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Solved
Determining files selected from Explorer
Posted on 2000-04-17
I am looking for a way to determine what files have been selected from Windows Explorer.
For example, I would like to be able to select a range of files, right click, and from the Menu options, choose my application and fill a list box with the selected files.
Creating the context menu to launch my app is not a problem (by just making the appropriate "command" entry in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT registry key), but the problem is how do you know what is selected from Explorer?
If you do a drag and drop, you can just use the data object to iterate the files. With no drag though, how can can you get this info out the operating system?
I think this might involve some serious APIs so how about 300 points?
For example, I would like to be able to select a range of files, right click, and from the Menu options, choose my application and fill a list box with the selected files.
Creating the context menu to launch my app is not a problem (by just making the appropriate "command" entry in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT registry key), but the problem is how do you know what is selected from Explorer?
If you do a drag and drop, you can just use the data object to iterate the files. With no drag though, how can can you get this info out the operating system?
I think this might involve some serious APIs so how about 300 points?
[X]
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1. Start a new Standard.Exe project
2. Copy and Paste the following into the Form1 code window.
3. Press F5 to run. A blank Form1 will appear on the screen. Open Windows Explorer and Copy some files to the clipboard. Click anywhere on Form1 and you will get a message as to how many Files are on the clipboard.. AND.. the IDE immediate window will be populated with the file names.
4. <smile>
<----- Code Begin ----->
Option Explicit
Private Const CF_HDROP = 15&
Private Declare Function CloseClipboard Lib "USER32" _
() As Long
Private Declare Function DragQueryFile Lib "shell32.dll" Alias "DragQueryFileA" _
(ByVal hDrop As Long, ByVal UINT As Long, ByVal lpStr As String, ByVal ch As Long) _
As Long
Private Declare Function GetClipboardData Lib "USER32" _
(ByVal wFormat As Long) _
As Long
Private Declare Function IsClipboardFormatAvailable
(ByVal wFormat As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function OpenClipboard Lib "USER32" _
(ByVal hWnd As Long) As Long
Private Sub Form_Click()
Dim lngFileCount As Long
Dim strFileNames() As String
Dim lngIndex As Long
If xGetClipboardFileList(strF
Then
MsgBox (lngFileCount & " Files are on the Clipboard")
For lngIndex = LBound(strFileNames) To UBound(strFileNames)
Debug.Print strFileNames(lngIndex)
Next lngIndex
Else
MsgBox ("No files are on the clipboard")
End If
End Sub
Public Function xGetClipboardFileList _
(ByRef strFileNames() As String, _
ByRef lngFileCount As Long) _
As Boolean
Dim strFileName As String
Dim lngIndex As Long
Dim lngNull As Long
Dim lngReturn As Long
' Is data available
lngReturn = IsClipboardFormatAvailable
If lngReturn = 0 _
Then
Exit Function
End If
' Open the clipboard:
lngReturn = OpenClipboard(0&)
If lngReturn <= 0 _
Then
Exit Function
End If
' Get handle to CF_HDROP if any:
lngReturn = GetClipboardData(CF_HDROP)
If lngReturn = 0 _
Then
GoTo Tag999
End If
lngFileCount = DragQueryFile(lngReturn, -1&, "", 0)
If lngFileCount <= 0 _
Then
GoTo Tag999
End If
' Allocate space for return and working variables.
ReDim strFileNames(1 To lngFileCount) As String
strFileName = String$(255, 0)
' Retrieve each filename in Dropped Filelist.
For lngIndex = 1 To lngFileCount
DragQueryFile lngReturn, lngIndex - 1, strFileName, Len(strFileName)
lngNull = InStr(strFileName, vbNullChar)
If (lngNull <> 0) Then
strFileNames(lngIndex) = Left$(strFileName, lngNull - 1)
Else
strFileNames(lngIndex) = strFileName
End If
Next lngIndex
xGetClipboardFileList = True
Tag999:
CloseClipboard
End Function
<----- Code End ----->
2. Copy and Paste the following into the Form1 code window.
3. Press F5 to run. A blank Form1 will appear on the screen. Open Windows Explorer and Copy some files to the clipboard. Click anywhere on Form1 and you will get a message as to how many Files are on the clipboard.. AND.. the IDE immediate window will be populated with the file names.
