Finding the Windows Desktop Directory

Here's one solution. Not a one liner but short enough, I think:

function GetDesktopFolderName: String;

var
  AReg: TRegIniFile;

begin
  Result := '';
  AReg := TRegIniFile.Create('Software\MicroSoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer');
  Result := AReg.ReadString('Shell Folders', 'Desktop', '');
  AReg.Free;
end;


Ciao, Mike

and here's another one:

function GetDesktopFolder: String;

var
  Buffer: array[0..MAX_PATH] of Char;
  PIDL: PItemIDList;

begin
  SHGetSpecialFolderLocation(Handle, CSIDL_DESKTOP, PIDL);
  SHGetPathFromIDList(PIDL, Buffer);
  Result := Buffer;
end;

Ciao, Mike

How does this react if, for example, the PC has multiple users and there are a number of desktop folders? Does it use the desktop of the currently active user i.e. the one actually logged in and running the application?

Yep, the folder of the currently logged in user is returned.

Ciao, Mike

I think the first one is easier to understand - Are there any specifics I need e.g. in "uses" etc or just declare the function at the top?

Nothing special to consider. Just take in Registry into the uses clause and copy the code out. Btw: the second code is not much harder than the first one. You need to include ShlObj and with this SHGet* stuff you are independent of eventual changes Microsoft makes to the registry in future Windows versions.

Ciao, Mike

I'm getting errors:
Undeclared identifier: 'Handle'
Unsatisfied forward or external declaration: 'TfrmMain.GetDesktopFolder'

I've included ShlObj and have declared the function with all the others:

procedure btnAboutClick(Sender: TObject);
procedure cmbSlot1Change(Sender: TObject);
function GetDesktopFolder: String;
private
      { Private declarations }

Any suggestions (btw using Delphi 4)

I needed an answer fast, and got it.
A nice quick and clean answer - much appreciated.
Garth.

I'm always glad to help (in particular when so many points are involved ;-)).

Good luck until next time,

Ciao, Mike