python - How to get path of Start Menu's Programs directory?

Question

...for current user? for all users?

I'm working an a small program which needs to create links in the start menu. Currently I'm hardcoding like below, but it only works in english locales, for example it should be "Startmenü" in german. What are cleaner, more portable approaches?

OUR_STARTMENU = os.environ['ALLUSERSPROFILE'] + 'Start MenuProgramsOur Stuff'

thank you

Answer 1

I've heard of 2 ways of doing this. First:

from win32com.shell import shell
shell.SHGetSpecialFolderPath(0,shellcon.CSIDL_COMMON_STARTMENU)

Second, using the WScript.Shell object (source : http://www.mail-archive.com/python-win32@python.org/msg00992.html):

import win32com.client
objShell = win32com.client.Dispatch("WScript.Shell")
allUserProgramsMenu = objShell.SpecialFolders("AllUsersPrograms")
userMenu = objShell.SpecialFolders("StartMenu")

Another source: http://blogs.msdn.com/saveenr/archive/2005/12/28/creating-a-start-menu-shortcut-with-powershell-and-python.aspx