Author: Udo Nesshoever 

How to obtain the linked file from a shortcut

Answer:

1   uses ShellAPI;
2   
3   function ExeFromLink(const linkname: string): string;
4   var
5     FDir,
6       FName,
7       ExeName: PChar;
8     z: integer;
9   begin
10    ExeName := StrAlloc(MAX_PATH);
11    FName := StrAlloc(MAX_PATH);
12    FDir := StrAlloc(MAX_PATH);
13    StrPCopy(FName, ExtractFileName(linkname));
14    StrPCopy(FDir, ExtractFilePath(linkname));
15    z := FindExecutable(FName, FDir, ExeName);
16    if z > 32 then
17      Result := StrPas(ExeName)
18    else
19      Result := '';
20    StrDispose(FDir);
21    StrDispose(FName);
22    StrDispose(ExeName);
23  end;