C# Signature:

[DllImport("shell32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
static extern int SHGetSpecialFolderLocation(IntPtr hwndOwner, CSIDL nFolder,
   ref IntPtr ppidl);

VB.NET Signature:

<DllImport("shell32.dll", SetLastError:= True)>
Public Function SHGetSpecialFolderLocation(hOwner As IntPtr, _
                  <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.I4)>nFolder As CSIDL, _
                  <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Struct)>ByRef ppidl As ITEMIDLIST) As Integer
End Function

VB Signature:

Public Declare Function SHGetSpecialFolderLocation Lib "shell32.dll" _
        (ByVal prmlngHwndOwner As Long, _
         ByVal prmlngFolderID As CSIDL, _
         prmtypItemIDList As ITEMIDLIST) As Long

User-Defined Types:

CSIDL, ITEMIDLIST

CSIDL

Notes:

None.

Tips & Tricks:

Please add some!

Sample Code:

Please add some!

Alternative Managed API:

Do you know one? Please contribute it!

    'In Visual Basic.Net

    Dim fileP As String
    fileP = My.Computer.FileSystem.SpecialDirectories.MyDocuments

    MsgBox(fileP.ToString)

    // In C# after adding a Reference to the Microsoft.VisualBasic.dll
    using Microsoft.VisualBasic.Devices;

    // and in the Code
    Computer c = new Computer();
    MessageBox.Show(c.FileSystem.SpecialDirectories.MyDocuments);

        //In C#.NET

        private const int MAX_PATH = 260;
        /// <summary>
        /// The main entry point for the application.
        /// </summary>
        ///
        [STAThread]
        static void Main()
        {
            IntPtr ptrDirVideo = IntPtr.Zero;
            SHGetSpecialFolderLocation(IntPtr.Zero, CSIDL.CSIDL_MYVIDEO, ref ptrDirVideo);
            string dirVideo = "";
            StringBuilder sbDirVideo = new StringBuilder(MAX_PATH);

            if (true == SHGetPathFromIDListW(ptrDirVideo, sbDirVideo))
            {
                dirVideo = sbDirVideo.ToString();
            }

            sbDirVideo = null;
            Marshal.FreeCoTaskMem(ptrDirVideo);
        }

        [DllImport("shell32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
        [return : MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
        public static extern bool SHGetPathFromIDListW(IntPtr pidl, [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPTStr)] StringBuilder pszPath);

        [DllImport("shell32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
        static extern int SHGetSpecialFolderLocation(IntPtr hwndOwner, CSIDL nFolder, ref IntPtr ppidl);

        public enum CSIDL
        {
        CSIDL_DESKTOP       = 0x0000,    // <desktop>
        CSIDL_INTERNET      = 0x0001,    // Internet Explorer (icon on desktop)
        CSIDL_PROGRAMS      = 0x0002,    // Start Menu\Programs
        CSIDL_CONTROLS      = 0x0003,    // My Computer\Control Panel
        CSIDL_PRINTERS      = 0x0004,    // My Computer\Printers
        CSIDL_PERSONAL      = 0x0005,    // My Documents
        CSIDL_FAVORITES     = 0x0006,    // <user name>\Favorites
        CSIDL_STARTUP       = 0x0007,    // Start Menu\Programs\Startup
        CSIDL_RECENT        = 0x0008,    // <user name>\Recent
        CSIDL_SENDTO        = 0x0009,    // <user name>\SendTo
        CSIDL_BITBUCKET     = 0x000a,    // <desktop>\Recycle Bin
        CSIDL_STARTMENU     = 0x000b,    // <user name>\Start Menu
        CSIDL_MYDOCUMENTS       = 0x000c,    // logical "My Documents" desktop icon
        CSIDL_MYMUSIC       = 0x000d,    // "My Music" folder
        CSIDL_MYVIDEO       = 0x000e,    // "My Videos" folder
        CSIDL_DESKTOPDIRECTORY      = 0x0010,    // <user name>\Desktop
        CSIDL_DRIVES        = 0x0011,    // My Computer
        CSIDL_NETWORK       = 0x0012,    // Network Neighborhood (My Network Places)
        CSIDL_NETHOOD       = 0x0013,    // <user name>\nethood
        CSIDL_FONTS         = 0x0014,    // windows\fonts
        CSIDL_TEMPLATES     = 0x0015,
        CSIDL_COMMON_STARTMENU      = 0x0016,    // All Users\Start Menu
        CSIDL_COMMON_PROGRAMS       = 0X0017,    // All Users\Start Menu\Programs
        CSIDL_COMMON_STARTUP    = 0x0018,    // All Users\Startup
        CSIDL_COMMON_DESKTOPDIRECTORY   = 0x0019,    // All Users\Desktop
        CSIDL_APPDATA       = 0x001a,    // <user name>\Application Data
        CSIDL_PRINTHOOD     = 0x001b,    // <user name>\PrintHood
        CSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA     = 0x001c,    // <user name>\Local Settings\Applicaiton Data (non roaming)
        CSIDL_ALTSTARTUP    = 0x001d,    // non localized startup
        CSIDL_COMMON_ALTSTARTUP     = 0x001e,    // non localized common startup
        CSIDL_COMMON_FAVORITES      = 0x001f,
        CSIDL_INTERNET_CACHE    = 0x0020,
        CSIDL_COOKIES       = 0x0021,
        CSIDL_HISTORY       = 0x0022,
        CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA    = 0x0023,    // All Users\Application Data
        CSIDL_WINDOWS       = 0x0024,    // GetWindowsDirectory()
        CSIDL_SYSTEM        = 0x0025,    // GetSystemDirectory()
        CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES     = 0x0026,    // C:\Program Files
        CSIDL_MYPICTURES    = 0x0027,    // C:\Program Files\My Pictures
        CSIDL_PROFILE       = 0x0028,    // USERPROFILE
        CSIDL_SYSTEMX86     = 0x0029,    // x86 system directory on RISC
        CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILESX86      = 0x002a,    // x86 C:\Program Files on RISC
        CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES_COMMON      = 0x002b,    // C:\Program Files\Common
        CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES_COMMONX86   = 0x002c,    // x86 Program Files\Common on RISC
        CSIDL_COMMON_TEMPLATES      = 0x002d,    // All Users\Templates
        CSIDL_COMMON_DOCUMENTS      = 0x002e,    // All Users\Documents
        CSIDL_COMMON_ADMINTOOLS     = 0x002f,    // All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
        CSIDL_ADMINTOOLS    = 0x0030,    // <user name>\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
        CSIDL_CONNECTIONS       = 0x0031,    // Network and Dial-up Connections
        CSIDL_COMMON_MUSIC      = 0x0035,    // All Users\My Music
        CSIDL_COMMON_PICTURES       = 0x0036,    // All Users\My Pictures
        CSIDL_COMMON_VIDEO      = 0x0037,    // All Users\My Video
        CSIDL_CDBURN_AREA       = 0x003b    // USERPROFILE\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\CD Burning
        }
    }

Please edit this page!

Do you have...

• helpful tips or sample code to share for using this API in managed code?
• corrections to the existing content?
• variations of the signature you want to share?
• additional languages you want to include?

Select "Edit This Page" on the right hand toolbar and edit it! Or add new pages containing supporting types needed for this API (structures, delegates, and more).