[VB6, Vista+] Code snippet: KnownFolders made easy with IKnownFolderManager

Using the KnownFolderManager Object

oleexp (VB6, twinBASIC) and WinDevLib (twinBASIC) include the IKnownFolderManager and IKnownFolder interfaces.

If plan on doing any work with the Known Folders that replaced CSIDL Special Locations and you're working exclusively with Vista and higher, there's now the IKnownFolderManager interface, for which Windows provides a default instance of, which makes your job much easier.

Code:

---

Dim pKFM as KnownFolderManager
Set pKFM = New KnownFolderManager

---

Now you have a ready-to-use manager that gives you the following:

.FindFolderFromPath /IDList - Have the path of a special folder and want to get its IKnownFolder interface to find out information about it? You can specify a full or partial path. If you work with PIDLs, e.g. the result from a folder browser that you could use here directly without converting back and forth to a string path, there's a function to get a known folder directly from that as well.


.FolderIdFromCsidl - Still working with CSIDLs? This will ease the transition into support Known Folders.

.GetFolder / .GetFolderByName - You can use either the GUID or canonical name to return a Known Folder object.

Code:

---

Dim pikf As IKnownFolder
pKFM.FindFolderFromPath StrPtr("C:\Users\Jon\Downloads"), FFFP_EXACTMATCH, pikf

---

Once you have a Known Folder, in the form of a IKnownFolder object, you can get tons of information about it:

From the main IKnownFolder object, you can get all its file system information, like its PROPERTYKEY, path, pidl, or even an IShellItem interface for it (you can also change the path with SetPath), then there's a significant subset of information in the description:

Code:

---

pikf.GetFolderDefinition desc
pikf.GetId pid
PrintGUID pid
Debug.Print "Icon=" & BStrFromLPWStr(desc.pszIcon, False)
Debug.Print "Name=" & BStrFromLPWStr(desc.pszName, False)
Debug.Print "Description=" & BStrFromLPWStr(desc.pszDescription, False)
Debug.Print "LocalizedName=" & BStrFromLPWStr(desc.pszLocalizedName, False)
Debug.Print "ToolTip=" & BStrFromLPWStr(desc.pszToolTip, False)
Debug.Print "Category=" & desc.category 'peruser, common, etc
Debug.Print "Attributes=" & desc.dwAttributes

FreeKnownFolderDefinitionFields desc

---

This is by far the easiest way to work with these special folders on newer versions of Windows.

Most of the oleexp projects use this, but again:

Code:

---

Public Declare Function SysReAllocString Lib "oleaut32.dll" (ByVal pBSTR As LongPtr, Optional ByVal pszStrPtr As LongPtr) As Long
Public Declare Sub CoTaskMemFree Lib "ole32.dll" (ByVal pv As LongPtr) ' Frees memory allocated by the shell

Public Function BStrFromLPWStr(lpWStr As LongPtr, Optional ByVal CleanupLPWStr As Boolean = True) As String
SysReAllocStringW VarPtr(BStrFromLPWStr), lpWStr
If CleanupLPWStr Then CoTaskMemFree lpWStr
End Function

Public Sub FreeKnownFolderDefinitionFields(pKFD As KNOWNFOLDER_DEFINITION)
Call CoTaskMemFree(pKFD.pszName)
Call CoTaskMemFree(pKFD.pszDescription)
Call CoTaskMemFree(pKFD.pszRelativePath)
Call CoTaskMemFree(pKFD.pszParsingName)
Call CoTaskMemFree(pKFD.pszToolTip)
Call CoTaskMemFree(pKFD.pszLocalizedName)
Call CoTaskMemFree(pKFD.pszIcon)
Call CoTaskMemFree(pKFD.pszSecurity)

End Sub
'also handy,
Public Declare Function StringFromGUID2 Lib "ole32.dll" (ByRef rguid As Any, ByVal lpsz As String, ByVal cchMax As Long) As Long

Public Sub PrintGUID(TempGUID As UUID)
Dim GuidStr As String
Dim lLen As Long

GuidStr = Space(80)
lLen = StringFromGUID2(TempGUID, GuidStr, 80)

