Path to "Desktop"

[MarvinR]

I want to export a file to Desktop, but how can I know the exact path ?

 

[craigsboyd]

WSHShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell&quot
IF TYPE("WSHShell&quot = "O"
cDesktopPath = WSHShell.SpecialFolders("Desktop&quot
endif
?cDesktopPath


Slighthaze = NULL

[ul][li]FAQ184-2483
An excellent guide to getting a fast and accurate response to your questions in this forum.[/li][/ul]

 

[MarvinR]

I got this answer within two minutes, a wonderful forum. Thanks Slighthaze.

Could you tell where can I find more detail about WScript.Shell ? sometimes I try MS knowledge base but it's not so easy to find what I want.

 

[craigsboyd]

WScript.Shell is documented a few places on the web with differing degrees of detail. I usually use a search engine Google to be specific...I find it easier to find stuff on the MS site using Google than I do to use the Microsoft site's search.

I have questions of my own regarding the use of WScript...what are the requirements on the users' systems etc...so in the interest of providing something you might be a little more comfortable using and distributing, try the following code(I have taken the liberty of including all the define's so as to make this thread a little more informative). The post is large but almost all of it is the extensive list of defines, the actual working code is short and sweet.

#DEFINE CSIDL_FLAG_CREATE 0x8000
*!*	Version 5.0. Combine this CSIDL with any of the following CSIDLs to force the creation of the associated folder. 

#DEFINE CSIDL_ADMINTOOLS 0x0030
*!*	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.

#DEFINE CSIDL_ALTSTARTUP 0x001d
*!*	The file system directory that corresponds to the user's nonlocalized Startup program group.

#DEFINE CSIDL_APPDATA 0x001a
*!*	Version 4.71. The file system directory that serves as a common repository for application-specific data. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data. This CSIDL is supported by the redistributable Shfolder.dll for systems that do not have the Microsoft® Internet Explorer 4.0 integrated Shell installed.

#DEFINE CSIDL_BITBUCKET 0x000a
*!*	The virtual folder containing the objects in the user's Recycle Bin.

#DEFINE CSIDL_CDBURN_AREA 0x003b
*!*	Version 6.0. The file system directory acting as a staging area for files waiting to be written to CD. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\CD Burning.

#DEFINE CSIDL_COMMON_ADMINTOOLS 0x002f
*!*	Version 5.0. The file system directory containing administrative tools for all users of the computer.

#DEFINE CSIDL_COMMON_ALTSTARTUP 0x001e
*!*	The file system directory that corresponds to the nonlocalized Startup program group for all users. Valid only for Microsoft Windows NT® systems.

#DEFINE CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA 0x0023
*!*	Version 5.0. The file system directory containing application data for all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data.

#DEFINE CSIDL_COMMON_DESKTOPDIRECTORY 0x0019
*!*	The file system directory that contains files and folders that appear on the desktop for all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop. Valid only for Windows NT systems.

#DEFINE CSIDL_COMMON_DOCUMENTS 0x002e
*!*	The file system directory that contains documents that are common to all users. A typical paths is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents. Valid for Windows NT systems and Microsoft Windows® 95 and Windows 98 systems with Shfolder.dll installed.

#DEFINE CSIDL_COMMON_FAVORITES 0x001f
*!*	The file system directory that serves as a common repository for favorite items common to all users. Valid only for Windows NT systems.

#DEFINE CSIDL_COMMON_MUSIC 0x0035
*!*	Version 6.0. The file system directory that serves as a repository for music files common to all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Music.

#DEFINE CSIDL_COMMON_PICTURES 0x0036
*!*	Version 6.0. The file system directory that serves as a repository for image files common to all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures.

#DEFINE CSIDL_COMMON_PROGRAMS 0x0017
*!*	The file system directory that contains the directories for the common program groups that appear on the Start menu for all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs. Valid only for Windows NT systems.

#DEFINE CSIDL_COMMON_STARTMENU 0x0016
*!*	The file system directory that contains the programs and folders that appear on the Start menu for all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu. Valid only for Windows NT systems.

#DEFINE CSIDL_COMMON_STARTUP 0x0018
*!*	The file system directory that contains the programs that appear in the Startup folder for all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. Valid only for Windows NT systems.

#DEFINE CSIDL_COMMON_TEMPLATES 0x002d
*!*	The file system directory that contains the templates that are available to all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Templates. Valid only for Windows NT systems.

