Q179497: HOWTO: Select a Directory Without the Common Dialog Control
Article: Q179497
Product(s): Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows
Version(s):
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s): kbGrpDSVB
Last Modified: 11-JAN-2001
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0
- Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0
- Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
=======
This article demonstrates how to display the directory structure of a computer
and allow a user to select a directory without using the Common Dialog control.
MORE INFORMATION
================
The sample project uses the following API functions to display the directory
structure of a computer:
- SHBrowseForFolder - displays a dialog box that enables the user to select a
shell folder.
- SHGetPathFromIDList - converts an item identifier list to a file system path.
Create the Sample Project
-------------------------
1. Start a new Standard EXE project in Visual Basic. Form1 is created by
default.
2. Add a CommandButton to Form1.
3. Copy the following code to the Code window of Form1:
Option Explicit
Private Const BIF_RETURNONLYFSDIRS = 1
Private Const BIF_DONTGOBELOWDOMAIN = 2
Private Const MAX_PATH = 260
Private Declare Function SHBrowseForFolder Lib "shell32" _
(lpbi As BrowseInfo) As Long
Private Declare Function SHGetPathFromIDList Lib "shell32" _
(ByVal pidList As Long, _
ByVal lpBuffer As String) As Long
Private Declare Function lstrcat Lib "kernel32" Alias "lstrcatA" _
(ByVal lpString1 As String, ByVal _
lpString2 As String) As Long
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 Sub Command1_Click()
'Opens a Treeview control that displays the directories in a computer
Dim lpIDList As Long
Dim sBuffer As String
Dim szTitle As String
Dim tBrowseInfo As BrowseInfo
szTitle = "This is the title"
With tBrowseInfo
.hWndOwner = Me.hWnd
.lpszTitle = lstrcat(szTitle, "")
.ulFlags = BIF_RETURNONLYFSDIRS + BIF_DONTGOBELOWDOMAIN
End With
lpIDList = SHBrowseForFolder(tBrowseInfo)
If (lpIDList) Then
sBuffer = Space(MAX_PATH)
SHGetPathFromIDList lpIDList, sBuffer
sBuffer = Left(sBuffer, InStr(sBuffer, vbNullChar) - 1)
MsgBox sBuffer
End If
End Sub
4. On the Run menu, click Start or press the F5 key to start the program. Click
the CommandButton to display the directory structure of the computer. Select
a directory and click the OK button to display the directory you selected in
a message box.
Additional query words: directory chooser picker kbVBp500 kbVBp600 kbVBp kbdsd kbDSupport
KBWIN32SDK KBAPI
======================================================================
Keywords : kbGrpDSVB
Technology : kbVBSearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword6 kbZNotKeyword2 kbVB500Search kbVB600Search kbVBA500 kbVBA600 kbVB500 kbVB600
Issue type : kbhowto
=============================================================================
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.
Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.