If (lLen) Then
    GuidStr = StrConv(Left$(GuidStr, (lLen - 1) * 2), vbFromUnicode)
    Debug.Print GuidStr
End If
End Sub

---

Here's a practical code example, generating a menu with special folders complete with their custom icons.
http://www.vbforums.com/images/ieimages/2015/08/1.jpg

UPDATE Sep 4, 2017: Code has been updated to use mIID.bas; you'll need that module to run the code as it appears now. mIID.bas is an included add-on module in the oleexp download. The declares were also missing enums for MENUITEMINFOW, they've been added.

Code:

---

  Sub ShowMenu()
    Dim mii  As MENUITEMINFOW
  Dim i As Long, j As Long, k As Long
  Dim hIcon As LongPtr
  Dim pKFM As KnownFolderManager
  Dim pKNF As IKnownFolder
  Dim kfd As KNOWNFOLDER_DEFINITION
  Dim tID As UUID
  Dim isiif As IShellItemImageFactory
  Dim isi As IShellItem
  Dim hMenu As LongPtr
  Dim sCap As String
  Dim idCmd As Long
  Dim pt As POINTAPI
  Dim s1 As String, lp1 As LongPtr
  Const widBaseDSF As Long = 1000

  hMenu = CreatePopupMenu()
  Set pKFM = New KnownFolderManager


  'Begin folder blocks
  For k = 0 To 10 'number special folders in GetSpecialFolderMenuItem
      GetSpecialFolderMenuItem k, tID
      pKFM.GetFolder tID, pKNF
      pKNF.GetFolderDefinition kfd
      sCap = BStrFromLPWStr(kfd.pszName)
      pKNF.GetShellItem 0, IID_IShellItemImageFactory, isiif
      #If TWINBASIC Then
      'For tB with WinDevLib
      isiif.GetImage toSIZE(16, 16), SIIGBF_ICONONLY, hIcon
      #Else
      'VB6/tB with oleexp.tlb-- no ByVal UDTs
      isiif.GetImage 16, 16, SIIGBF_ICONONLY, hIcon
      #End If
     
      With mii
                  .cbSize = LenB(mii)
                  .fMask = MIIM_ID Or MIIM_STRING Or MIIM_BITMAP
                  .wID = widBaseDSF + j
                  .cch = Len(sCap)
                  .dwTypeData = StrPtr(sCap)
                  .hbmpItem = hIcon
               
                  Call InsertMenuItemW(hMenu, j, True, mii)
   
              Call DestroyIcon(hIcon)
              j = j + 1
      End With
      Set isiif = Nothing
      Set pKNF = Nothing
  Next k
  'end folder blocks

  Call GetCursorPos(pt)

  idCmd = TrackPopupMenu(hMenu, TPM_LEFTBUTTON Or TPM_RIGHTBUTTON Or TPM_LEFTALIGN Or TPM_TOPALIGN Or TPM_HORIZONTAL Or TPM_RETURNCMD, pt.x - 50, pt.y + 10, 0, Me.hWnd, 0)

  If idCmd Then
      GetSpecialFolderMenuItem idCmd - 1000, tID
      pKFM.GetFolder tID, pKNF
      pKNF.GetShellItem 0, IID_IShellItem, isi
      isi.GetDisplayName SIGDN_FILESYSPATH, lp1
      s1 = BStrFromLPWStr(lp1)
      ShellExecute Me.hWnd, "explore", s1, "", "", SW_NORMAL
  End If

  End Sub
  Private Sub GetSpecialFolderMenuItem(nIdx As Long, tID As UUID)
  Select Case nIdx
      Case 0: tID = FOLDERID_Profile
      Case 1: tID = FOLDERID_Downloads
      Case 2: tID = FOLDERID_Documents
      Case 3: tID = FOLDERID_Videos
      Case 4: tID = FOLDERID_Music
      Case 5: tID = FOLDERID_Pictures
      Case 6: tID = FOLDERID_Contacts
      Case 7: tID = FOLDERID_Favorites
      Case 8: tID = FOLDERID_Links
      Case 9: tID = FOLDERID_RoamingAppData
      Case 10: tID = FOLDERID_Windows
  End Select
  End Sub

---

This shows how handy the object is... instead of extracting and converting and using menu image classes, it's just a couple lines to get the shell item image factory, which returns an hBitmap directly compatible with menus. That code can be placed anywhere, like a button click, and will open the folder clicked on.

