SQLInstallerError does not post error values for itself. SQLInstallerError returns SQL_NO_DATA when it is unable to retrieve any error information (in which case pfErrorCode is undefined). If SQLInstallerError cannot access error values for any reason that would normally return SQL_ERROR, SQLInstallerError returns SQL_ERROR but does not post any error values. If either the lpszErrorMsg argument is NULL or the cbErrorMsgMax is less than or equal to 0, this function returns SQL_ERROR. If the buffer for the error message is too short, SQLInstallerError returns SQL_SUCCESS_WITH_INFO and returns the correct pfErrorCode value for SQLInstallerError.

    private const uint MIDICAPS_STREAM = 8;      // driver supports midiStreamOut directly

Unlike Environment.TickCount, you can directly set the resolution of this timer with the TimeBeginPeriod function.

        WAVE_FORMAT_DIRECT = 8

  WAVE_FORMAT_DIRECT = 8

  WAVE_FORMAT_DIRECT = 8

Use "Auto" in the Declare statement to have the correct character set selected automatically.

See http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowspro-audiodevelopment/thread/14926e01-635e-4360-998b-ec6124d888a7 - correct C# signature at the bottom (including uDeviceId). This is based on http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dd743866%28v=vs.85%29.aspx which shows a UINT_PTR for that parameter. Note that the _PTR parameters are the only ones that are different sizes in 32 vs. 64 bit mode. In .Net you use IntPtr for that purpose.

static extern bool GetProfilesDirectory(StringBuilder path, ref int size);

   if (GetProfilesDirectory(path, ref size) )

    if (GetProfilesDirectory(path, &size) ) {

        MessageBox(NULL, path, "GetProfilesDirectory()", MB_OK);

WINBOOL WINAPI GetProfilesDirectoryA(LPSTR lpProfileDir, LPDWORD lpcchSize);

    if (GetProfilesDirectory(path, &size) ) {

        MessageBox(NULL, path, "GetProfilesDirectory()", MB_OK);

If your use of this API is focused around a single value of ConfigId, you may want to change the IntPtr (pConfigInformation) to point directly to a managed version of the correct underlying structure and let the default marshaller take care of the interop layer marshaling for you (and your memory management).

If your use of this API is focused around a single value of ConfigId, you may want to change the IntPtr (pConfigInformation) to point directly to a managed version of the correct underlying structure and let the default marshaller take care of the interop layer marshaling for you (and your memory management).

If your use of this API is focused around a single value of ConfigId, you may want to change the IntPtr (pConfigInformation) to point directly to a managed version of the correct underlying structure and let the default marshaller take care of the interop layer marshaling for you (and your memory management).

        RESOURCEDISPLAYTYPE_DIRECTORY,

        CONNECT_REDIRECT = 0X80,

  //      RESOURCEDISPLAYTYPE_DIRECTORY,

    Directory = 0x09,

        RESOURCEDISPLAYTYPE_DIRECTORY,

    RESOURCEDISPLAYTYPE_DIRECTORY = 0x00000009,

    RESOURCEDISPLAYTYPE_DIRECTORY = &H9

    DIRECTORY    = 0x00000009,

    REDIRECT        = 0x00000080,

ERROR_WINHTTP_INCORRECT_HANDLE_TYPE - The type of handle supplied is incorrect for this operation.

    void SetWindow(IntPtr hwnd, ref RECT rect);

    void SetRect(ref RECT rect);

/// Adds a backslash to the end of a string to create the correct syntax for a path.

''' Adds a backslash to the end of a string to create the correct syntax for a path.

Current signature is incorrect, because return value is string and CLR trying to release the same string twice (return value and lpszDest). I have unxpected crashes. I think that type of return value should change to IntPtr. This page contains some discussion about this problem: http://objectmix.com/dotnet/747522-p-invoke-signature-pathcombine.html

/// Determines whether a path to a file system object such as a file or directory is valid.

''' Determines whether a path to a file system object such as a file or directory is valid.

ppszOtherDirs is a list of specific directories to search first. It can be null if you want to search only the PATH.

/// Verifies that a path is a valid directory.

