This article is about accessing Windows special folders. These folders include your “Favorites”, “Cookies”, system libraries and the like. Here is code, including a large number of constant definitions, plus documentation, allowing access to and creation of these folders. DotNET provides access (I think) to nine “Special Directories”, whereas the facilities contained here allow access to 49 additional “Special Folders”.
Introduction. 1
The Download. 1
Code Documentation. 2
Notes. 6
History. 6
References. 6
Tables
CSIDL Constants (SHGetFolderPathA) 6
CSIDL Flags (SHGetFolderPathA) 6
dotNET Special Directory methods. 6
Download description. 6
Special Folder listing output (Author's machine) 6
Introduction
There is no rocket science here, just a sharing of what is mainly tedious documentation. I may have missed it, but for some reason dotNET does not seem to provide extensive access to the many system directories, or special folders that are parts of so much of our Windows activity. I presume that will be corrected in some future release if it hasn’t been already. There are only nine special directories that I can find (refer to table “dotNET SpecialDirectories Class shared methods”); whereas the WinAPI provides access to those and another 49 (refer to table “WinAPI function SHGetFolderPathA CSIDL Constants”). Each of the Windows Special Folders is accessed via an integer constant and the definition of the 58 constants with associated descriptive documentation is a tedious assignment. I’ve done it and present it here for your future file-fest.
The code is essentially Windows XP, however, for you two who have installed <place w:st="on">Vista, it will be backwards compatible for some years (disclaimer: I am led to believe).
The download contains VB.NET source code (easily ported via editor-macros to other languages I expect) that declares the WinAPI function SHGetFolderPathA and defines the constants required to use it. In addition several enumerations are given that help clarify virtual and physical folders, along with two wrapper methods; one that fetches the special folder path; the other that creates the special folder itself. There is no class library as it is probably not needed, but included is an executable that simply lists all the physical special folders it can find on your machine.
Download contents include:
File
| Description and Content
|
modSpecialFolders.vb
| Definition if CSIDL constants.
Declaration of shell32.dll function SHGetFolderPathA.
Public method CreateSpecialFolderPath.
Public method GetSpecialFolderPath.
Reasonably comprehensive in-line documentation of all the above.
|
enuCSIDL.vb
| Definition of all CSIDL constants and flags as an enumeration.
Repetition of in-line documentation.
|
enuCSIDLFlags.vb
| Redefinition of all CSIDL flag constants as an enumeration.
Repetition of in-line documentation.
|
enuCSIDLPhysical.vb
| Redefinition of all CSIDL physical folder constants as an enumeration.
Repetition of in-line documentation.
|
enuCSIDLVirtual.vb
| Redefinition of all CSIDL virtual folder constants as an enumeration.
Repetition of in-line documentation.
|
SpecialFolders.pdf
| An early pdf version of this article.
|
The following tables give abbreviated documentation for the dotNET methods and the WinAPI constants. All of this documentation is in the source code, in context.
dotNET SpecialDirectories Class shared methods:
dotNET function
| Description
|
AllUsersApplicationData
| Gets a path name pointing to the application's data in the
\Documents and Setting\All Users\ApplicationData directory.
|
CurrentUserApplicationData
| Gets a path name pointing to the CurrentApplicationData directory.
|
Desktop
| Gets a path name pointing to the Desktop directory.
|
MyDocuments
| Gets a path name pointing to the MyDocuments directory.
|
MyMusic
| Gets a path name pointing to the My Music directory.
|
MyPictures
| Gets a path name pointing to the My Pictures directory.
|
ProgramFiles
| Gets a path pointing to the Program Files directory.
|
Programs
| Gets a path name pointing to the Programs directory.
|
Temp
| Gets a path name pointing to the Temp directory.
|
WinAPI function SHGetFolderPathA CSIDL Constants (as defined by Author):
CSIDL Constant
| Description
|
kCSIDL_ADMINTOOLS
| The file system directory that is used to store administrative tools for an individual user.
|
kCSIDL_ALTSTARTUP
| The file system directory that corresponds to the user's nonlocalized Startup program group.
|
kCSIDL_APPDATA
| The file system directory that serves as a common repository for application-specific data.
|
kCSIDL_BITBUCKET
| The virtual folder containing the objects in the user's Recycle Bin.
|
kCSIDL_CDBURN_AREA
| The file system directory acting as a staging area for files waiting to be written to CD.
|
kCSIDL_COMMON_ADMINTOOLS
| The file system directory containing administrative tools for all users of the computer.
|
kCSIDL_COMMON_ALTSTARTUP
| The file system directory that corresponds to the nonlocalized Startup program group for all users.
|
kCSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA
| The file system directory containing application data for all users.
|
kCSIDL_COMMON_DESKTOPDIRECTORY
| The file system directory that contains files and folders that appear on the desktop for all users.
|
kCSIDL_COMMON_DOCUMENTS
| The file system directory that contains documents that are common to all users.