4. <smile>
<----- Code Begin ----->
Option Explicit
Private Const CF_HDROP = 15&
Private Declare Function CloseClipboard Lib "USER32" _
() As Long
Private Declare Function DragQueryFile Lib "shell32.dll" Alias "DragQueryFileA" _
(ByVal hDrop As Long, ByVal UINT As Long, ByVal lpStr As String, ByVal ch As Long) _
As Long
Private Declare Function GetClipboardData Lib "USER32" _
(ByVal wFormat As Long) _
As Long
Private Declare Function IsClipboardFormatAvailable
(ByVal wFormat As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function OpenClipboard Lib "USER32" _
(ByVal hWnd As Long) As Long
Private Sub Form_Click()
Dim lngFileCount As Long
Dim strFileNames() As String
Dim lngIndex As Long
If xGetClipboardFileList(strF
Then
MsgBox (lngFileCount & " Files are on the Clipboard")
For lngIndex = LBound(strFileNames) To UBound(strFileNames)
Debug.Print strFileNames(lngIndex)
Next lngIndex
Else
MsgBox ("No files are on the clipboard")
End If
End Sub
Public Function xGetClipboardFileList _
(ByRef strFileNames() As String, _
ByRef lngFileCount As Long) _
As Boolean
Dim strFileName As String
Dim lngIndex As Long
Dim lngNull As Long
Dim lngReturn As Long
' Is data available
lngReturn = IsClipboardFormatAvailable
If lngReturn = 0 _
Then
Exit Function
End If
' Open the clipboard:
lngReturn = OpenClipboard(0&)
If lngReturn <= 0 _
Then
Exit Function
End If
' Get handle to CF_HDROP if any:
lngReturn = GetClipboardData(CF_HDROP)
If lngReturn = 0 _
Then
GoTo Tag999
End If
lngFileCount = DragQueryFile(lngReturn, -1&, "", 0)
If lngFileCount <= 0 _
Then
GoTo Tag999
End If
' Allocate space for return and working variables.
ReDim strFileNames(1 To lngFileCount) As String
strFileName = String$(255, 0)
' Retrieve each filename in Dropped Filelist.
For lngIndex = 1 To lngFileCount
DragQueryFile lngReturn, lngIndex - 1, strFileName, Len(strFileName)
lngNull = InStr(strFileName, vbNullChar)
If (lngNull <> 0) Then
strFileNames(lngIndex) = Left$(strFileName, lngNull - 1)
Else
strFileNames(lngIndex) = strFileName
End If
Next lngIndex
xGetClipboardFileList = True
Tag999:
CloseClipboard
End Function
<----- Code End ----->
Ok, this is both simple and complex.
The simple part:
The file name selected in explorer is passed as a parameter to the application you specify in your "command" entry. Therefore you can parse the Command() in VB to get the file name.
The complex part:
Depends on how you see it. If you select multiple files, an instance of your application is opened for each file, you would need to determine whether your app was already running using app.Previnstance and if so pass the filename received by this instance to the original one.
The simple part:
The file name selected in explorer is passed as a parameter to the application you specify in your "command" entry. Therefore you can parse the Command() in VB to get the file name.
The complex part:
Depends on how you see it. If you select multiple files, an instance of your application is opened for each file, you would need to determine whether your app was already running using app.Previnstance and if so pass the filename received by this instance to the original one.
Try this, project and form file in text. Create executable TF.exe, this does as I described, if there is an existing instance of tf, it uses DDE to send the filename to the original instance leaving you with a list box containing the files selected in explorer.
TF.VBP
Type=Exe
Form=frmListFiles.frm
Reference=*\G{00020430-000
IconForm="frmListFiles"
Startup="frmListFiles"
HelpFile=""
Title="TF"
ExeName32="TF.exe"
Command32=""
Name="TF"
HelpContextID="0"
CompatibleMode="0"
MajorVer=1
MinorVer=0
RevisionVer=0
AutoIncrementVer=0
ServerSupportFiles=0
VersionCompanyName="TopCat
VersionFileDescription="TF
VersionProductName="TF"
CompilationType=0
OptimizationType=0
FavorPentiumPro(tm)=0
CodeViewDebugInfo=0
NoAliasing=0
BoundsCheck=0
OverflowCheck=0
FlPointCheck=0
FDIVCheck=0
UnroundedFP=0
StartMode=0
Unattended=0
Retained=0
ThreadPerObject=0
MaxNumberOfThreads=1
frmListFiles.frm
VERSION 5.00
Begin VB.Form frmListFiles
Caption = "Form1"
