Get File Explorer All Opened Folders Path in VB.Net

Question

How to get Windows File Explorer all opened Windows Path -

like C:\, E:\AndrewBlues, E:\AndrewJazz, C:\Users, Computer, Libraries\Documents,

C:\Users\Andrew\Documents\Visual Studio 2008\Projects\WindowsApplication1, etc.

please help, thanks in advance.

Answer 1

How to get Windows File Explorer all opened Windows Path -

like C:\, E:\AndrewBlues, E:\AndrewJazz, C:\Users, Computer, Libraries\Documents,

C:\Users\Andrew\Documents\Visual Studio 2008\Projects\WindowsApplication1, etc.

please help, thanks in advance.

I guess this is what you mean. If you try to use Option Strict On with it there is an error that Option Strict On does not like even though the code compiles without Option Strict On. I never looked into correcting that and I got the code from that blogspot.

Also, if I remember correctly, if a folder is opened but contains nothing in it then it will not show up in the list for some reason.

Imports Shell32 ' Add reference browse C:\Windows\System32\Shell32.dll or com Microsoft Shell Controls and Automation

'http://xkom.blogspot.com/2011/06/get-opened-folder-location-in-explorer.html

Public Class Form1

    Dim Lb As New ListBox

    Dim WithEvents RoutineTimer As New Timer

    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load

        Lb.Parent = Me
        Lb.Dock = DockStyle.Fill
        Me.Text = "Opened Folder by user (explorer)"
        RoutineTimer.Interval = 1000
        RoutineTimer.Start()

    End Sub

    Sub GetOpenedFolder()

        Dim MShell As New Shell
        Dim SFV As ShellFolderView

        Lb.Items.Clear()
        On Error Resume Next
        For Each o In MShell.Windows
            If TypeName(o.document) <> "HTMLDocument" Then
                SFV = o.document
                If SFV.Folder.Items.Count > 0 Then
                    Lb.Items.Add(TrimPath(CType(SFV.Folder.Items(0), ShellFolderItem).Path))
                End If
            End If
        Next

    End Sub

    Sub Timer_Job() Handles RoutineTimer.Tick
        GetOpenedFolder()
    End Sub

    Function TrimPath(ByRef s As String) As String
        Return s.Remove(InStrRev(s, "\"))
    End Function

End Class

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Please BEWARE that I have NO EXPERIENCE and NO EXPERTISE and probably onset of DEMENTIA which may affect my answers! Also, I've been told by an expert, that when you post an image it clutters up the thread and mysteriously, over time, the link to the image will somehow become "unstable" or something to that effect. :) I can only surmise that is due to Global Warming of the threads.

Answer 2

Dear,

you can also use Lib "kernel32" - 

GetFullPathName function

& do Declaration like this, well but it's good that you first read carefully above function from

msdn page, 

enjoy,...

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Hi,

 This is not what the OP is looking for. The OP wants to get the path of where any opened explorer windows are opened to. And just to let you know the Declaration in that link is for outdated VB6 and will not work in VB.NET. PInvoke.net is a good place to find VB.NET declarations for API functions and structures.    :)

Answer 3

Hi,

 This is not what the OP is looking for. The OP wants to get the path of where any opened explorer windows are opened to. And just to let you know the Declaration in that link is for outdated VB6 and will not work in VB.NET. PInvoke.net is a good place to find VB.NET declarations for API functions and structures.    :)

Yeah, you r right, still i have to study VB6 for my further university activities, well all is well due to you,

nd thanks for opening morning sleepy eyes, thanks again. :D

---

Pl. Mark/Proposed as Answer if found your solution Vote as Helpful if related to your topic. Always Motivate others by performing this Action.

Answer 4

Still there are many folders Opened by Explorer, not showing in the list

i.e. My Computer, ReCycle Bin, Control Panel etc,

pls. help sir....

Answer 5

Still there are many folders Opened by Explorer, not showing in the list

i.e. My Computer, ReCycle Bin, Control Panel etc,

pls. help sir....

Hi,

 Here is a way to get the text from the explorer windows Address combobox in WinXP. This may not work on newer OS versions, i don`t know because i only have XP. So you may need to change the search pattern of the class names and/or the tree of children to find the combobox that has the text in it. You can use Spy++ to find the class names an the tree order of the windows to the combobox if needed. The text returned is also going to depend on the Folder Option Settings that are set in the explorer window also. It may not be set to show the full path in the address bar. You can try it if you want.  :)

Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Imports System.Text

Public Class Form1
    Private Const WM_GETTEXT As Integer = &HD
    Private Const WM_GETTEXTLENGTH As Integer = &HE

    <DllImport("user32.dll", EntryPoint:="FindWindowExW")> _
    Private Shared Function FindWindowExW(ByVal hwndParent As System.IntPtr, ByVal hwndChildAfter As System.IntPtr, <InAttribute(), MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPTStr)> ByVal lpszClass As String, <InAttribute(), MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPTStr)> ByVal lpszWindow As String) As System.IntPtr
    End Function

    <DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError:=True, CharSet:=CharSet.Auto)> _
    Private Shared Function SendMessage(ByVal hWnd As IntPtr, ByVal Msg As UInteger, ByVal wParam As Integer, ByVal lParam As StringBuilder) As Integer
    End Function

    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        ListBox1.Items.Clear()
        Dim hWinList As New List(Of IntPtr)

        'Get Each Explorer Windows Handle
        Dim hWnd As IntPtr = FindWindowExW(IntPtr.Zero, IntPtr.Zero, "CabinetWClass", Nothing)
        While Not hWnd.Equals(IntPtr.Zero)
            hWinList.Add(hWnd)
            hWnd = FindWindowExW(IntPtr.Zero, hWnd, "CabinetWClass", Nothing)
        End While

        'Loop threw each explorer window in the list and get the text from the Address combobox
        If hWinList.Count > 0 Then
            For Each hChld As IntPtr In hWinList
                Dim hChild1 As IntPtr = FindWindowExW(hChld, IntPtr.Zero, "WorkerW", Nothing)
                Dim hChild2 As IntPtr = FindWindowExW(hChild1, IntPtr.Zero, "ReBarWindow32", Nothing)
                Dim hChild3 As IntPtr = FindWindowExW(hChild2, IntPtr.Zero, "ComboBoxEx32", Nothing)
                Dim len As Integer = SendMessage(hChild3, WM_GETTEXTLENGTH, 0, Nothing)
                Dim sb As New StringBuilder(len + 1)
                SendMessage(hChild3, WM_GETTEXT, len + 1, sb)
                ListBox1.Items.Add(sb.ToString)
            Next
        End If

    End Sub
End Class

Answer 6

Still there are many folders Opened by Explorer, not showing in the list

i.e. My Computer, ReCycle Bin, Control Panel etc,

pls. help sir....

I didn't realize that "My Computer" or "Control Panel" were "Folders".

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Please BEWARE that I have NO EXPERIENCE and NO EXPERTISE and probably onset of DEMENTIA which may affect my answers! Also, I've been told by an expert, that when you post an image it clutters up the thread and mysteriously, over time, the link to the image will somehow become "unstable" or something to that effect. :) I can only surmise that is due to Global Warming of the threads.