How to Open Properties dialog for multiple selected files using WIN FORM C#

Question

How to Open Properties dialog for multiple selected files using WIN FORM C#

Jo Srm 21

I hope you all are doing well.

Using: WIN-FORM, C#

I am using the code from this link to open the file properties of a single file from my app and, this works great.

What I have been looking for and seems that nothing is found, is how to get the properties for 2 or more selected files?

In the image below, I used File Explorer and I selected several files and got the files properties by right click > Properties.

How could I implement this in c# code or could the code in the provided link be modified?

Regards,

Jiale Xue - MSFT 3,766 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2022-11-17T08:05:14.62+00:00

Hi @Jo Srm , Is there any update in this issue?

Jiale Xue - MSFT 3,766 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2022-11-17T08:05:14.62+00:00

Hi @Jo Srm , Is there any update in this issue?

Answer 1

Castorix31 71,606

It can be done with SHCreateDefaultContextMenu
(or by converting Displaying a property sheet for multiple files in C#)
(Edit : SHMultiFileProperties might be simpler...)

Jo Srm 21 Reputation points

2022-11-02T18:54:00.06+00:00

Hi Castorix31,

I have been looking into a the resources that you provided, but cannot figure how to implement it.

Could you please provide an example for this?

Regards,

Answer 2

A test with SHMultiFileProperties, with 2 .jpg files :

        IntPtr pidlParent = IntPtr.Zero, pidlFull = IntPtr.Zero, pidlItem = IntPtr.Zero;  
        uint rgflnOut = 0;  
        var aPidl = new IntPtr[255];  
        uint nIndex = 0;  
        HRESULT hr = SHILCreateFromPath("E:\\test.jpg", out pidlFull, ref rgflnOut);  
        if (hr == HRESULT.S_OK)  
        {  
            pidlItem = ILFindLastID(pidlFull);  
            aPidl[nIndex++] = ILClone(pidlItem);  
            ILRemoveLastID(pidlFull);  
            //pidlParent = ILClone(pidlFull);  
            ILFree(pidlFull);  
        }  
        hr = SHILCreateFromPath("E:\\test2.jpg", out pidlFull, ref rgflnOut);  
        if (hr == HRESULT.S_OK)  
        {  
            pidlItem = ILFindLastID(pidlFull);  
            aPidl[nIndex++] = ILClone(pidlItem);  
            ILRemoveLastID(pidlFull);  
            pidlParent = ILClone(pidlFull);  
            ILFree(pidlFull);  
        }  
        System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes.IDataObject pDO = null;  
        hr = CIDLData_CreateFromIDArray(pidlParent, nIndex, aPidl, out pDO);  
        if (hr == HRESULT.S_OK)  
        {  
            hr = SHMultiFileProperties(pDO, 0);  
        }  

        if (pidlParent != IntPtr.Zero)  
            ILFree(pidlParent);  
        for (int i = 0;i < nIndex; i++)  
        {  
            if (aPidl[i] != IntPtr.Zero)  
                ILFree(aPidl[i]);  
        }

Declarations :

   public enum HRESULT : int  
    {  
        S_OK = 0,  
        S_FALSE = 1,  
        E_NOINTERFACE = unchecked((int)0x80004002),  
        E_NOTIMPL = unchecked((int)0x80004001),  
        E_FAIL = unchecked((int)0x80004005),  
    }  

    [DllImport("Shell32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError = true)]  
    public static extern HRESULT SHILCreateFromPath([MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPWStr)] string pszPath, out IntPtr ppIdl, ref uint rgflnOut);  

    [DllImport("Shell32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError = true)]  
    public static extern IntPtr ILFindLastID(IntPtr pidl);  

    [DllImport("Shell32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError = true)]  
    public static extern IntPtr ILClone(IntPtr pidl);  

    [DllImport("Shell32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError = true)]  
    public static extern Boolean ILRemoveLastID(IntPtr pidl);  

    [DllImport("Shell32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError = true)]  
    public static extern void ILFree(IntPtr pidl);  
 
    [DllImport("Shell32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError = true)]  
    public static extern HRESULT CIDLData_CreateFromIDArray(IntPtr pidlFolder, uint cidl, IntPtr[] apidl, out System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes.IDataObject ppdtobj);  

    [DllImport("Shell32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError = true)]  
    public static extern HRESULT SHMultiFileProperties(System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes.IDataObject pdtobj, uint dwFlags);

Jo Srm 21 Reputation points

2022-11-03T13:46:44.64+00:00

Hi Castorix31,

I have been looking into the code you provided since last night, it is working when I have the path to the file hard coded.

When I use a variable to the directory where the files are selected in File Explorer, it only displays the properties for the Directory itself;

Unfortunate I will have no way of knowing what files the user will be selecting at anytime. I am trying to duplicate what File Explorer does when selecting files and viewing the properties.

Any suggestions?

Regards,
Castorix31 71,606 Reputation points

2022-11-03T14:38:33.863+00:00

You can see that the files are in the aPidl array
If you put the directory in the array, it is normal that it displays the property dialog for the directory...
Jo Srm 21 Reputation points

2022-11-03T17:14:53.107+00:00

I read the article for the SHMultiFileProperties that you provided, didn't help me.

Not sure how to provide a path to a directory and keeping the Directory out of the array.

The information is not clear at least for me to fix the example code you provided.

Regards,
Castorix31 71,606 Reputation points

2022-11-03T18:38:25.303+00:00

I don't understand what you mean.

You just have to add each file in the aPidl array, like I did in the test with 2 files, where I added the pidl of files in aPidl[0] and aPidl[1],
then the Properties dialog is displayed for those 2 files

How to Open Properties dialog for multiple selected files using WIN FORM C#

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