CODEWITHSUNDEEP
vb.netwinformspathenvironment-variables
Hadvab
Hadvab

Reputation: 9

How can I replace %userprofile% with current user?

I am not very skilled in VB. I would like to keep this simple code. I want to use this code for another computer or user. How can I replace my usermane "John" in the code?

I tried replace it with %userprofile% and similar words but it´s not working. 

Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
    My.Computer.FileSystem.CopyFile(
        "C:\Users\John\Desktop\WindowsApp.exe",
        "C:\Users\John\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\WindowsApp.exe")

Upvotes: 0

Views: 472

Answers (4)

Jimi
Jimi

Reputation: 32248

You can use the Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables method:

Dim userProfileBaseDir As String = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables("%userprofile%")

This returns:

C:\Users\[CurrentUser]

Your code could be:

My.Computer.FileSystem.CopyFile(
    $"{userProfileBaseDir}\Desktop\WindowsApp.exe",
    $"{userProfileBaseDir}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\StartMenu\Programs\Startup\WindowsApp.exe")

But, since both Desktop and StartMenu are included in the Environment.SpecialFolder enumerator, see: Environment.SpecialFolder enumeration

The Environment.GetFolderPath() method converts the enumeration to a Path.
Using interpolated strings: 

Dim desktopPath As String = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Desktop)
Dim menuStart As String = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Startup)

My.Computer.FileSystem.CopyFile($"{desktopPath}\WindowsApp.exe", $"{menuStart}\WindowsApp.exe")

Or using Path.Combine to build a path: 

Dim sourcePath = Path.Combine(desktopPath, "WindowsApp.exe")
Dim destPath = Path.Combine(menuStart, "WindowsApp.exe")

FileSystem.CopyFile(sourcePath, destPath)

Upvotes: 2

Louis
Louis

Reputation: 3632

If you need a quick and ready-to-use code, you can try this:

Dim userProfileDir As String
userProfileDir = Environ("USERPROFILE")

If your user is called IT, MsgBox userProfileDir would show this:

enter image description here

In your code it would be somenthing like this:

Dim sourcePath As String  'C:\User\MyUser
Dim destinationPath As String  'C:\User\MyUser\AppData\Roaming

sourcePath = Environ("USERPROFILE") & "\Desktop\WindowsApp.exe"
destinationPath = Environ("APPDATA") & "\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\WindowsApp.exe"

FileSystem.CopyFile(sourcePath, destinationPath)

Hope this helps.

Upvotes: 0

Ronan Vico
Ronan Vico

Reputation: 605

Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click 
My.Computer.FileSystem.CopyFile( "C:\Users\" & Environ("USERNAME") & "\Desktop\WindowsApp.exe", "C:\Users\" & Environ("USERNAME") & "\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\WindowsApp.exe")

Upvotes: 0

djv
djv

Reputation: 15774

Use the Environment.SpecialFolder Enum for both paths. And use Path.Combine to build paths.

My.Computer.FileSystem.CopyFile(
    System.IO.Path.Combine(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Desktop), "WindowsApp.exe"),
    System.IO.Path.Combine(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Startup), "WindowsApp.exe"))

Perhaps WindowsApp.exe is the name of your executing application. Now you have no hard-coding

My.Computer.FileSystem.CopyFile(
    System.IO.Path.Combine(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Desktop), System.AppDomain.CurrentDomain.FriendlyName),
    System.IO.Path.Combine(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Startup), System.AppDomain.CurrentDomain.FriendlyName))

Or you want to copy the currently running application to startup

My.Computer.FileSystem.CopyFile(
    Application.ExecutablePath,
    System.IO.Path.Combine(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Startup), System.AppDomain.CurrentDomain.FriendlyName))

Upvotes: 1

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