#DEFINE CSIDL_COMMON_VIDEO 0x0037
*!*	Version 6.0. The file system directory that serves as a repository for video files common to all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Videos.

#DEFINE CSIDL_CONTROLS 0x0003
*!*	The virtual folder containing icons for the Control Panel applications.

#DEFINE CSIDL_COOKIES 0x0021
*!*	The file system directory that serves as a common repository for Internet cookies. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Cookies.

#DEFINE CSIDL_DESKTOP 0x0000
*!*	The virtual folder representing the Windows desktop, the root of the namespace.

#DEFINE CSIDL_DESKTOPDIRECTORY 0x0010
*!*	The file system directory used to physically store file objects on the desktop not to be confused with the desktop folder itself. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Desktop.

#DEFINE CSIDL_DRIVES 0x0011
*!*	The virtual folder representing My Computer, containing everything on the local computer: storage devices, printers, and Control Panel. The folder may also contain mapped network drives.

#DEFINE CSIDL_FAVORITES 0x0006
*!*	The file system directory that serves as a common repository for the user's favorite items. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Favorites.

#DEFINE CSIDL_FONTS 0x0014
*!*	A virtual folder containing fonts. A typical path is C:\Windows\Fonts.

#DEFINE CSIDL_HISTORY 0x0022
*!*	The file system directory that serves as a common repository for Internet history items.

#DEFINE CSIDL_INTERNET 0x0001
*!*	A virtual folder representing the Internet.

#DEFINE CSIDL_INTERNET_CACHE 0x0020
*!*	Version 4.72. The file system directory that serves as a common repository for temporary Internet files. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files.

#DEFINE CSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA 0x001c
*!*	Version 5.0. The file system directory that serves as a data repository for local nonroaming applications. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data.

#DEFINE CSIDL_MYDOCUMENTS 0x000c
*!*	Version 6.0. The virtual folder representing the My Documents desktop item.

#DEFINE CSIDL_MYMUSIC 0x000d
*!*	The file system directory that serves as a common repository for music files. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\User\My Documents\My Music.

#DEFINE CSIDL_MYPICTURES 0x0027
*!*	Version 5.0. The file system directory that serves as a common repository for image files. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Pictures.

#DEFINE CSIDL_MYVIDEO 0x000e
*!*	Version 6.0. The file system directory that serves as a common repository for video files. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Videos.

#DEFINE CSIDL_NETHOOD 0x0013
*!*	A file system directory containing the link objects that may exist in the My Network Places virtual folder. It is not the same as CSIDL_NETWORK, which represents the network namespace root. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\NetHood.

#DEFINE CSIDL_NETWORK 0x0012
*!*	A virtual folder representing Network Neighborhood, the root of the network namespace hierarchy.

#DEFINE CSIDL_PERSONAL 0x0005
*!*	Version 6.0. The virtual folder representing the My Documents desktop item. This is equivalent to CSIDL_MYDOCUMENTS. 
*!*	Previous to Version 6.0. The file system directory used to physically store a user's common repository of documents. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents. This should be distinguished from the virtual My Documents folder in the namespace. To access that virtual folder, use SHGetFolderLocation, which returns the ITEMIDLIST for the virtual location, or refer to the technique described in Managing the File System.

#DEFINE CSIDL_PRINTERS 0x0004
*!*	The virtual folder containing installed printers.

#DEFINE CSIDL_PRINTHOOD 0x001b
*!*	The file system directory that contains the link objects that can exist in the Printers virtual folder. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\PrintHood.

#DEFINE CSIDL_PROFILE 0x0028
*!*	Version 5.0. The user's profile folder. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username. Applications should not create files or folders at this level; they should put their data under the locations referred to by CSIDL_APPDATA or CSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA.

#DEFINE CSIDL_PROFILES 0x003e
*!*	Version 6.0. The file system directory containing user profile folders. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings.

#DEFINE CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES 0x0026
*!*	Version 5.0. The Program Files folder. A typical path is C:\Program Files.

#DEFINE CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES_COMMON 0x002b
*!*	Version 5.0. A folder for components that are shared across applications. A typical path is C:\Program Files\Common. Valid only for Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP systems. Not valid for Windows Millennium Edition Windows Me.

#DEFINE CSIDL_PROGRAMS 0x0002
*!*	The file system directory that contains the user's program groups which are themselves file system directories. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Start Menu\Programs. 

