How Do I Create a Shortcut for My Application? (Magic xpa 3.x)

Probably the most common way to run an application is to run it from a Windows shortcut. These shortcuts are very easy to create. The shortcut can either use the .edp file as a target, or use the Magic xpa engine as a target, with the setup such that it automatically loads the desired project. Both methods are shown below.

Note: Keep in mind that you are not required to create a shortcut. If the user clicks on the .ecf file in Windows Explorer, Windows will automatically invoke Magic xpa to run it.

Creating a shortcut to the project file

1. In the folder you want to create the shortcut, select New->Shortcut from the right-click menu. The Windows Create Shortcut wizard will appear.

2. You will be prompted to type the location of the item. Enter the path name to your cabinet file, or use the Browse button to select it. Click Next to continue.

3. You will then be prompted to fill in a name for your shortcut. Give it any name you like.

4. Click Finish to end the dialog box.
   
   

Now, you will have a shortcut in your folder that will start your application. By default, the icon will be the Magic xpa icon, but you can customize this as shown below in the Using your own icon section.

If you look at the Properties for this shortcut, they will look something like the example above. The Magic xpa Cabinet File, or .ecf, will be the Target.

Creating a shortcut to the Magic xpa engine

1. In the folder you want to create the shortcut, select New->Shortcut from the right-click menu. The Windows Create Shortcut wizard will appear.

2. You will be prompted to type the location of the item. Enter the path name to the Magic xpa runtime engine, which is by default:

   "C:\Program Files\MSE\Magic xpa x.x\MgxpaRuntime.exe"

3. You will then be prompted to fill in a name for your shortcut. Give it any name you like.

4. Click Finish to end the dialog box.
   
   

This method will only start your particular application if the application has been set to start automatically, as explained in How Do I Make the Runtime Engine Automatically Load a Cabinet File?.

Using your own icon

No matter which type of shortcut you create, the default icon will be the Magic xpa icon. You can, however, use your own custom icon.

Prerequisite: You should first create your custom icon file.

1. Select Properties from the Right-click menu of your shortcut.

2. Click on the Change Icon button.

3. You will see the Change Icon dialog box. The top line says “Look for icons in this file”. Use the Browse button to select your icon file, then select the icon you want to use.

Now your icon will show instead of the default Magic xpa icon.

If you do not have your own customized icon file, the system will default to the Windows icon file and you can select one of those. You can also purchase generic icon files.