SpecialFolder in FolderBrowserDialog

Hej guys,
is there away to create a new environment.specialfolder to a self created folder?
So I can use this as a rootfolder in the FolderBrowserDialog?

The direct answer to your question is no, as it's an enum. And, unfortunately, the FolderBrowseDialog is not inheritable, so I can't see and easy way to add the functionality.

Your options are really
a) Wait for a guru who knows a better answer
b) use the selected folder attribute, and pray the user is sensible
c) Create your own control using a treeview and some good coding
d) Look for a third-party control.

Present for you - although I wouldn't use it if you expecting loads of folders (I just made the mistake of asking it to display from C:\ downwards. :thumbd:)
It wouldn't take much to get it to add only two layer down from the current node, thereby stopping large loading times. Also, i've set it out to have a update rather than rebuild functionality. But it's dinner-time here, and I'm hungry...
I can't be bothered to zip the project - but it's only a user control with a TreeView. The complete folder thing is stored in each node's tag property; here's the code:

Code:

---

Imports System.IO

Public Class RootFolderBrowse

        Private mRoot As String = ""
        Public Property RootFolder() As String
                Get
                        RootFolder = mRoot
                End Get
                Set(ByVal value As String)
                        If Strings.Right(value, 1) = "\" Then
                                value = Strings.Left(value, Strings.Len(value) - 1)
                        End If
                        mRoot = value
                        Me.RefreshTree()
                End Set
        End Property

        Public Sub RefreshTree()
                If mRoot <> "" Then
                        If Directory.Exists(mRoot) Then
                                If TreeView1.Nodes.Count > 0 Then
                                        If CStr(TreeView1.Nodes.Item(0).Tag) = mRoot Then
                                                'Needs to be replaced with update code
                                                TreeView1.Nodes.Clear()
                                                AddNodes(TreeView1.Nodes(TreeView1.Nodes.Add(New TreeNode() With {.Tag = mRoot, .Text = LastDir(mRoot)})), mRoot)
                                        Else
                                                TreeView1.Nodes.Clear()
                                                AddNodes(TreeView1.Nodes(TreeView1.Nodes.Add(New TreeNode() With {.Tag = mRoot, .Text = LastDir(mRoot)})), mRoot)
                                        End If
                                Else
                                        TreeView1.Nodes.Clear()
                                        AddNodes(TreeView1.Nodes(TreeView1.Nodes.Add(New TreeNode() With {.Tag = mRoot, .Text = LastDir(mRoot)})), mRoot)
                                End If
                        End If
                End If
        End Sub

        Public Sub AddNodes(ByRef Parent As TreeNode, ByVal ParentDir As String)
                For Each Dir As String In Directory.GetDirectories(ParentDir & "\")
                        AddNodes(Parent.Nodes(Parent.Nodes.Add(New TreeNode() With {.Tag = Dir, .Text = LastDir(Dir)})), Dir)
                Next
        End Sub

        Public Function LastDir(ByVal Path As String) As String
                If InStrRev(Path, "\") > 0 Then
                        LastDir = Mid(Path, InStrRev(Path, "\") + 1)
                ElseIf InStrRev(Path, "/") > 0 Then
                        LastDir = Mid(Path, InStrRev(Path, "/") + 1)
                Else
                        LastDir = Path
                End If
        End Function
End Class

---

I'm by no means a guru :)
But here, you will be dealing with CLSIDs
Each special folder on the system has a CLSID, for example, My Documents look like :

Code:

---

::{450d8fba-ad25-11d0-98a8-0800361b1103}

---

My Computer Looks like :

Code:

---

::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

---

Recycle Bin, looks like :

Code:

---

::{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

---

Control Panel will look like :

Code:

---

::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\  ::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}

---

All CLSIDs are stored in the Registry, usually at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID. Some of the special CLSIDS can also be found in the Registry keys where the related namespace extensions are specified as in the key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Explorer\ControlPanel\NameSpace\ where you can find all CLSIDs related to the Control Panel.

