface.
    hres = CoCreateInstance(CLSID_ShellLink, NULL, CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER,
                            IID_IShellLink, &psl);
    if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
    {
       IPersistFile* ppf;

       // Query IShellLink for the IPersistFile interface for 
       // saving the shell link in persistent storage.
       hres = psl->QueryInterface(IID_IPersistFile, &ppf);
       if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
       {   
         WORD wsz[MAX_PATH];

         // Set the path to the shell link target.
         hres = psl->SetPath(pszShortcutFile);

         if (!SUCCEEDED(hres))
           AfxMessageBox("SetPath failed!");

         // Set the description of the shell link.
         hres = psl->SetDescription(pszDesc);

         if (!SUCCEEDED(hres))
           AfxMessageBox("SetDescription failed!");

         // Ensure string is ANSI.
         MultiByteToWideChar(CP_ACP, 0, pszLink, -1, wsz, MAX_PATH);

         // Save the link via the IPersistFile::Save method.
         hres = ppf->Save(wsz, TRUE);
    
         // Release pointer to IPersistFile.
         ppf->Release();
       }
       // Release pointer to IShellLink.
       psl->Release();
    }
    return hres;
}