ClientHeight = 3195
ClientLeft = 60
ClientTop = 345
ClientWidth = 4680
LinkMode = 1 'Source
LinkTopic = "Master"
ScaleHeight = 3195
ScaleWidth = 4680
StartUpPosition = 3 'Windows Default
Begin VB.TextBox txtNewFile
Height = 495
Left = 2880
LinkItem = "txtFile"
LinkTopic = "TF|Master"
TabIndex = 2
Text = "Text1"
Top = 1320
Visible = 0 'False
Width = 1575
End
Begin VB.TextBox txtFile
Height = 495
Left = 2880
TabIndex = 1
Text = "Text1"
Top = 480
Visible = 0 'False
Width = 1575
End
Begin VB.ListBox List1
Height = 2790
Left = 240
TabIndex = 0
Top = 120
Width = 2415
End
End
Attribute VB_Name = "frmListFiles"
Attribute VB_GlobalNameSpace = False
Attribute VB_Creatable = False
Attribute VB_PredeclaredId = True
Attribute VB_Exposed = False
Dim strCommand As String
Private Sub Form_Load()
strCommand = Command()
If App.PrevInstance Then
LinkTopic = "NOTMASTER"
PokeFileToPrev
End
End If
List1.AddItem strCommand
End Sub
Private Sub txtFile_Change()
List1.AddItem txtFile.Text
End Sub
Private Sub PokeFileToPrev()
txtNewFile.Text = strCommand
txtNewFile.LinkMode = vbLinkManual
txtNewFile.LinkPoke
End Sub
Private Sub txtFile_LinkNotify()
List1.AddItem txtFile.Text
End Sub
TF.VBP
Type=Exe
Form=frmListFiles.frm
Reference=*\G{00020430-000
IconForm="frmListFiles"
Startup="frmListFiles"
HelpFile=""
Title="TF"
ExeName32="TF.exe"
Command32=""
Name="TF"
HelpContextID="0"
CompatibleMode="0"
MajorVer=1
MinorVer=0
RevisionVer=0
AutoIncrementVer=0
ServerSupportFiles=0
VersionCompanyName="TopCat
VersionFileDescription="TF
VersionProductName="TF"
CompilationType=0
OptimizationType=0
FavorPentiumPro(tm)=0
CodeViewDebugInfo=0
NoAliasing=0
BoundsCheck=0
OverflowCheck=0
FlPointCheck=0
FDIVCheck=0
UnroundedFP=0
StartMode=0
Unattended=0
Retained=0
ThreadPerObject=0
MaxNumberOfThreads=1
frmListFiles.frm
VERSION 5.00
Begin VB.Form frmListFiles
Caption = "Form1"
ClientHeight = 3195
ClientLeft = 60
ClientTop = 345
ClientWidth = 4680
LinkMode = 1 'Source
LinkTopic = "Master"
ScaleHeight = 3195
ScaleWidth = 4680
StartUpPosition = 3 'Windows Default
Begin VB.TextBox txtNewFile
Height = 495
Left = 2880
LinkItem = "txtFile"
LinkTopic = "TF|Master"
TabIndex = 2
Text = "Text1"
Top = 1320
Visible = 0 'False
Width = 1575
End
Begin VB.TextBox txtFile
Height = 495
Left = 2880
TabIndex = 1
Text = "Text1"
Top = 480
Visible = 0 'False
Width = 1575
End
Begin VB.ListBox List1
Height = 2790
Left = 240
TabIndex = 0
Top = 120
Width = 2415
End
End
Attribute VB_Name = "frmListFiles"
Attribute VB_GlobalNameSpace = False
Attribute VB_Creatable = False
Attribute VB_PredeclaredId = True
Attribute VB_Exposed = False
Dim strCommand As String
Private Sub Form_Load()
strCommand = Command()
If App.PrevInstance Then
LinkTopic = "NOTMASTER"
PokeFileToPrev
End
End If
List1.AddItem strCommand
End Sub
Private Sub txtFile_Change()
List1.AddItem txtFile.Text
End Sub
Private Sub PokeFileToPrev()
txtNewFile.Text = strCommand
txtNewFile.LinkMode = vbLinkManual
txtNewFile.LinkPoke
End Sub
Private Sub txtFile_LinkNotify()
List1.AddItem txtFile.Text
End Sub
Tim:
If he doesn't have NT.. this could be a problem:
Reference=*\G{00020430-000
If he doesn't have NT.. this could be a problem:
Reference=*\G{00020430-000
True, but then just change the directory to the correct location for StdOle2.Tlb or remove this line before opening the project and add back the reference from the references dialog.
Thanks though for pointing it out, I didn't see that!
Thanks though for pointing it out, I didn't see that!
Just so you know, to split points..
Ask support to reduce the points on the current question, then allocate the additional points to a targeted Question to the party you want to receive them. (Eg. Question Subject = "For TimCottee" or "Wsh2".. <blush>). Here is the link for Customer Service.
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Customer_Service/Experts_Exchange/
Ask support to reduce the points on the current question, then allocate the additional points to a targeted Question to the party you want to receive them. (Eg. Question Subject = "For TimCottee" or "Wsh2".. <blush>). Here is the link for Customer Service.