You may want to check these out :

http://www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/73/

http://www.codeguru.com/vb/gen/vb_sy...php/c13987__1/

With the first link, it explains how to to what you want, it looks like it at least :)

In the second link, my article, it will give you a bigger background on CLSIDs, and how to open them.

With the FolderBrowser, you can then just set the InitialDirectory to the CLSID that you want.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HanneSThEGreaT

I'm by no means a guru :)
.........
In the second link, my article, it will give you a bigger background on CLSIDs, and how to open them.

---

Do I sense a discriprency here?

Quote:

---

With the FolderBrowser, you can then just set the InitialDirectory to the CLSID that you want.

---

But can you set the RootDirectory?

A simple solution would be to create your own Form that looks like FolderBrowser dialog. And works only on those folders that you want user access to.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shuja Ali

A simple solution would be to create your own Form that looks like FolderBrowser dialog. And works only on those folders that you want user access to.

---

:thumb:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by javajawa

Do I sense a discriprency here?

---

:D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by javajawa

But can you set the RootDirectory?

---

Yes, you can :)

Follow these steps :

Open VB - LOL!
Add a FolderBrowserDialog to your form, do not give it another name
Add a button on your form
Add a class to your project and name it : NewFolderBrowserDlg
Add this code inside your newly created class :

Code:

---

Imports System
Imports System.Reflection

Public NotInheritable Class NewFolderBrowserDlg
    <Flags()> _
      Public Enum CsIdl
        Desktop = 0
        ' Desktop
        Internet = 1
        ' Internet Explorer (icon on desktop)
        Programs = 2
        ' Start Menu\Programs
        Controls = 3
        ' My Computer\Control Panel
        Printers = 4
        ' My Computer\Printers
        Personal = 5
        ' My Documents
        Favorites = 6
        ' user name\Favorites
        Startup = 7
        ' Start Menu\Programs\Startup
        Recent = 8
        ' user name\Recent
        SendTo = 9
        ' user name\SendTo
        BitBucket = 10
        ' desktop\Recycle Bin
        StartMenu = 11
        ' user name\Start Menu
        MyDocuments = 12
        ' logical "My Documents" desktop icon
        MyMusic = 13
        ' "My Music" folder
        MyVideo = 14
        ' "My Videos" folder
        DesktopDirectory = 16
        ' user name\Desktop
        Drives = 17
        ' My Computer
        Network = 18
        ' Network Neighborhood (My Network Places)
        Nethood = 19
        ' user name\nethood
        Fonts = 20
        ' windows\fonts
        Templates = 21
        CommonStartMenu = 22
        ' All Users\Start Menu
        CommonPrograms = 23
        ' All Users\Start Menu\Programs
        CommonStartup = 24
        ' All Users\Startup
        CommonDesktopDirectory = 25
        ' All Users\Desktop
        AppData = 26
        ' user name\Application Data
        PrintHood = 27
        ' user name\PrintHood
        LocalAppData = 28
        ' user name\Local Settings\Applicaiton Data (non roaming)
        AltStartup = 29
        ' non localized startup
        CommonAltStartup = 30
        ' non localized common startup
        CommonFavorites = 31
        InternetCache = 32
        Cookies = 33
        History = 34
        CommonAppdata = 35
        ' All Users\Application Data
        Windows = 36
        ' GetWindowsDirectory()
        System = 37
        ' GetSystemDirectory()
        ProgramFiles = 38
        ' C:\Program Files
        MyPictures = 39
        ' C:\Program Files\My Pictures
        Profile = 40
        ' USERPROFILE
        SystemX86 = 41
        ' x86 system directory on RISC
        ProgramFilesX86 = 42
        ' x86 C:\Program Files on RISC
        ProgramFilesCommon = 43
        ' C:\Program Files\Common
        ProgramFilesCommonx86 = 44
        ' x86 Program Files\Common on RISC
        CommonTemplates = 45
        ' All Users\Templates
        CommonDocuments = 46
        ' All Users\Documents
        CommonAdminTools = 47
        ' All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
        AdminTools = 48
        ' user name\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
        Connections = 49
        ' Network and Dial-up Connections
        CommonMusic = 53
        ' All Users\My Music
        CommonPictures = 54
        ' All Users\My Pictures
        CommonVideo = 55
        ' All Users\My Video
        Resources = 56
        ' Resource Direcotry
        ResourcesLocalized = 57
        ' Localized Resource Direcotry
        CommonOemLinks = 58
        ' Links to All Users OEM specific apps
        CdBurnArea = 59
        ' USERPROFILE\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\CD Burning
        ComputersNearMe = 61
        ' Computers Near Me (computered from Workgroup membership)
        FlagCreate = 32768
        ' combine with CSIDL_ value to force folder creation in SHGetFolderPath()
        FlagDontVerify = 16384
        ' combine with CSIDL_ value to return an unverified folder path
        FlagNoAlias = 4096
        ' combine with CSIDL_ value to insure non-alias versions of the pidl
        FlagPerUserInit = 2048
        ' combine with CSIDL_ value to indicate per-user init (eg. upgrade)
        FlagMask = 65280
        ' mask for all possible flag values
    End Enum