|
kCSIDL_COMMON_FAVORITES
| The file system directory that serves as a common repository for favorite items common to all users.
|
kCSIDL_COMMON_MUSIC
| The file system directory that serves as a repository for music files common to all users.
|
kCSIDL_COMMON_OEM_LINKS
| Links to All Users OEM specific apps.
|
kCSIDL_COMMON_PICTURES
| The file system directory that serves as a repository for image files common to all users.
|
kCSIDL_COMMON_PROGRAMS
| The file system directory that contains the directories for the common program groups that appear on the Start menu for all users.
|
kCSIDL_COMMON_STARTMENU
| The file system directory that contains the programs and folders that appear on the Start menu for all users.
|
kCSIDL_COMMON_STARTUP
| The file system directory that contains the programs that appear in the Startup folder for all users.
|
kCSIDL_COMMON_TEMPLATES
| The file system directory that contains the templates that are available to all users.
|
kCSIDL_COMMON_VIDEO
| The file system directory that serves as a repository for video files common to all users.
|
kCSIDL_COMPUTERSNEARME
| Computers Near Me (computed from Workgroup membership). (virtual)
|
kCSIDL_CONNECTIONS
| Network and Dial-up Connections.
|
kCSIDL_CONTROLS
| The virtual folder containing icons for the Control Panel applications.
|
kCSIDL_COOKIES
| The file system directory that serves as a common repository for Internet cookies.
|
kCSIDL_DESKTOP
| The virtual folder representing the Windows desktop, the root of the namespace. Is actually a physical folder C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Desktop.
|
kCSIDL_DESKTOPDIRECTORY
| The file system directory used to physically store file objects on the desktop.
|
kCSIDL_DRIVES
| The virtual folder representing My Computer, containing everything on the local computer: storage devices, printers, and Control Panel.
|
kCSIDL_FAVORITES
| The file system directory that serves as a common repository for the user's favorite items.
|
kCSIDL_FONTS
| A virtual folder containing fonts. A typical path is C:\Windows\Fonts. Is actually a physical folder.
|
kCSIDL_HISTORY
| The file system directory that serves as a common repository for Internet history items.
|
kCSIDL_INTERNET
| A virtual folder representing the Internet.
|
kCSIDL_INTERNET_CACHE
| The file system directory that serves as a common repository for temporary Internet files.
|
kCSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA
| The file system directory that serves as a data repository for local (nonroaming) applications.
|
kCSIDL_MYDOCUMENTS
| The virtual folder representing the My Documents desktop item.
|
kCSIDL_MYMUSIC
| The file system directory that serves as a common repository for music files.
|
kCSIDL_MYPICTURES
| The file system directory that serves as a common repository for image files.
|
kCSIDL_MYVIDEO
| The file system directory that serves as a common repository for video files.
|
kCSIDL_NETHOOD
| A file system directory containing the link objects that may exist in the My Network Places virtual folder.
|
kCSIDL_NETWORK
| A virtual folder representing Network Neighborhood, the root of the network namespace hierarchy.
|
kCSIDL_PERSONAL
| The virtual folder representing the My Documents desktop item. Is actually a physical folder C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\My Documents.
|
kCSIDL_PRINTERS
| The virtual folder containing installed printers.
|
kCSIDL_PRINTHOOD
| The file system directory that contains the link objects that can exist in the Printers virtual folder.
|
kCSIDL_PROFILE
| The user's profile folder.
|
kCSIDL_PROFILES
| The file system directory containing user profile folders.
|
kCSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES
| The Program Files folder. A typical path is C:\Program Files.
|
kCSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES_COMMON
| A folder for components that are shared across applications.
|
kCSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES_COMMONX86
| x86 Program Files\Common on RISC.
|
kCSIDL_PROGRAM_FILESX86
| x86 system directory on RISC.
|
kCSIDL_PROGRAM_FILESX86
| x86 C:\Program Files on RISC.
|
kCSIDL_PROGRAMS
| The file system directory that contains the user's program groups.
|
kCSIDL_RECENT
| The file system directory that contains shortcuts to the user's most recently used documents.
|
kCSIDL_RESOURCES
| %windir%\Resources\, For theme and other windows resources.
|
kCSIDL_RESOURCES_LOCALIZED
| %windir%\Resources\[LangID], for theme and other windows specific resources.
|
kCSIDL_SENDTO
| The file system directory that contains Send To menu items.
|
kCSIDL_STARTMENU
| The file system directory containing Start menu items.
|
kCSIDL_STARTUP
| The file system directory that corresponds to the user's Startup program group.
|
kCSIDL_SYSTEM
| The Windows System folder.
|
kCSIDL_TEMPLATES
| The file system directory that serves as a common repository for document templates.
|
kCSIDL_WINDOWS
| The Windows directory or SYSROOT.
