'How to use Shell32 within a C# application?

What should I include within a C# application in order to make Shell32 work?

Edit:

My application can't recognize shell32. What references or lib should I include? What I'm trying to do is:

Shell32.Shell shell = new Shell32.Shell();

What I'm getting as an error:

Error 1 The type or namespace name 'Shell32' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)

c++sharpshell32


Solution 1:[1]

maybe this can help:

  1. Right click project
  2. Click Add reference
  3. Click .COM tab in Add reference dialogue
  4. Select Microsoft Shell Controls and Automation
  5. Click OK

your shell32 is ready to use...

Solution 2:[2]

I know this thread is old, but I post this for anyone having the same problem as I did. The solution above does not compile under windows 8

Shell32.Shell shell = new Shell32.Shell(); <= this doesn't work with windows 8

Use the work around below if you want your apps to run under windows 8.

using Shell32;

private Shell32.Folder GetShell32Folder(string folderPath)
{
    Type shellAppType = Type.GetTypeFromProgID("Shell.Application");
    Object shell = Activator.CreateInstance(shellAppType);
    return (Shell32.Folder)shellAppType.InvokeMember("NameSpace",
    System.Reflection.BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null, shell, new object[] { folderPath });
}

Solution 3:[3]

  1. Right click your project in the solution explorer.
  2. Choose "Add Reference..." from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click the "Browse" tab.
  4. Navigate to the C:\Windows\System32 directory.
  5. Choose the "shell32.dll" file. and press the "OK" button.

You now have the appropriate reference for using Shell32.Shell.

Solution 4:[4]

Add to your project a reference to the COM library Microsoft Shell Controls and Automation. Additionally, ensure that the code using Shell32.Shell is running in a single threaded apartment, e.g. by adding the [STAThread] attribute to Main.

Solution 5:[5]

I'm guessing that you're having trouble getting any calls recognized, so I'd refer you to this general article: http://www.codeproject.com/KB/shell/csdoesshell1.aspx

Beyond that, you'll need to provide specifics of what isn't working for you.

Solution 6:[6]

The class shown below should help with some of the methods of shell32 in C# . you should add the reference of "Microsoft Shell command and automation" with the reference window by righting clicking the project .

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;

    namespace MusicMuttPrototype
    {
        public class clsShellFileInfo
        {
            public Exception errorException;
            public enum FileDetailInfo
            {
                Name = 0,
                Year = 15,
                Size = 1,
                Track_Number = 19,
                Type = 2,
                Genre = 20,
                Date_Modified = 3,
                Duration = 27,
                Date_Created = 4,
                Bit_Rate = 28,
                Date_Accessed = 5,
                Protected = 23,
                Attributes = 6,
                Camera_Model = 24,
                Status = 7,
                Date_Picture_Taken = 25,
                Owner = 8,
                Dimensions = 26,
                Author = 9,
                Not_used = 27,
                Title = 10,
                Not_used_file = 28,
                Subject = 11,
                //Not_used = 29,
                Category = 12,
                Company = 30,
                Pages = 13,
                Description = 31,
                Comments = 14,
                File_Version = 32,
                Copyright = 15,
                Product_Name_Chapter = 33,
                //Scripting Quicktest Profess11ional Page 63 
                Artist = 16,
                Product_Version = 34,
                Album_Title = 17,
                Retrieves_the_info_tip_inf = -1
            }

            public string getFileDetails(string fileFolder, string filePath, FileDetailInfo infotype)
            {
                string strReturnval = "";
                try
                {
                    Shell32.Shell fileshell = new Shell32.Shell();
                    Shell32.Folder fileshellfolder = fileshell.NameSpace(fileFolder);
                    Shell32.FolderItem Item = fileshellfolder.ParseName(filePath);
                    strReturnval = fileshellfolder.GetDetailsOf(Item, (int)infotype);
                }
                catch (Exception ex)
                {

                    errorException = ex;
                }
                return strReturnval;
            }


        }
    }

Solution 7:[7]

If you don't need the full set of API calls, you maybe better off creating a COM import stub class. See how Mike Ward who wrote Desk Drive did it.

http://mike-ward.net/2008/09/02/a-lean-method-for-invoking-com-in-c/ https://github.com/mike-ward/DeskDrive/blob/master/src/DeskDrive/Shell32.cs

Solution 8:[8]

Referencing the actual shell32.dll is deprecated. You will get errors in .NET Framework 4+. Using an older .NET Framework just to use the shell32.dll limits your program's capabilities. In applications for windows 7+ and .NET Framework 4+ you should always use the .COM component instead. Right click project. Click Add reference. Click .COM tab in Add reference dialogue. Select Microso.ft Shell Controls and Automation. Click OK

Solution 9:[9]

C# .Net I do not understand the full question but this is working for me.

[DllImport("Shell32.dll")]
        public static extern int ShellExecuteA(int hwnd, string lpOperation, string lpFile, int lpParameters, int lpDirecotry, int nShowCmd);

private void pictureBox1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            int open;
            open = ShellExecuteA(0, "open", "https://google.com", 0, 0, 1);
        }

Using a picturebox to open a link.

Sources

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Source: Stack Overflow

Solution Source
Solution 1
Solution 2
Solution 3 gonzobrains
Solution 4 Edward Brey
Solution 5 holtavolt
Solution 6 user3126891
Solution 7 noztol
Solution 8 Bifrost Titan
Solution 9 DharmanBot

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