    Private Sub New()
    End Sub

    Public Shared Sub SetNewRoot(ByVal fbd As System.Windows.Forms.FolderBrowserDialog, ByVal csidl As CsIdl)
        Dim fdbt As Type = fbd.[GetType]()
        Dim fdbfi As FieldInfo = fdbt.GetField("rootFolder", BindingFlags.Instance Or BindingFlags.NonPublic)
        fdbfi.SetValue(fbd, DirectCast(csidl, System.Environment.SpecialFolder))
    End Sub

End Class

---

On form1, add the following :

Code:

---

    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        NewFolderBrowserDlg.SetNewRoot(FolderBrowserDialog1, NewFolderBrowserDlg.CsIdl.Favorites)

    End Sub

    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        FolderBrowserDialog1.ShowDialog()
    End Sub

---

Once run, your FolderBrowserDialog, will show the Favourites folder

If you have added your own CLSID, you could have listed them there as well :)

You know, I'll just take your word for it :D. There's enough code there to make it look likely!

For the interested members & guests, here is the zip, as explained in my previous post :)

Hi! Sorry for reopen this threat, and sorry for my english... but I'm in the same situation in that the creator of this threat was.
I've reading the links that HanneSThEGreaT left, but... how can I get a number as 17 from a CLSID displayed like {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} ?? So, what have I missed?
Ok, thanks! ...and sorry again for my english.

Did you miss this part?

Code:

---

        FlagCreate = 32768
        ' combine with CSIDL_ value to force folder creation in SHGetFolderPath()
        FlagDontVerify = 16384
        ' combine with CSIDL_ value to return an unverified folder path
        FlagNoAlias = 4096
        ' combine with CSIDL_ value to insure non-alias versions of the pidl
        FlagPerUserInit = 2048
        ' combine with CSIDL_ value to indicate per-user init (eg. upgrade)

---

Mmm ok, thanks. But I can't understand how the function SHGetFolderPath() works, I guess I must read more about that. At least now I know where to find. Thanks again!

Ok, HanneSThEGreaT's example sets the root folder to favourites. But is there any way to set the root folder a custom folder, decided at runtime?

Thx.

I've found a simple workaround:

Code:

---

Public Function BrowseToFolder(ByVal title As String, ByVal rootPath As String) As String
        Dim shellType = Type.GetTypeFromProgID("Shell.Application")
        Dim shell = Activator.CreateInstance(shellType)
        Dim folder = shellType.InvokeMember("BrowseForFolder", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, Nothing, shell, New Object() {0, title, 0, rootPath})
        If folder Is Nothing Then
            Return Nothing
        End If
        ' User clicked cancel
        Dim folderSelf = folder.[GetType]().InvokeMember("Self", BindingFlags.GetProperty, Nothing, folder, Nothing)
        Return TryCast(folderSelf.[GetType]().InvokeMember("Path", BindingFlags.GetProperty, Nothing, folderSelf, Nothing), String)
    End Function

---