#DEFINE CSIDL_RECENT 0x0008
*!*	The file system directory that contains shortcuts to the user's most recently used documents. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Recent Documents. To create a shortcut in this folder, use SHAddToRecentDocs. In addition to creating the shortcut, this function updates the Shell's list of recent documents and adds the shortcut to the My Recent Documents submenu of the Start menu.

#DEFINE CSIDL_SENDTO 0x0009
*!*	The file system directory that contains Send To menu items. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\SendTo.

#DEFINE CSIDL_STARTMENU 0x000b
*!*	The file system directory containing Start menu items. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Start Menu.

#DEFINE CSIDL_STARTUP 0x0007
*!*	The file system directory that corresponds to the user's Startup program group. The system starts these programs whenever any user logs onto Windows NT or starts Windows 95. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.

#DEFINE CSIDL_SYSTEM 0x0025
*!*	Version 5.0. The Windows System folder. A typical path is C:\Windows\System32.

#DEFINE CSIDL_TEMPLATES 0x0015
*!*	The file system directory that serves as a common repository for document templates. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Templates.

#DEFINE CSIDL_WINDOWS 0x0024
*!*	Version 5.0. The Windows directory or SYSROOT. This corresponds to the %windir% or %SYSTEMROOT% environment variables. A typical path is C:\Windows.

***************************************************
LOCAL cSpecialFolderPath, cDesktopPath
cSpecialFolderPath = space(255)

DECLARE SHGetSpecialFolderPath IN SHELL32.DLL ;
LONG hwndOwner, ;
STRING @cSpecialFolderPath, ;
LONG nWhichFolder

SHGetSpecialFolderPath(0, @cSpecialFolderPath, CSIDL_DESKTOP)

cDesktopPath = Alltrim(cSpecialFolderPath)

cDesktopPath = SubStr(cDesktopPath,1, Len(cDesktopPath)-1)

?cDesktopPath

Slighthaze = NULL

[ul][li]FAQ184-2483
An excellent guide to getting a fast and accurate response to your questions in this forum.[/li][/ul]

 

[craigsboyd]

A couple more thoughts regarding using Windows Script with VFP:

There are some pretty good FAQs written by Mike Gagnon in this forum.

And, if you do a keyword search for it you will find some pretty good threads concerning it, including one that I started to talk about distribution issues with windows script.

...I am however inclined to go with the API call as I outlined above for finding the desktop path.

Slighthaze = NULL

[ul][li]FAQ184-2483
An excellent guide to getting a fast and accurate response to your questions in this forum.[/li][/ul]

 

[Mike Lewis]

Slighthaze and Marvinr,

One thing to keep in mind about the Wscript.Shell is that it is part of the Windows Scripting Host, which not all users will necessarily have installed.

Some users (or IT administrators) choose to disable it (because of supposed security issues), and users of Windows 95 will only have it if they installed a recent version of IE.

If you plan to use it in your application, it would be wise to advise the user that they need WSH enabled.

Mike


Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland

http://www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk

 

[craigsboyd]

You know for this to really be completely Windows 32-bit version non-specific you would probably need to use the SHGetFolderPath API call from the SHFolder.dll - I believe this dll is also freely distributable so you could include it in your install set and make sure the user had it on their system (though they should), the constants are near to identical (a few differences... additions and subtractions), but here's an example for just getting the desktop folder...


#DEFINE CSIDL_DESKTOP 0x0000
LOCAL cFolderPath, cDesktopPath
cFolderPath = space(255)

DECLARE SHORT SHGetFolderPath IN SHFolder.dll ;
INTEGER hwndOwner, INTEGER nFolder, INTEGER hToken, ;
INTEGER dwFlags, STRING @pszPath

SHGetFolderPath(0, CSIDL_DESKTOP, 0, 0, @cFolderPath)

cDesktopPath = Alltrim(cFolderPath)

cDesktopPath = SubStr(cDesktopPath,1, Len(cDesktopPath)-1)

?cDesktopPath

Slighthaze = NULL

[ul][li]FAQ184-2483
An excellent guide to getting a fast and accurate response to your questions in this forum.[/li][/ul]

 

[Mike Gagnon]

MarvinR

Could you tell where can I find more detail about WScript.Shell ? sometimes I try MS knowledge base but it's not so easy to find what I want.

faq184-4140 and faq184-2977

Mike Gagnon

If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ184-2483 first.

 

[MarvinR]

Thank you all.