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Shell object

Represents the objects in the Shell. Methods are provided to control the Shell and to execute commands within the Shell. There are also methods to obtain other Shell-related objects.

Members

The Shell object has these types of members:

Methods

The Shell object has these methods.

Method Description
AddToRecent Adds a file to the most recently used (MRU) list.
BrowseForFolder Creates a dialog box that enables the user to select a folder and then returns the selected folder's Folder object.
CanStartStopService Determines if the current user can start and stop the named service.
CascadeWindows Cascades all of the windows on the desktop. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Cascade Windows.
ControlPanelItem Runs the specified Control Panel (*.cpl) application. If the application is already open, it will activate the running instance.
Note: As of Windows Vista, most Control Panel applications are Shell items and cannot be opened with this function. To open those Control Panel applications, pass the canonical name to control.exe. For example:
control.exe /name Microsoft.Personalization

EjectPC Ejects the computer from its docking station. This is the same as clicking the Start menu and selecting Eject PC, if your computer supports this command.
Explore Opens a specified folder in a Windows Explorer window.
ExplorerPolicy Gets the value for a specified Internet Explorer policy.
FileRun Displays the Run dialog to the user. This method has the same effect as clicking the Start menu and selecting Run.
FindComputer Displays the Search Results: Computers dialog box. The dialog box shows the result of the search for a specified computer.
FindFiles Displays the Find: All Files dialog box. This is the same as clicking the Start menu and then selecting Search (or its equivalent under systems earlier than Windows XP.
FindPrinter Displays the Find Printer dialog box.
GetSetting Retrieves a global Shell setting.
GetSystemInformation Retrieves system information.
Help Displays the Windows Help and Support Center. This method has the same effect as clicking the Start menu and selecting Help and Support.
IsRestricted Retrieves a group's restriction setting from the registry.
IsServiceRunning Returns a value that indicates whether a particular service is running.
MinimizeAll Minimizes all of the windows on the desktop. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Minimize All Windows on older systems or clicking the Show Desktop icon in the Quick Launch area of the taskbar in Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
NameSpace Creates and returns a Folder object for the specified folder.
Open Opens the specified folder.
RefreshMenu Refreshes the contents of the Start menu. Used only with systems preceding Windows XP.
SearchCommand Displays the Apps Search pane.
ServiceStart Starts a named service.
ServiceStop Stops a named service.
SetTime Displays the Date and Time Properties dialog box. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the clock in the taskbar status area and selecting Adjust Date/Time.
ShellExecute Performs a specified operation on a specified file.
ShowBrowserBar Displays a browser bar.
ShutdownWindows Displays the Shut Down Windows dialog box. This is the same as clicking the Start menu and selecting Shut Down.
Suspend td
TileHorizontally Tiles all of the windows on the desktop horizontally. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Tile Windows Horizontally.
TileVertically Tiles all of the windows on the desktop vertically. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Tile Windows Vertically.
ToggleDesktop Displays or hides the desktop.
TrayProperties Displays the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Properties.
UndoMinimizeALL Restores all desktop windows to the same state they were in before the last MinimizeAll command. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Undo Minimize All Windows on older systems or a second clicking of the Show Desktop icon in the Quick Launch area of the taskbar in Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
Windows Creates and returns a ShellWindows object. This object represents a collection of all of the open windows that belong to the Shell.
WindowsSecurity Displays the Windows Security dialog box.
WindowSwitcher Displays your open windows in a 3D stack that you can flip through.

 

Properties

The Shell object has these properties.

Property Access type Description
Application
Read-only
Contains the object's Application object.
Parent
Read-only
Gets an object that represents the parent of the current object.

 

Requirements

Requirement Value
Minimum supported client
Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP [desktop apps only]
Minimum supported server
Windows 2000 Server [desktop apps only]
Header
Shldisp.h
IDL
Shldisp.idl
DLL
Shell32.dll (version 4.71 or later)