Here's the supporting API declares (and all the known folders, not just the ones I picked, in case you want others)... most of these should be standard in any major project so it's not really as bad as it looks...

Code:

---

#If TWINBASIC = 0 Then
'presumes use of WinDevLib in twinBASIC
Public Declare Function CLSIDFromString Lib "ole32" (ByVal lpszGuid As Long, pGuid As Any) As Long
Public Declare Sub CoTaskMemFree Lib "ole32.dll" (ByVal pv As Long) ' Frees memory allocated by the shell
Public Declare Function InsertMenuItemW Lib "user32" (ByVal hMenu As Long, ByVal uItem As Long, ByVal fByPosition As Boolean, lpmii As MENUITEMINFOW) As Boolean
Public Declare Function DestroyIcon Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal hIcon As Long) As Long
Public Declare Function CreatePopupMenu Lib "user32" () As Long
Public Declare Function GetCursorPos Lib "user32" (lpPoint As POINTAPI) As Long
Public Declare Function TrackPopupMenu Lib "user32" (ByVal hMenu As Long, ByVal wFlags As TPM_wFlags, ByVal X As Long, ByVal Y As Long, ByVal nReserved As Long, ByVal hWnd As Long, lprc As Any) As Long
Public Declare Function ShellExecute Lib "shell32.dll" Alias "ShellExecuteA" (ByVal hWnd As Long, ByVal lpOperation As String, ByVal lpFile As String, ByVal lpParameters As String, ByVal lpDirectory As String, ByVal nShowCmd As ShowWindowTypes) As Long
Public Enum ShowWindowTypes
    SW_HIDE = 0
    SW_SHOWNORMAL = 1
    SW_NORMAL = 1
    SW_SHOWMINIMIZED = 2
    SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED = 3
    SW_MAXIMIZE = 3
    SW_SHOWNOACTIVATE = 4
    SW_SHOW = 5
    SW_MINIMIZE = 6
    SW_SHOWMINNOACTIVE = 7
    SW_SHOWNA = 8
    SW_RESTORE = 9
    SW_SHOWDEFAULT = 10
End Enum
Public Enum TPM_wFlags
  TPM_LEFTBUTTON = &H0
  TPM_RIGHTBUTTON = &H2
  TPM_LEFTALIGN = &H0
  TPM_CENTERALIGN = &H4
  TPM_RIGHTALIGN = &H8
  TPM_TOPALIGN = &H0
  TPM_VCENTERALIGN = &H10
  TPM_BOTTOMALIGN = &H20

  TPM_HORIZONTAL = &H0        ' Horz alignment matters more
  TPM_VERTICAL = &H40            ' Vert alignment matters more
  TPM_NONOTIFY = &H80          ' Don't send any notification msgs
  TPM_RETURNCMD = &H100
 
  TPM_HORPOSANIMATION = &H400
  TPM_HORNEGANIMATION = &H800
  TPM_VERPOSANIMATION = &H1000
  TPM_VERNEGANIMATION = &H2000
  TPM_NOANIMATION = &H4000
End Enum
Public Type MENUITEMINFOW
  cbSize As Long
  fMask As MII_Mask
  fType As MF_Type              ' MIIM_TYPE
  fState As MF_State            ' MIIM_STATE
  wID As Long                      ' MIIM_ID
  hSubMenu As Long            ' MIIM_SUBMENU
  hbmpChecked As Long      ' MIIM_CHECKMARKS
  hbmpUnchecked As Long  ' MIIM_CHECKMARKS
  dwItemData As Long          ' MIIM_DATA
  dwTypeData As Long        ' MIIM_TYPE
  cch As Long                      ' MIIM_TYPE
  hbmpItem As Long
 
