Windows 7 Libraries C# Quick Reference
Following are some listings to be used as a quick reference to common Windows 7 Libraries features using Windows API Code Pack.
The code in this post is based on previous work by Alon and other Sela team members. Great work all.
Forward
Just to clarify the terminology used:
Every Windows 7 library is represented as an XML file with the .library-ms extension.
The common libraries files are commonly stored in: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries\
So if, for example, we work now with the Pictures library, than in the following sections:
libraryName = Pictures
locationPath = C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries\
Note: you can create library files wherever you want, not necessarily in the mentioned folder.
Features
Creating a new library
ShellLibrary shellLibrary =
new ShellLibrary(libraryName, locationPath, overwriteExisting);
Add folder to an existing library
using (ShellLibrary shellLibrary =
ShellLibrary.Load(libraryName, folderPath, isReadOnly))
{
shellLibrary.Add(folderToAdd);
}
Remove folder from a library
using (ShellLibrary shellLibrary =
ShellLibrary.Load(libraryName, folderPath, isReadOnly))
{
shellLibrary.Remove(folderToRemove);
}
Enumerate library folders
using (ShellLibrary shellLibrary =
ShellLibrary.Load(libraryName, folderPath, isReadOnly))
{
foreach (ShellFileSystemFolder folder in shellLibrary)
{
Debug.WriteLine(folder.Path);
}
}
Change default save location
using (ShellLibrary shellLibrary =
ShellLibrary.Load(libraryName, folderPath, isReadOnly))
{
shellLibrary.DefaultSaveFolder = newSaveLocation;
}
Change library icon
using (ShellLibrary shellLibrary =
ShellLibrary.Load(libraryName, folderPath, isReadOnly))
{
shellLibrary.IconResourceId = new IconReference(moduleName, resourceId);
}
Pin library to explorer navigation pane
using (ShellLibrary shellLibrary =
ShellLibrary.Load(libraryName, folderPath, isReadOnly))
{
shellLibrary.IsPinnedToNavigationPane = true;
}
Setting library type
using (ShellLibrary shellLibrary =
ShellLibrary.Load(libraryName, folderPath, isReadOnly))
{
shellLibrary.LibraryType = libraryType;
// libraryType can be:
// LibraryFolderType.Generic
// LibraryFolderType.Documents
// LibraryFolderType.Music
// LibraryFolderType.Pictures
// LibraryFolderType.Videos
}
Open library manage UI
ShellLibrary.ShowManageLibraryUI(
libraryName, folderPath, hOwnerWnd, title, instruction, allowNonIndexableLocations);
Delete library
string FileExtension = ".library-ms";
File.Delete(Path.Combine(folderPath,libraryName + FileExtension));
Get library change notification
string FileExtension = ".library-ms";
FileSystemWatcher libraryWatcher = new FileSystemWatcher(folderPath);
libraryWatcher.NotifyFilter = NotifyFilters.LastWrite;
libraryWatcher.Filter = libraryName + FileExtension;
libraryWatcher.IncludeSubdirectories = false;
libraryWatcher.Changed += (s, e) =>
{
//cross thread call
this.Dispatcher.Invoke(new Action(() =>
{
using (ShellLibrary shellLibrary =
ShellLibrary.Load(libraryName, folderPath, isReadOnly))
{
// get changed information
...
}
}));
};
libraryWatcher.EnableRaisingEvents = true;
That’s it for now,
Arik Poznanski.
CodeProject