IShellDispatch object
Represents an object 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.
Note
IShellDispatch is implemented and accessed through the Shell object.
Members
The IShellDispatch object has these types of members:
Methods
The IShellDispatch object has these methods.
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| BrowseForFolder | Creates a dialog box that enables the user to select a folder and then returns the selected folder's Folder object. |
| 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 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: |
| 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. |
| FileRun | Displays the Run dialog to the user. |
| 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. |
| Help | Displays the Windows Help and Support window. This method has the same effect as clicking the Start menu and selecting Help and Support. |
| 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 on the taskbar. |
| 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. |
| SetTime | Displays the Date and Time dialog box. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the clock in the taskbar status area and selecting Adjust date/time. |
| 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 Show windows stacked. |
| TileVertically | Tiles all of the windows on the desktop vertically. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Show windows side by side. |
| 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 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 taskbar. |
| Windows | Creates and returns a ShellWindows object. This object represents a collection of all of the open windows that belong to the Shell. |
Properties
The IShellDispatch object has these properties.
| Property | Access type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Application |
Read-only |
Contains an object that represents an application. |
| Parent |
Read-only |
Retrieves 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 |
|
| IDL |
|
| DLL |
|
See also