|
WinAPI function SHGetFolderPathA CSIDL Flags (defined by Author as KnownFolder flags for <place w:st="on">Vista):
CSIDL/KNOWNFOLDER Flags
| Description
|
kKF_FLAG_SIMPLE_IDLIST
| Build a simple pointer to an item identifier list (PIDL). (<place w:st="on">Vista)
|
kKF_FLAG_NOT_PARENT_RELATIVE
| Gets the folder's default path independent of the current location of its parent. (<place w:st="on">Vista)
|
kKF_FLAG_DEFAULT_PATH
| Gets the default path for a known folder that is redirected elsewhere.
|
kKF_FLAG_INIT
| Initializes the folder using its Desktop.ini settings.
|
kKF_FLAG_NO_ALIAS
| Gets the true system path for the folder, free of any aliased placeholders such as %USERPROFILE%.
|
kKF_FLAG_DONT_UNEXPAND
| Stores the full path in the registry without environment strings. (<place w:st="on">Vista)
|
kKF_FLAG_DONT_VERIFY
| Specifies not to verify the folder's existence before attempting to retrieve the path or IDList.
|
kKF_FLAG_CREATE
| Forces the creation of the specified folder if that folder does not already exist.
|
The <place w:st="on">Vista equivalent of the WinAPI function SHGetFolderPath is SHGetKnownFolderPath.
The XP: SHGetFolderPath documentation says:
“Deprecated. Gets the path of a folder identified by a CSIDL value.
Note As of Windows Vista, this function is merely a wrapper for SHGetKnownFolderPath. The CSIDL value is translated to its associated KNOWNFOLDERID and then SHGetKnownFolderPath is called. New applications should use the known folder system rather than the older CSIDL system, which is supported only for backward compatibility.”
The <place w:st="on">Vista equivalents of the CSIDL constants are KNOWNFOLDERID constants (see references).
13-Mar-2008 [Warrick Procter] Article created.
dotNET: MSDN Special Directories
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/microsoft.visualbasic.fileio.specialdirectories_members(VS.80).aspx
VB: How to Use the SHGetFolderPath Function from Visual Basic
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/252652
XP: SHGetFolderPath Function
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762181(VS.85).aspx
XP: CSIDL Constants
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762494(VS.85).aspx
<place w:st="on">Vista: SHGetKnownFolderPath Function
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762188(VS.85).aspx
<place w:st="on">Vista: KNOWNFOLDERID Constants
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762584(VS.85).aspx
Appendix
Special Folder list output
SF# Special Folder Name Path
---- ------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------
000) Desktop C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Desktop
001) Internet ==> Virtual Folder, does not exist.
002) Programs C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Start Menu\Programs
003) Controls ==> Virtual Folder, does not exist.
004) Printers ==> Virtual Folder, does not exist.
005) Personal C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\My Documents
006) Favorites C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Favorites
007) Startup C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
008) Recent C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Recent
009) SendTo C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\SendTo
010) BitBucket ==> Virtual Folder, does not exist.
011) StartMenu C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Start Menu
012) MyDocuments ==> Physical Folder, not created.
013) MyMusic C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\My Documents\My Music
014) MyVideo C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\My Documents\My Videos
016) DesktopDirectory C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Desktop
017) Drives ==> Virtual Folder, does not exist.
018) Network ==> Virtual Folder, does not exist.
019) Nethood C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\NetHood
020) Fonts C:\WINDOWS\Fonts
021) Templates C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Templates
022) CommonStartMenu C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
023) CommonPrograms C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs
024) CommonStartup C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
025) CommonDesktopDirectory C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
026) AppData C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Application Data
027) Printhood C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\PrintHood
028) LocalAppdata C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Local Settings\Application Data
029) AltStartup ==> Physical Folder, not created.
030) CommonAltStartup ==> Physical Folder, not created.
031) CommonFavorites C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Favorites
032) InternetCache C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
033) Cookies C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Cookies
034) History C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Local Settings\History
035) CommonAppData C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data
036) Windows C:\WINDOWS
037) System C:\WINDOWS\system32
038) ProgramFiles C:\Program Files
039) MyPictures C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\My Documents\My Pictures
040) Profile C:\Documents and Settings\Admin
041) SystemX86 C:\WINDOWS\system32
042) ProgramFilesX86 ==> Physical Folder, not created.
043) CommonProgramFiles C:\Program Files\Common Files
044) CommonProgramFilesX86 ==> Physical Folder, not created.
045) CommonTemplates C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Templates
046) CommonDocuments C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents
047) CommonAdminTools C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
048) AdminTools C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
049) Connections ==> Virtual Folder, does not exist.
053) CommonMusic C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Music
054) CommonPictures C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures
055) CommonVideo C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Videos
056) Resources C:\WINDOWS\resources
057) ResourcesLocalized ==> Physical Folder, not created.
058) CommonOEMLinks ==> Virtual Folder, does not exist.
059) CDBurnArea C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\CD Burning
061) ComputersNearMe ==> Virtual Folder, does not exist.
062) Profiles ==> Physical Folder, not created.
