[RESOLVED] How to pass a byte array to SHGetPathFromIDList

[JohnTurnbull]

Hi folks,

I need to change a call to SHGetPathFromIDList so that I get folders with Unicode names – That is using a byte array instead of a string.

The old call using a string for the folder was..

PathID = SHBrowseForFolder(bInf)
Fldr = Space$(512)
RetVal = SHGetPathFromIDList(ByVal PathID, ByVal Fldr)
CoTaskMemFree PathID

And Never had a problem - ie there’s no problem with my declarations or SHbrowseforfolder call

My new call uses a byte array (FldrB) instead of string Fldr…..

PathID = SHBrowseForFolder(bInf)
ReDim FldrB(512)
RetVal = SHGetPathFromIDList(ByVal PathID, ByVal FldrB(0))
CoTaskMemFree PathID

The FldrB array does not receive the path.
I’ve tried several variations like By Ref FldrB(0) and varptr (FldrB(0)) but I still do not get the path in the byte array

What’s the correct way to do this?

Thanks in advance.

[Bonnie West]

Unless you are using a callback, you might find it easier to call the BrowseForFolder method of the Shell object instead (it is Unicode-aware on NT systems). Here's an example:

Private Sub Form_Click()
    Const BIF_RETURNONLYFSDIRS = &H1&, BIF_NONEWFOLDERBUTTON = &H200&

    On Error Resume Next
    CreateObject("WScript.Shell").Popup """" & CreateObject("Shell.Application").BrowseForFolder(Me.hWnd, "Please select a folder:", BIF_RETURNONLYFSDIRS Or BIF_NONEWFOLDERBUTTON, CurDir$).Self.Path & """", , App.Title, vbInformation
End Sub

[JohnTurnbull]

Thanks for the reply but it doesn't solve the problem. Any folder with a unicode name is still returned as ?????????.

[DrUnicode]

No need to use a Byte Array.
StrPtr works just fine.
Make sure you use a Unicode aware MsgBox (shown below) or a Unicode aware control to display results, otherwise you will see "???.
Sample code:

Private Type BROWSEINFO
   hWndOwner As Long
   pIDLRoot As Long
   pszDisplayName As Long
   lpszTitle As Long
   ulFlags As Long
   lpfnCallback As Long
   lParam As Long
   iImage As Long
End Type

Private Declare Function SHGetPathFromIDList Lib "shell32" Alias "SHGetPathFromIDListW" (ByVal pidList As Long, ByVal lpBuffer As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function SHBrowseForFolder Lib "shell32" Alias "SHBrowseForFolderW" (ByRef lpbi As BROWSEINFO) As Long

Public Function ShowBrowseDir(ByVal Prompt As String, Optional ByVal InitDir As String) As String
   Dim Pos As Long, IDList As Long
   Dim Path As String
   Dim BI As BROWSEINFO
   BrowseInitDir = InitDir
   With BI
      If Not Screen.ActiveForm Is Nothing Then
         .hWndOwner = Screen.ActiveForm.hWnd
      Else
         .hWndOwner = GetActiveWindow()
      End If
      .lpszTitle = StrPtr(Prompt)
      .ulFlags = BIF_RETURNONLYFSDIRS
      If Not InitDir = vbNullString Then .lpfnCallback = ProcPtr(AddressOf BrowseCallback)
   End With
   IDList = SHBrowseForFolder(BI)
   If IDList <> 0 Then
      Path = String(MAX_PATH_UNICODE, vbNullChar)
      SHGetPathFromIDList IDList, StrPtr(Path)
      CoTaskMemFree IDList
      Pos = InStr(Path, vbNullChar)
      If Pos > 0 Then Path = Left(Path, Pos - 1)
   End If
   If Not Path = vbNullString Then Path = Path & IIf(Right(Path, 1) = "\", "", "\")
   ShowBrowseDir = Path
End Function

'Purpose: Override Vb6 MsgBox with Unicode aware MsgBox. HelpFile/Context not supported.
Function MsgBox(Prompt As String, Optional Buttons As VbMsgBoxStyle = vbOKOnly, Optional Title As String) As VbMsgBoxResult
    MsgBox = CreateObject("WScript.Shell").Popup(Prompt, 0&, Title, Buttons)
End Function

[Arnoutdv]

Maybe the problem is not in the call to the function, but in the way the returned filename/path is displayed?
The default VB6 controls are not Unicode aware.

[JohnTurnbull]

Thank you all and especially DrUnicode it was the StrPtr that fixed it!