listing all registered applications using Delphi

[itibira]

Does anyone know how to get a list of all applications that might be listed in Windows "Start menu/programs" toolbar or that might be on the desktop and have them listed in a listbox or similar component, along with the associated application icons?

Or another way of asking: is there a way to do what the "Open With..." dialog box in Windows does, but in Delphi, ie: NOT simply opening and running the Windows "Open With" dll but actually going out and finding and listing the applications?

Apparently this is something that is very difficult to as i haven't been able to find it at all anywhere.

Code examples are *greatly* appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

 

[itibira]

It seems that a component of this type would be very useful, but i haven't seen any yet. There are components for Uninstall but not for listing registered applications on a Windows machine.

i still do not understand why if Microsoft can do it with their "Open with" dialog, then why is there not a native Delphi component that can at least list a system's applications.

The problem with the Uninstall components is that they will list installed software packages, not necessarily individual applications. For example, an Uninstall component will list Microsoft Office, but not the individual applications like Word or Excel. A Delphi component is needed to do this.

Is there anyone on this forum who might shed some light on this?

Thanks.