End Type
Public Enum MII_Mask
  MIIM_STATE = &H1
  MIIM_ID = &H2
  MIIM_SUBMENU = &H4
  MIIM_CHECKMARKS = &H8
  MIIM_TYPE = &H10
  MIIM_DATA = &H20
  MIIM_BITMAP = &H80
  MIIM_STRING = &H40
End Enum
Public Enum MF_Type
  MFT_STRING = MF_STRING
  MFT_BITMAP = MF_BITMAP
  MFT_MENUBARBREAK = MF_MENUBARBREAK
  MFT_MENUBREAK = MF_MENUBREAK
  MFT_OWNERDRAW = MF_OWNERDRAW
  MFT_RADIOCHECK = &H200
  MFT_SEPARATOR = MF_SEPARATOR
  MFT_RIGHTORDER = &H2000
  MFT_RIGHTJUSTIFY = MF_RIGHTJUSTIFY
End Enum

Public Enum MF_State
  MFS_GRAYED = &H3
  MFS_DISABLED = MFS_GRAYED
  MFS_CHECKED = MF_CHECKED
  MFS_HILITE = MF_HILITE
  MFS_ENABLED = MF_ENABLED
  MFS_UNCHECKED = MF_UNCHECKED
  MFS_UNHILITE = MF_UNHILITE
  MFS_DEFAULT = MF_DEFAULT
End Enum
#End If
Public Function BStrFromLPWStr(lpWStr As LongPtr, Optional ByVal CleanupLPWStr As Boolean = True) As String
SysReAllocStringW VarPtr(BStrFromLPWStr), lpWStr
If CleanupLPWStr Then CoTaskMemFree lpWStr
End Function

---

Update
I made a tB sample project to show the menu in the picture, KFMenu.twinproj at https://github.com/fafalone/MiscDemos

Hey fafalone. This looks interesting and potentially promising for an issue I'm working on. Can you post some sample code as to how to get the path for one of these KnownFolders? That would be most helpful!

Code:

---

Dim pikf As IKnownFolder
pKFM.FindFolderFromPath "C:\Users\Jon\Downloads", FFFP_EXACTMATCH, pikf

---

This code fails. It appears that the path argument is wanting a Long, not a String. I tried passing the path like this StrPtr(Path) but that didn't help the problem. It seems that the interface to this changed since you created your code examples?

I'm using the latest version of the OLEEXP TLB.

Is your name Jon too? :eek:

If you did change the username to yours, what do you mean fails. Does pikf = Nothing after that? What version of Windows-- is that path still the Downloads folder in it? It works on Win7 for me. But in any case, you're much better off loading from folder id rather than worry about getting the current user name to figure out a hard path... mIID has all the KnownFolder ids to use with .GetFolder (FOLDERID_x).

And yes you are meant to pass StrPtr(path); it was updated to that so that Unicode worked.

That's going from a file system path to a IKnownFolder object though-- your post before that says you want to get the path?

To get your Downloads path, for example, you'd go

Code:

---

Dim lpPath As Long, sPath As String
pKFM.GetFolder FOLDERID_Downloads, pikf
pikf.GetPath KF_FLAG_DEFAULT, lpPath
SysReAllocString VarPtr(sPath), lpPath
CoTaskMemFree lpPath

---

You can get the official path with that code, then feed the result back to FindFolderFromPath, if you want to double check that it's working.

Thanks fafalone! I'll try out your code snippet.

And no my name is not Jon! LOL. I guess you had two different users checking this out over the weekend? Which would be odd since your post is over 2 years old!

Nono.. you put my Username in your post, C:\Users\Jon, thats why I was saying that lol, to make sure you were using your username and not a hard coded path w/ mine.

Also check out my code in your recycle bin thread that started this, I went a little crazy with it :bigyello:

I got your code snippet to work but I had to change the alloc string line to:

Code:

---

SysReAllocString sPath, lpPath

---

Rather than what you had:

Code:

---

SysReAllocString VarPtr(sPath), lpPath

---

SysReAllocString wants a String as the first parameter.