/// <returns>Returns (BOOL)FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY if the path is a valid directory; otherwise, FALSE.</returns>

[DllImport("shlwapi.dll", EntryPoint = "PathIsDirectoryW",  SetLastError = True, CharSet= CharSet.Unicode)]

static extern bool PathIsDirectory([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPTStr)]string pszPath);

''' Verifies that a path is a valid directory.

''' <returns>Returns (BOOL)FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY if the path is a valid directory; otherwise, FALSE.</returns>

<DllImport("shlwapi.dll", EntryPoint:="PathIsDirectoryW",  SetLastError:=True, CharSet:=CharSet.Unicode)> _

Public Function PathIsDirectory(<MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPTStr)>pszPath As String) As <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)> Boolean

Public Declare Function PathIsDirectory Lib "shlwapi" Alias "PathIsDirectoryA" _

bool System.IO.Directory.Exists(string path)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.io.directory.exists%28v=vs.110%29.aspx

/// Parses a path to determine if it is a directory root.

''' Parses a path to determine if it is a directory root.

    ''' <param name="dwAttrFrom">The file attributes of <paramref name="pszFrom" />. If this value contains Directory, <paramref name="pszFrom" /> is assumed to be a directory; otherwise, <paramref name="pszFrom" /> is assumed to be a file</param>

    ''' <param name="dwAttrTo">The file attributes of <paramref name="pszTo" />. If this value contains Directory, <paramref name="pszTo" /> is assumed to be a directory; otherwise, <paramref name="pszTo" /> is assumed to be a file</param>

     @"c:\a\b\path", FileAttributes.Directory,

    if (path is DirectoryInfo) {

      if (fullName[fullName.Length - 1] != Path.DirectorySeparatorChar) {

        fullName += Path.DirectorySeparatorChar;

This is similar, but not identical, to Path.GetFileName. If the input string ends with a directory, the directory is returned rather than nothing; for example, "C:\foo\" becomes "foo\", "C:" stays "C:".

    public static extern int SHLoadIndirectString(string pszSource, StringBuilder pszOutBuf, int cchOutBuf, IntPtr ppvReserved);

    Public Declare Auto Function SHLoadIndirectString Lib "shlwapi.dll" (ByVal pszSource As String, ByVal pszOutBuf As String, ByVal cchOutBuf As UInteger, ByVal ppvReserved As IntPtr) As UInteger

int result = SHLoadIndirectString(resourcePath, outBuff, -1, IntPtr.Zero);

//SHLoadIndirectString returns S_OK (0) if successful

int result = SHLoadIndirectString(sWin8ManifestString, outBuff, outBuff.Capacity, IntPtr.Zero);

    //        RECT rc;

    public RECT rc;

    public RECT rc;

    Public rc As RECT

    public RECT rc;

    // The previous examples on this page used incorrect

            CSIDL_DESKTOPDIRECTORY      = 0x0010,    // <user name>\Desktop

            CSIDL_COMMON_DESKTOPDIRECTORY   = 0x0019,    // All Users\Desktop

            CSIDL_WINDOWS           = 0x0024,    // GetWindowsDirectory()

            CSIDL_SYSTEM            = 0x0025,    // GetSystemDirectory()

            CSIDL_SYSTEMX86         = 0x0029,    // x86 system directory on RISC

        /// Version 5.0. The file system directory that is used to store administrative tools for an individual user.

        /// The Microsoft Management Console (MMC) will save customized consoles to this directory, and it will roam with the user.

        /// The file system directory that corresponds to the user's nonlocalized Startup program group.

        /// Version 4.71. The file system directory that serves as a common repository for application-specific data.

        /// Version 6.0. The file system directory acting as a staging area for files waiting to be written to CD.

        /// Version 5.0. The file system directory containing administrative tools for all users of the computer.

        /// The file system directory that corresponds to the nonlocalized Startup program group for all users.

        /// Version 5.0. The file system directory containing application data for all users. A typical path is

        /// The file system directory that contains files and folders that appear on the desktop for all users.

        CSIDL_COMMON_DESKTOPDIRECTORY = 0x0019,

        /// The file system directory that contains documents that are common to all users. A typical paths is

        /// The file system directory that serves as a common repository for favorite items common to all users.

