Programmatically add 'My Network Place' for FTP site? - windows

Question

Is there anyway I can create a small exe or batch file to setup a new 'My Network Place' in Windows? Its for an ftp site if that makes any difference.
XP will primarily be the target machine but If I can find something that will work on Vista too thats great.

Answer 1

I wrote this script to connect to a FTP using a proxy server. You could adapt it for your needs. It prompts for the filename and folder you are trying to access. Just cut the code you don't need, and you should be good to go.
You will need to change the FTP Server Name variable as well. Happy coding:
Option Explicit
Dim objShell, strFTPScriptFileName, strFile2Get
Dim strLocalFolderName, strFTPServerName, strLoginID
Dim strPassword, strFTPServerFolder, strFileToGet, returnCode
'Customize code here to fit your needs
strFTPServerName = "proxy.prv"
strLocalFolderName = ""
strLoginID = ""
strPassword = ""
strFTPServerFolder = ""
strFileToGet = ""
strLocalFolderName = GetLocalFolder()
strLoginID = InputBox("Enter FTP Username: ", "Enter FTP Username", "Authentication_Method#Destination_FTP_Host")
strPassword = InputBox("Enter FTP Password: ", "Enter FTP Password", "Authentication_Method#Destination_FTP_Host")
strFTPServerFolder = InputBox("Enter FTP folder that you want to access: ", "Enter FTP Folder", "/")
strFileToGet = InputBox("Enter the filename located on the FTP that you want to retrieve: ", "Enter FTP file", "*.*")
if strLoginID = "" then
WScript.Echo "You must specify a Login ID for this script to work"
WScript.Quit()
end if
if strPassword = "" then
WScript.Echo "You must specify a Password for this script to work"
WScript.Quit()
end if
if strFTPServerFolder = "" then
WScript.Echo "You must specify a FTP Folder to access for this script to work"
WScript.Quit()
end if
if strFileToGet = "" then
WScript.Echo "You must specify a Filename to download for this script to work"
WScript.Quit()
end if
Call WriteFTPScript()
Set objShell = WScript.CreateObject( "WScript.Shell" )
returnCode = objShell.Run( "cmd.exe /c ftp -s:" & chr(34) & strFTPScriptFileName & chr(34), 1, true)
if (returnCode = 0) then
Wscript.echo("Your file has been downloaded.")
else
Wscript.echo("An error has occured while attempting to download your file.")
End if
objShell.Run (strLocalFolderName)
Set objShell = Nothing
' **************************************************************************
' Creates the FTP script text file
Function WriteFTPScript()
Dim objFSO, objMyFile
strFTPScriptFileName = strLocalFolderName & "\FTPScript.txt" 'File to be created to hold ftp script data
Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
If (objFSO.FileExists(strFTPScriptFileName)) Then
objFSO.DeleteFile (strFTPScriptFileName)
End If
Set objMyFile = objFSO.CreateTextFile(strFTPScriptFileName, True)
objMyFile.WriteLine ("open " & strFTPServerName)
objMyFile.WriteLine (strLoginID)
objMyFile.WriteLine (strPassword)
objMyFile.WriteLine ("cd " & strFTPServerFolder)
objMyFile.WriteLine ("lcd " & strLocalFolderName)
objMyFile.WriteLine ("get " & strFileToGet)
objMyFile.WriteLine ("bye")
objMyFile.Close
Set objFSO = Nothing
Set objMyFile = Nothing
End Function
' **************************************************************************
' Dialog box to select folder to download to
Function GetLocalFolder()
Const BIF_returnonlyfsdirs = &H0001
Const BIF_editbox = &H0010
Dim wsh, objDlg, objF
Set objDlg = WScript.CreateObject("Shell.Application")
Set objF = objDlg.BrowseForFolder (&H0, "Select the destination folder to download FTP files to:", BIF_editbox + BIF_returnonlyfsdirs)
If IsValue(objF) Then
GetLocalFolder = objF.ParentFolder.ParseName(objF.Title).Path
Else
WScript.Echo "You MUST specify a folder to download files to. Application will now exit."
WScript.Quit
End If
end function
' **************************************************************************
' Verifies if the the object contains a value
Function IsValue(obj)
Dim tmp
On Error Resume Next
tmp = " " & obj
If Err <> 0 Then
IsValue = False
Else
IsValue = True
End If
On Error GoTo 0
End Function
' **************************************************************************
' Verifies if the the object is a folder
Function IsFolder(obj)
Dim objFSO
Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
if objFSO.IsFolder(obj) then
IsFolder = True
end if
End Function

Answer 2

Yes, there is. The NetHood folder can be manipulated with vbScript. Refer to this forum thread for more information. The following works for me on XP Pro:
Option Explicit
On Error Goto 0
'ShellSpecialFolderConstants
Const ssfNETHOOD = 19 '(&H13) Special Folder NETHOOD
Dim objWSHShell, objShell, objFolder, objFolderItem, strNetHood
Dim strShortcutName, strShortcutPath, objShortcut
Set objWSHShell = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application")
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(ssfNETHOOD)
Set objFolderItem = objFolder.Self
strNetHood = objFolderItem.Path
strShortcutName = "FTP to localhost"
strShortcutPath = "ftp://username#localhost/"
Set objShortcut = objWSHShell.CreateShortcut(strNetHood & "\" & strShortcutName & ".lnk")
objShortcut.TargetPath = strShortcutPath
objShortcut.Save