VB6: Windows 10 Known Folders / SHGetKnownFolderPath

[Ellis Dee]

In Windows XP, the recommended practice to find special folders was to call SHGetFolderPath(), but this was deprecated starting in Windows Vista. From Vista on, we're supposed to use SHGetKnownFolderPath(). Unfortunately, it's extremely hard to find easy-to-use code for SHGetKnownFolderPath without having to add unnecessary references or components to your project. (typelibs, or scripting objects.)

Thanks to Randy Birch's excellent sample code, here's an easy-to-use module that lets you identify special folders using API calls, no references or components needed. Simply add the attached module to your project, then call the following function:

?KnownFolder(enumerated value)

You can call the following from the debug window to see a list of known folders and their values:

KnownFolderList


The module contains two compiler directives:

#Const IncludeVirtualFolders = False
#Const IncludeDebugListing = True

Of the 88 total known folders, only 54 return any value for me. The rest are listed as virtual folders by Randy Birch's sample project. I've moved these 34 virtual folders to the end of the enumeration and wrapped them in compiler directives, letting you easily prevent them from being included. This helps reduce clutter in the enumeration dropdown.

The second compiler directive lets you discard the KnownFoldersList() debug window output routines to reduce the size of the code in your finished project.

Here's the known folder enumeration for reference:

Public Enum KnownFolderEnum
    kfUserProfiles
    kfUser
    kfUserDocuments
    kfUserContacts
    kfUserDesktop
    kfUserDownloads
    kfUserMusic
    kfUserPictures
    kfUserSavedGames
    kfUserVideos
    kfUserAppDataRoaming
    kfUserAppDataLocal
    kfUserAppDataLocalLow
    kfUserCDBurning
    kfUserCookies
    kfUserFavorites
    kfUserGameTasks
    kfUserHistory
    kfUserInternetCache
    kfUserLinks
    kfUserNetHood
    kfUserPrintHood
    kfUserQuickLaunch
    kfUserRecent
    kfUserSavedSearches
    kfUserSendTo
    kfUserStartMenu
    kfUserStartMenuAdminTools
    kfUserStartMenuPrograms
    kfUserStartMenuStartup
    kfUserTemplates
    kfPublic
    kfPublicDesktop
    kfPublicDocuments
    kfPublicDownloads
    kfPublicMusic
    kfPublicPictures
    kfPublicVideos
    kfPublicStartMenu
    kfPublicStartMenuAdminTools
    kfPublicStartMenuPrograms
    kfPublicStartMenuStartup
    kfPublicGameTasks
    kfPublicTemplates
    kfProgramData
    kfWindows
    kfSystem
    kfSystemX86
    kfSystemFonts
    kfSystemResourceDir
    kfProgramFilesX86
    kfProgramFilesCommonX86
    kfProgramFiles
    kfProgramFilesCommon
#If IncludeVirtualFolders = True Then
    kfAddNewPrograms
    kfAppUpdates
    kfChangeRemovePrograms
    kfCommonOEMLinks
    kfComputerFolder
    kfConflictFolder
    kfConnectionsFolder
    kfControlPanelFolder
    kfGames
    kfInternetFolder
    kfLocalizedResourcesDir
    kfNetworkFolder
    kfOriginalImages
    kfPhotoAlbums
    kfPlaylists
    kfPrintersFolder
    kfProgramFilesX64
    kfProgramFilesCommonX64
    kfRecordedTV
    kfRecycleBinFolder
    kfSampleMusic
    kfSamplePictures
    kfSamplePlaylists
    kfSampleVideos
    kfSEARCH_CSC
    kfSEARCH_MAPI
    kfSearchHome
    kfSidebarDefaultParts
    kfSidebarParts
    kfSyncManagerFolder
    kfSyncResultsFolder
    kfSyncSetupFolder
    kfTreeProperties
    kfUsersFiles
#End If
#If IncludeDebugListing = True Then
    kfKnownFolders
#End If
End Enum

The order of the enumerated values doesn't matter, so feel free to pick and choose any of the virtual folders to include by moving them above the compiler directive. Be sure to make the same change to the two functions: KnownFolderGUID() and KnownFolderName(). Alternately, you could move many (most?) of the values to inside the directive to streamline the enumerated list, showing only those values you might actually need.