MFC need code allow user to browse network for computer and return UNC path to it

[peters]

Does anyone know how I can present the user in my mfc app with a dialog box and allow them to browse the network for computers and select one. Then return to me the UNC \\ path to the computer they selected?

Many thanks

Peter

[igbrus]

Use SHBrowseForFolder with ulFlags = BIF_BROWSEFORCOMPUTER


Rating isn't important...But gurus respect it and keep high

[Xanblax]

Interesting hint:

If you ask for browsing computers it makes no sense to start browsing at the SHBrowseForFolder default path, which is <user name>\Desktop. It would be much more elegant to start browsing at "Network Neighborhood".
BUT this is an "special folder", and even though it is a standard component of all systems, its name and location in the namespace can vary.
This makes necessary to use its CSIDL:
(shlobj.h : #define CSIDL_NETWORK 0x0012)
(you can read about it at MSDN "Getting a Folder's ID": http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de.../folder_id.asp)

The code below uses all this to get a "computer browsing dialog":

int CALLBACK BrowseCallbackProc(HWND hwnd,UINT uMsg,LPARAM lp, LPARAM pData);

CString CMyDlg::browseComputers()
{
BROWSEINFO bi;
TCHAR szDir[MAX_PATH];
LPITEMIDLIST pidl;
LPMALLOC pMalloc;


if (SUCCEEDED(SHGetMalloc(&pMalloc)))
{
ZeroMemory(&bi,sizeof(bi));
bi.hwndOwner = NULL;
bi.pszDisplayName = 0;

HRESULT hRes = SHGetFolderLocation (NULL, CSIDL_NETWORK, NULL, 0, &pidl);
if (hRes == S_OK)
{
bi.pidlRoot = pidl;
}
else
{
bi.pidlRoot = 0;
}

bi.ulFlags = BIF_BROWSEFORCOMPUTER; bi.lpfn = BrowseCallbackProc;

pidl = SHBrowseForFolder(&bi);
if (pidl)
{
if (SHGetPathFromIDList(pidl,szDir))
{
return ((CString)szDir); }

pMalloc->Free(pidl);
pMalloc->Release();
}
}

return ("");
}

int CALLBACK BrowseCallbackProc(HWND hwnd,UINT uMsg,LPARAM lp, LPARAM pData)
{
TCHAR szDir[MAX_PATH];
CWnd* win;


switch(uMsg)
{
case BFFM_INITIALIZED:
{
if (GetCurrentDirectory(sizeof(szDir) / sizeof(TCHAR), szDir))
{
// WParam is TRUE since you are passing a path.
// It would be FALSE if you were passing a pidl.
SendMessage(hwnd, BFFM_SETSELECTION, TRUE, (LPARAM)szDir);
}
break;
}

case BFFM_SELCHANGED:
{
// Set the status window to the currently selected path.
if (SHGetPathFromIDList((LPITEMIDLIST) lp, szDir))
{
SendMessage(hwnd,BFFM_SETSTATUSTEXT,0,(LPARAM)szDir);
}
break;
}

default:
break;
}

win = CWnd::FromHandle( hwnd );
CString sMsg;
sMsg.Format(IDS_DONDE_BD);
win->SetWindowText(sMsg);

return 0;
}

[Xanblax]

If you select a computer with the code supplied SHGetPathFromIDList (pidl,szDir) will return FALSE.
So, to get the computer name selected you will have to look at pszDisplayName parameter of BROWSEINFO structure. So:


char* pszRetVal = new char [MAX_PATH+1];
memset(pszRetVal, 0, MAX_PATH);

[...]

bi.pszDisplayName = pszRetVal;

pidl = SHBrowseForFolder(&bi);
if (pidl)
{
if (SHGetPathFromIDList(pidl,szDir))
{
delete pszRetVal;
return ((CString)szDir);
}
else
{
CString sRet = bi.pszDisplayName;
delete pszRetVal;
return sRet;
}

[...]

[Xanblax]

SHGetSpecialFolderLocation(NULL,CSIDL_NETWORK,&pidl) will work for Windows 95 / 98
SHGetFolderLocation only worked with WindowsMe or higher.

[Sam Hobbs]

If you need more control of what is shown I think you can use WNetOpenEnum and related functions. You can probably find sample uses of it if you search for WNetOpenEnum.

[igbrus]

You are absolutely right, but in this case you will have to provide your own UI