Once I did that, the path was returned. Thanks for your help with this!

When I try this on the Recycle Bin folder I get an automation error on this line:

Code:

---

pikf.GetPath KF_FLAG_DEFAULT, lpPath

---

Here's the complete code I'm using, which works fine when I use FOLDERID_Downloads rather than FOLDERID_RecycleBinFolder:

Code:

---

    Dim pKFM    As KnownFolderManager
    Set pKFM = New KnownFolderManager
   
    Dim pikf    As IKnownFolder
    Dim lpPath  As Long
    Dim sPath  As String
   
    'pKFM.GetFolder FOLDERID_Downloads, pikf
    pKFM.GetFolder FOLDERID_RecycleBinFolder, pikf  '<--Automation Error on this line
    pikf.GetPath KF_FLAG_DEFAULT, lpPath
    SysReAllocString sPath, lpPath
   
    MsgBox sPath

    CoTaskMemFree lpPath
    Set pKFM = Nothing

---

Do you have any files in your Recycle Bin? As noted in the other thread, the folder only exists if it's in use. And to confirm, you added the mIID.bas module right? FOLDERID_RecycleBinFolder should be

Code:

---

Public Function FOLDERID_RecycleBinFolder() As UUID
Static iid As UUID
 If (iid.Data1 = 0) Then Call DEFINE_UUID(iid, &HB7534046, CInt(&H3ECB), CInt(&H4C18), &HBE, &H4E, &H64, &HCD, &H4C, &HB7, &HD6, &HAC)
 FOLDERID_RecycleBinFolder = iid
End Function

---

Yes, many files are in the Recycle Bin.

Latest OLEEXP tlb downloaded just last week and in Project references, mIID.bas is in the project, FolderId_RecycleBinFolder UUID definition is correct.

I even created a brand new project with just your code in it and these references and modules with the same result.

Hi, fafalone!

Thank you for information about this interface and nice examples.

I'm trying to use IKnownFolderManager::GetFolderIds method to enum all known folder ids, however VB returns: "Compile error: function or interface marked as restricted, or function uses an Automation type not supported in Visual Basic".

Can you please take a look, how can it be resolved?

Code:

---

    Dim kfid As UUID
    Dim nCount As Long
    Dim pakfid As Long
    Dim i As Long
    Dim ptr As Long
   
    Dim pKFM As KnownFolderManager
    Set pKFM = New KnownFolderManager
   
    If S_OK = pKFM.GetFolderIds(pakfid, nCount) Then
       
        ptr = pakfid
       
        For i = 1 To nCount
            memcpy kfid, ByVal ptr, LenB(kfid)
            ptr = ptr + LenB(kfid)
            Stop
        Next
        CoTaskMemFree pakfid
    End If
   
    Set pKFM = Nothing

---

Here is your implementation:

Code:

---

    [
        odl,
        uuid({8BE2D872-86AA-4D47-B776-32CCA40C7018})
    ]
        interface IKnownFolderManager : IUnknown {
...
            HRESULT _stdcall GetFolderIds(
                                [out] UUID** ppKFId,
                                [in, out] long* pCount);
...

---

Thanks,
Stanislav.

Probably going to be the first param there, don't think VB likes the out-only usertype. First thought is to change it to long* and try to get a pointer to use; dimension an array of uuid(pCount) and use CopyMemory. If that works I'll post it in a bit.

OMG, there are 104 special folders on my Win7 ))))))))))))

fafalone, hi, and thank you.

Code:

---

    long GetFolderIds(
        [out] long* ppKFId,
        [in, out] UINT *pCount);

---

do the job. I also changed HRESULT return type by long to be able to check operation for success.

I combined two methods to get physical path:
1) your method with child items enum - (IShellItem -> GetDisplayName (SIGDN_FILESYSPATH)) + added the same for the root IShellItem
2) and IKnownFolder -> GetPath

It looks like m.1 with child enum doesn't make sense for anything, but Recycle bin.
Also, Root IShellItem -> GetDisplayName worse than m.2 because it return Public special folders, not current user.

