OpenFileDialog and extract from a zip file

[MMock]

If I am in Word and I say File Open, it displays files of type All Files. If I have a Compressed Folder in the current location, I can right click on that folder and Extract All. Then if I extracted a filetype that Word can read, I can click on the file I just extracted and opened this is Word. All from saying File Open. I want to replicate this behavior in my .NET code.

Maybe I am missing a property when I create my OpenFileDialog, but if I right click on the same file as above, I do not get a context menu that will let me Extract All. Why not? I get nothing. This is my .NET code:

            Dim dlgZipFile As New OpenFileDialog
            dlgZipFile.Title = "Please navigate to the location of the input file"
            dlgZipFile.InitialDirectory = "C:\Projects\Files"
            dlgZipFile.Filter = "All Files (*.*)|*.*"
            dlgZipFile.FileName = ""
            If dlgZipFile.ShowDialog <> Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK Then Return False

Is there something else I need which perhaps Word is providing which is making happen what is not happening in my code?

[MMock]

In fact, I get a context menu for every single file in the folder *except* the compressed ones, which are the ones I want!

[jmcilhinney]

All I can tell you is that, if I open an OpenFileDialog and right-click on a ZIP file, I get an option to Extract All.

[MMock]

From code *you* wrote? And it's like mine, or has additional properties you set?

[jmcilhinney]

All I did was create an OpenFileDialog and call ShowDialog.

[MMock]

This is the explanation I got from a co-worker after discussing it with him. We believe that Word can do it because it is using its own OpenFileDialog, not the same one we have available developing .NET apps. In a web browser, if we do file, open, browse, neither of us gets a context menu there. But in Word we do. He believes it is our company blocking it. But I have no idea how...

[jmcilhinney]

That's possible I guess. Your administrator does have access to many configuration options via Active Directory, so that might be something they did. Not sure why they would mind you, but the .NET OpenFielDialogue is just a wrapper for the Windows common dialogue so it will pick up Windows changes.

[MMock]

Well the more I thought about it yesterday the more I wasn't sure what the web browser had to do with it, as this is a Windows application, so I'm not sure exactly what point he was trying to make. Just that he has some capability on his own PC that's not on his company-owned PC. But if I get a context menu in Windows Explorer I don't know why I wouldn't get the same in my WinForms .NET application. If it's allowed in the former, why would it be blocked in the latter?

Anyway, if I can't get this to work I will have to incorporate code to unzip the files in my application, which is okay, but a lot more work than just having an Extract All option available at everyone's fingertips. Plus I can't just use any zipware code that I download as I'm not allowed to download anything. But I think we have our own applications where someone may have written or interfaced with an approved zip software product.

The last thing I want to do is write an application like John's (create an OpenFileDialog then Show it), compile it at work and see what I get and compile it at home and see what I get. My guess it will present the context menu at home but not at work.