        /// Version 6.0. The file system directory that serves as a repository for music files common to all users.

        /// Version 6.0. The file system directory that serves as a repository for image files common to all users.

        /// The file system directory that contains the directories for the common program groups that appear on the

        /// The file system directory that contains the programs and folders that appear on the Start menu for all users.

        /// The file system directory that contains the programs that appear in the Startup folder for all users.

        /// The file system directory that contains the templates that are available to all users. A typical path is

        /// Version 6.0. The file system directory that serves as a repository for video files common to all users.

        /// The file system directory that serves as a common repository for Internet cookies. A typical path is

        /// The file system directory used to physically store file objects on the desktop (not to be confused with

        CSIDL_DESKTOPDIRECTORY = 0x0010,

        /// The file system directory that serves as a common repository for the user's favorite items. A typical path is

        CSIDL_HISTORY = 0x0022, // The file system directory that serves as a common repository for Internet history items.

        /// Version 4.72. The file system directory that serves as a common repository for temporary Internet files.

        /// Version 5.0. The file system directory that serves as a data repository for local (nonroaming) applications.

        /// The file system directory that serves as a common repository for music files. A typical path is

        /// Version 5.0. The file system directory that serves as a common repository for image files.

        /// Version 6.0. The file system directory that serves as a common repository for video files.

        /// A file system directory containing the link objects that may exist in the My Network Places virtual folder.

        /// Previous to Version 6.0. The file system directory used to physically store a user's common repository of documents.

        /// The file system directory that contains the link objects that can exist in the Printers virtual folder.

        /// Version 6.0. The file system directory containing user profile folders. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings.

        /// The file system directory that contains the user's program groups (which are themselves file system directories).

        /// The file system directory that contains shortcuts to the user's most recently used documents. A typical path is

        /// The file system directory that contains Send To menu items. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\SendTo.

        /// The file system directory containing Start menu items. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Start Menu.

        /// The file system directory that corresponds to the user's Startup program group. The system starts these programs

        /// The file system directory that serves as a common repository for document templates. A typical path is

        /// Version 5.0. The Windows directory or SYSROOT. This corresponds to the %windir% or %SYSTEMROOT% environment variables.

this.fileSystemWatcher.IncludeSubdirectories = true;

static extern IntPtr FindExecutable(string lpFile, string lpDirectory, [Out] StringBuilder lpResult);

Private Shared Function FindExecutable(ByVal lpFile As String, ByVal lpDirectory As String, ByRef lpResult As StringBuilder) As IntPtr

            string lpFile, string lpDirectory, StringBuilder lpResult);

/// It is recommended to call that function directly to determine Administrator group status rather than calling IsUserAnAdmin.

''' It is recommended to call that function directly to determine Administrator group status rather than calling IsUserAnAdmin.

    /// <param name="prcClip">A pointer to a RECT structure that specifies a selection within the window's

struct RECT{

public static extern string Shell(IntPtr HWND, string operation, string file, string parameters, string directory, int showcmd);

///         Retrieves the bounding rectangle of the Windows taskbar. Note that this applies only to the

    Public Structure RECT

    Public rc As RECT

    Public T_SIZE As RECT

        // Browsing for directory.

You need to be in an STA thread for the BIF_NEWDIALOGSTYLE to work correctly. Use the STAThread attribute on your Main function, or create a new thread and call SetApartmentState before it is started. The default apartment state is MTA so if this isn't working for you, that could be why.

Shell Notifications in C# [http://www.thecodeproject.com/csharp/shellnotifications.asp] (Note: the parameter to this function is incorrect in the example. The C# Signature above is correct)

static extern int SHCreateDirectoryEx(IntPtr hwnd, string pszPath, IntPtr psa);

SHCreateDirectoryEx(IntPtr.Zero, @"D:\test\", IntPtr.Zero);

    <MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPTStr)> Public lpDirectory As String

        public string lpDirectory;

"explore"    - Opens the Windows Explorer in the folder specified in lpDirectory.