Code:

---

Option Explicit

Private Declare Function memcpy Lib "kernel32.dll" Alias "RtlMoveMemory" (Destination As Any, Source As Any, ByVal Length As Long) As Long
Private Declare Sub CoTaskMemFree Lib "ole32.dll" (ByVal pv As Long)
Private Declare Function SysReAllocString Lib "oleaut32" (ByVal pBSTR As Long, ByVal lpWStr As Long) As Long

Private Sub Form_Load()
    Dim kfid As UUID
    Dim nCount As Long
    Dim pakfid As Long
    Dim i As Long
    Dim ptr As Long
    Dim flags As Long
    Dim lpPath As Long
    Dim sPath$, sName$, sLocName$
   
    Dim pKFM As KnownFolderManager
    Set pKFM = New KnownFolderManager
   
    Dim pKF As IKnownFolder
    Dim pKFD As KNOWNFOLDER_DEFINITION
   
    Dim pItem As IShellItem
    Dim penum1 As IEnumShellItems
    Dim pChild As IShellItem
    Dim pcl As Long
   
    pKFM.GetFolderIds pakfid, nCount

    if nCount > 0 then
        ptr = pakfid

        For i = 1 To nCount
            memcpy kfid, ByVal ptr, LenB(kfid)  'array[idx] -> UUID
            ptr = ptr + LenB(kfid)
           
            If S_OK = pKFM.GetFolder(kfid, pKF) Then  'UUID -> IKnownFolder
           
                If Not (pKF Is Nothing) Then
                   
                    pKF.GetFolderDefinition pKFD        'IKnownFolder -> KNOWNFOLDER_DEFINITION
                    sName = BStrFromLPWStr(pKFD.pszName) 'get name
                   
                    sPath = "": lpPath = 0
                   
                    On Error Resume Next
                    pKF.GetShellItem KF_FLAG_DEFAULT, IID_IShellItem, pItem
                    On Error GoTo 0
                   
                    'RETRIEVE PATH - method 1 (IShellItem -> GetDisplayName (SIGDN_FILESYSPATH))
                   
                    If Not (pItem Is Nothing) Then
                        'try root
                        pItem.GetAttributes SFGAO_FILESYSTEM, flags
                        If flags And SFGAO_FILESYSTEM Then
                            pItem.GetDisplayName SIGDN_FILESYSPATH, lpPath
                            sPath = BStrFromLPWStr(lpPath, True)
                        Else
                            'if no success -> try child
                           
                            If sName <> "NetworkPlacesFolder" Then 'it can freeze the program
                           
                                pItem.BindToHandler ByVal 0&, BHID_EnumItems, IID_IEnumShellItems, penum1
       
                                If Not (penum1 Is Nothing) Then
                                    If penum1.Next(1&, pChild, pcl) = S_OK Then
                                        pChild.GetAttributes SFGAO_FILESYSTEM, flags
                                        If flags And SFGAO_FILESYSTEM Then
                                            pChild.GetDisplayName SIGDN_FILESYSPATH, lpPath
                                            sPath = BStrFromLPWStr(lpPath, True)
                                        End If
                                    End If
                                End If
                            End If
                        End If
                    End If
                   
                    'RETRIEVE PATH - method 2 (IKnownFolder -> GetPath)

                    sPath = "": lpPath = 0

                    flags = (KF_FLAG_SIMPLE_IDLIST Or KF_FLAG_DONT_VERIFY Or KF_FLAG_DEFAULT_PATH Or KF_FLAG_NOT_PARENT_RELATIVE)
                    On Error Resume Next
                    pKF.GetPath flags, lpPath          'IKnownFolder -> physical path
                    If Err.Number = 0 And lpPath <> 0 Then
                        sPath = BStrFromLPWStr(lpPath, True)
                    End If
                    On Error GoTo 0
                   
                    Debug.Print sName & " = " & sPath
                End If
            End If
        Next
       
        CoTaskMemFree pakfid
    end if
       
    Set pKFM = Nothing
End Sub

Private Function BStrFromLPWStr(lpWStr As Long, Optional ByVal CleanupLPWStr As Boolean = True) As String
    If lpWStr = 0 Then Exit Function
    SysReAllocString VarPtr(BStrFromLPWStr), lpWStr
    If CleanupLPWStr Then CoTaskMemFree lpWStr
End Function

---

fafalone, by the way, KNOWN_FOLDER_FLAG Enumeration is updated.

