*FileDialog for custom filesystems?

[Alex]

Hello,

I have a component that allows me to access a custom file system.
It has APIs for enumerating objects (folders, files) etc.

I was wondering, is there a way to easily create a FileDialog using an external "data provider" to browse such custom file systems?

Thanks,
Alex.

 

[Chris Altmann]

I don't know if it qualifies as "easy", but you could write an Shell
Namespace Extension, and the standard file dialog would be able to navigate
into it.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/?...v/namespaceextension/namespace.asp?frame=true

http://www.codeproject.com/shell/namespcextguide1.asp

If you're adventurous, you could even integrate with Windows Desktop Search
and/or Vista Search (the later being a definite plus with Vista's common
file dialogs).

http://addins.msn.com/devguide.aspx#AddingaNewStore

http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/discoverable/

Hello,

I have a component that allows me to access a custom file system.
It has APIs for enumerating objects (folders, files) etc.

I was wondering, is there a way to easily create a FileDialog using an
external "data provider" to browse such custom file systems?

Thanks,
Alex.

 

[Alex]

Hello Chris,

Thank you for your reply.

I don't know if it qualifies as "easy", but you could write an Shell
Namespace Extension, and the standard file dialog would be able to navigate
into it.

Unfortunately, I do not want the Windows shell to have access to that file-system, only the specific application.

Best wishes,
Alex.

 

[Linda Liu [MSFT]]

Hi Alex,

The FileDialog class in .Net is a wrapper of the CommonDialog in Win32. And
the CommonDialog accesses the windows file system using the window shell on
the windows file system. If you want to use a standard FileDialog to access
your custom file system, you should write an Shell Namespace Extension.
There might be little possibility not using Shell Namespace Extension if
you want to access your custom file system with the standard FileDialog.

If you have any other concerns or need anything else, please don't hesitate
to let me know.


Sincerely,
Linda Liu
Microsoft Online Community Support

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