Retrieves the Notifyicon bounding rectangle.

    static extern int Shell_NotifyIconGetRect([In]ref NOTIFYICONIDENTIFIER identifier, [Out]out RECT iconLocation);

RECT

    public struct RECT

    private static extern int Shell_NotifyIconGetRect([In]ref NOTIFYICONIDENTIFIER identifier, [Out]out RECT iconLocation);

    public static RECT GetNotifyIconRect(IntPtr windowHandle, uint taskbarIconId)

        var rect = new RECT();

        var hresult = Shell_NotifyIconGetRect(ref notifyIcon, out rect);

        return rect;

Retrieves the Notifyicon bounding rectangle.

    static extern int Shell_NotifyIconGetRect([In]ref NOTIFYICONIDENTIFIER identifier, [Out]out RECT iconLocation);

RECT

    public struct RECT

    private static extern int Shell_NotifyIconGetRect([In]ref NOTIFYICONIDENTIFIER identifier, [Out]out RECT iconLocation);

    public static RECT GetNotifyIconRect(IntPtr windowHandle, uint taskbarIconId)

        var rect = new RECT();

        var hresult = Shell_NotifyIconGetRect(ref notifyIcon, out rect);

        return rect;

• Correctly treat pTo and pFrom as zero delimited double zero terminated.

            FOF_NORECURSION = 0x1000,  // don't recurse into directories.

        // Version 5.0. The file system directory that is used

        // consoles to this directory, and it will roam with the user.

        // Version 5.0. The file system directory containing

        // Version 4.71. The file system directory that serves as

        // Version 5.0. The file system directory containing

        // The file system directory that contains documents

        // The file system directory that serves as a common repository

        // The file system directory that serves as a common repository

        // Version 4.72. The file system directory that serves as

        // Version 5.0. The file system directory that serves as a data

        // Version 5.0. The file system directory that serves as

        // Previous to Version 6.0. The file system directory used to

        // Version 5.0. The Windows directory or SYSROOT.

        // Fonts directory. A typical path is c:\Windows\Fonts.

        CSIDL_DESKTOPDIRECTORY    = 0x0010,    // <user name>\Desktop

        CSIDL_COMMON_DESKTOPDIRECTORY = 0x0019,    // All Users\Desktop

        CSIDL_WINDOWS         = 0x0024,    // GetWindowsDirectory()

        CSIDL_SYSTEM          = 0x0025,    // GetSystemDirectory()

        CSIDL_SYSTEMX86           = 0x0029,    // x86 system directory on RISC

        Throw New ApplicationException("Can't get window's directory")

    /// Gets the system fonts directory path.

    /// <returns>The fonts directory path</returns>

    private static String GetFontsDirectory()

    struct RECT

    public RECT rcImage;

        int GetImageRect(

        ref RECT prc);

SHGetImageList is not exported correctly in XP. See http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q316931

        Throw New ApplicationException("Can't get specified directory.")

    COMMON_DESKTOPDIRECTORY = &H19

    DESKTOPDIRECTORY = &H10

/// <param name="pidl">Address of an item identifier list that specifies a file or directory location relative to the root of the namespace (the desktop).</param>

''' <param name="pidl">Address of an item identifier list that specifies a file or directory location relative to the root of the namespace (the desktop).</param>

    fileP = My.Computer.FileSystem.SpecialDirectories.MyDocuments

    MessageBox.Show(c.FileSystem.SpecialDirectories.MyDocuments);

        CSIDL_DESKTOPDIRECTORY      = 0x0010,    // <user name>\Desktop

        CSIDL_COMMON_DESKTOPDIRECTORY   = 0x0019,    // All Users\Desktop

        CSIDL_WINDOWS       = 0x0024,    // GetWindowsDirectory()

        CSIDL_SYSTEM        = 0x0025,    // GetSystemDirectory()

        CSIDL_SYSTEMX86     = 0x0029,    // x86 system directory on RISC

System.Drawing.SystemIcons, although note that not all icons are included and at least the Shield icon is incorrect on Win 7 / Win 2008.

(not 100% certain this is correct, need to test)

    ''' Sets the parent directory containing the files that will be selected.

Setting Pack = 4 correctly aligns the data and doesn't add any padding bytes that throw off struct size/values.

        /// A full-screen (exclusive mode) Direct3D application is running.

        RunningDirect3dFullScreen = 3,