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Customer_Service/Experts_Exchange/
There is a totally different solution using the Windows event hook and the Accessibility DLL (oleacc.dll) if you are interested.
1) Advantages:
- Uses the event hook so is totally assynchronous. For example, a running VB program can detect when explorer files are selected or unselected and get file names using oleacc.dll. This can be an invisible background process if you wish.
- The same approach can be used to detect/identify a broad range of events in any process or set of processes (e.g. focus changes, menu selection, etc., etc.)
- Works with Win 9x, NT4 or later
2) Disadvantages:
- Requires oleacc.dll (about 150K)
If you want to start an app with explorer file names as parameters then the wsh2/TimCottee solution is great. I won't elaborate on this unless it suits your needs better than the solution offered.
Good luck - Bob Hamilton
1) Advantages:
- Uses the event hook so is totally assynchronous. For example, a running VB program can detect when explorer files are selected or unselected and get file names using oleacc.dll. This can be an invisible background process if you wish.
- The same approach can be used to detect/identify a broad range of events in any process or set of processes (e.g. focus changes, menu selection, etc., etc.)
- Works with Win 9x, NT4 or later
2) Disadvantages:
- Requires oleacc.dll (about 150K)
If you want to start an app with explorer file names as parameters then the wsh2/TimCottee solution is great. I won't elaborate on this unless it suits your needs better than the solution offered.
Good luck - Bob Hamilton
bhamilto:
OLEACC.DLL.. Hmmmm.. never looked at (or thought of) that before. From what I just briefly scanned on this.. it seems that MS has been quietly using OLEACC to add functionality to its products as well (ie. Office).
Welp.. thanks to you, I'll have plenty to read when I go to bed tonight.. THANK YOU for a very intriguing tip and then HEAVY (it needs a Redistribution kit.. <sheesh>) eyed sleep.. <smile>.
OLEACC.DLL.. Hmmmm.. never looked at (or thought of) that before. From what I just briefly scanned on this.. it seems that MS has been quietly using OLEACC to add functionality to its products as well (ie. Office).
Welp.. thanks to you, I'll have plenty to read when I go to bed tonight.. THANK YOU for a very intriguing tip and then HEAVY (it needs a Redistribution kit.. <sheesh>) eyed sleep.. <smile>.
wsh2
Its not that MS is keeping it secret. The problem is that it comes under the "Accessibility" umbrella so who would think to look for this sort of functionallity there? Somebody here on EE answered a similar question I had a few months back with this general solution. It works great - you can do things that would otherwise require expensive 3rd party software like Desawares SpyWorks.
Most MS and a lot of 3rd party software supports it although you can't get much detail form VB5 apps.
The other disadvantage that I forgot to mention is that there is a lot to read (as you'll soon find out). Its actually quite easy to use and the samples are easy to follow. The VB samples use (the non-event driven) "AccessibleObjectFromPoint
Happy dreams - Bob Hamilton
Its not that MS is keeping it secret. The problem is that it comes under the "Accessibility" umbrella so who would think to look for this sort of functionallity there? Somebody here on EE answered a similar question I had a few months back with this general solution. It works great - you can do things that would otherwise require expensive 3rd party software like Desawares SpyWorks.
Most MS and a lot of 3rd party software supports it although you can't get much detail form VB5 apps.
The other disadvantage that I forgot to mention is that there is a lot to read (as you'll soon find out). Its actually quite easy to use and the samples are easy to follow. The VB samples use (the non-event driven) "AccessibleObjectFromPoint
Happy dreams - Bob Hamilton
Thank you for the additional info. As I am always open to an education, if you have a workable code sample solution, I'll be more than happy to "rephrase" the question as a new one and thereby "open it".
As I have already agreed to the initial wsh2/TimCottee solutions I'd like to be sure they get their points first.
Thanks.
Carpbyte.
As I have already agreed to the initial wsh2/TimCottee solutions I'd like to be sure they get their points first.
Thanks.
Carpbyte.
Hi carpbyte,
I have reduced the points on this question to one half. Please accept one of the Experts comments as an answer. Remember, the Accept Comment as Answer button is in the header of the comment.
For the second Expert, post a question in this topic area. The new question title should be 'For ExpertName - 10330014'.
For your convenience, you can use this link to create the new question:
http://www.experts-exchange.com/bin/NewQForm?ta=31
darinw
Customer Service
I have reduced the points on this question to one half. Please accept one of the Experts comments as an answer. Remember, the Accept Comment as Answer button is in the header of the comment.
For the second Expert, post a question in this topic area. The new question title should be 'For ExpertName - 10330014'.
For your convenience, you can use this link to create the new question:
http://www.experts-exchange.com/bin/NewQForm?ta=31
darinw
Customer Service
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