Thanks, will include the updated def with next release.

I'm not following you with the User vs. Public issue; I looked at both results and the only difference I see is Library objects where the shell item gives the default save location (more useful) and the getpath gives the actual object file. And current drive recycler parsing path vs. nothing.


If you plan on really doing anything with these folders, you're probably going to want SIGDN_DESKTOP_ABSOLUTEPARSING, you'll lose the friendly name in the root but be able to enumerate/read/write the ones currently returning blank in cases where they contain file sys objects.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fafalone

I'm not following you with the User vs. Public issue

---

There are LOT of mistakes and differences:

m1:

Quote:

---

MusicLibrary = C:\Users\Public\Music\Sample Music
VideosLibrary = C:\Users\Public\Videos\Sample Videos
RecycleBinFolder = C:\$Recycle.Bin\S-1-5-21-4161311594-4244952198-1204953518-1000
LocalizedResourcesDir =
UsersFilesFolder = C:\Users\Alex
MyComputerFolder = C:\
DocumentsLibrary = C:\Users\Alex\Documents\Bandicut
PicturesLibrary = C:\Users\Public\Pictures\Sample Pictures
Original Images =
SamplePlaylists =
Playlists =
OEM Links =
Libraries =

---

m2:

Quote:

---

MusicLibrary = C:\Users\Alex\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries\Music.library-ms
VideosLibrary = C:\Users\Alex\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries\Videos.library-ms
RecycleBinFolder =
LocalizedResourcesDir = C:\Windows\resources\0419
UsersFilesFolder =
MyComputerFolder =
DocumentsLibrary = C:\Users\Alex\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries\Documents.library-ms
PhotoAlbums = C:\Users\Alex\Pictures\Slide Shows
PicturesLibrary = C:\Users\Alex\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries\Pictures.library-ms
Original Images = C:\Users\Alex\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Photo Gallery\Original Images
SamplePlaylists = C:\Users\Public\Music\Sample Playlists
Playlists = C:\Users\Alex\Music\Playlists
OEM Links = C:\ProgramData\OEM Links
Libraries = C:\Users\Alex\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries

---

The only place m1 is suitable I think for "UsersFilesFolder", and shell subitem method for "RecycleBinFolder".

BTW. Don't you know what is the difference between:

Code:

---

"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders"
"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders"

---

I saw somewhere recommendations to use only User Shell Folders. However, by comaparing this list with IKnownFolderManager method, I see that special folders taken from both reg. keys.
There are some duplicates. Curious, how they interact.
Of course, in XP it's better to use SHGetFolderPath.

Quote:

---

If you plan on really doing anything with these folders, you're probably going to want SIGDN_DESKTOP_ABSOLUTEPARSING

---

Thank you. SIGDN_DESKTOP_ABSOLUTEPARSING returns a little bit better results that m2, like:

Quote:

---

CSCFolder = csc://{S-1-5-21-4161311594-4244952198-1204953518-1000}
DocumentsLibrary = ::{031E4825-7B94-4DC3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}\Documents.library-ms
Games = ::{ED228FDF-9EA8-4870-83B1-96B02CFE0D52}

---

instead of:

Quote:

---

CSCFolder =
DocumentsLibrary = C:\Users\Alex\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries\Documents.library-ms
Games =

---

However, I don't need shell parsing names. And m2 is exactly what I want. My goal: to create a log where specialist can evaluate anomalies in system settings and make decision is system malfunction caused by them; or just for cases where need to do identification where some spec.folder located, like if somebody optimized free space on C: using moving spec.folder / symlink method or w/e and if now he no longer remembers where and what he moved :)