newbie: Getting Program Files folder in Windows Mobile 6.0

[Bjørn Brox]

Hi!

Can anyonecome with some C# program example on how to get the path of
the "Program Files" folder on a windows mobile unit (//Program Files" in
an english version of WM 6)

I need to know if a specific executable is installed on the unit, and
start it when needed.

I know about the following statement:

String path =
Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles);

but it just return the "Program" folder in the Start Menu, i.e. name
where the startup links is present, not the real path where the exe is
present.

 

[Ignacio Machin \( .NET/ C# MVP \)]

Hi,


You should post this question into the Compact framework NG (crossposting
there now)

 

[Paul G. Tobey [eMVP]]

Generally, you'd use SHGetSpecialFolderPath(). I'm not aware of a
generally-available (all versions of Windows Mobile), method of getting that
without P/Invoking it.

BOOL SHGetSpecialFolderPath(
HWND hwndOwner,
LPTSTR lpszPath,
int nFolder,
BOOL fCreate
);

SHGetSpecialFolderPath( hwnd, pathstring, CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES /* 0x26 */,
FALSE ) would get the path that you're interested in.

Paul T.

 

[Bjørn Brox]

Paul G. Tobey [eMVP] skrev:

Generally, you'd use SHGetSpecialFolderPath(). I'm not aware of a
generally-available (all versions of Windows Mobile), method of getting that
without P/Invoking it.

BOOL SHGetSpecialFolderPath(
HWND hwndOwner,
LPTSTR lpszPath,
int nFolder,
BOOL fCreate
);

SHGetSpecialFolderPath( hwnd, pathstring, CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES /* 0x26 */,
FALSE ) would get the path that you're interested in.

Thanks, it worked.
The returned value from this was as expected: "\\Program Files"

Any reason that the
Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles)
wrapper returns "\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs"?

....

 

[Paul G. Tobey [eMVP]]

I'm sure there must be, but I certainly don't know what it is! What version
of .NET CF does it do that in? Maybe it was fixed in a later version or
service pack.

Paul T.

Paul G. Tobey [eMVP] skrev:

Generally, you'd use SHGetSpecialFolderPath(). I'm not aware of a
generally-available (all versions of Windows Mobile), method of getting
that without P/Invoking it.

BOOL SHGetSpecialFolderPath(
HWND hwndOwner,
LPTSTR lpszPath,
int nFolder,
BOOL fCreate
);

SHGetSpecialFolderPath( hwnd, pathstring, CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES /* 0x26 */,
FALSE ) would get the path that you're interested in.

Thanks, it worked.
The returned value from this was as expected: "\\Program Files"

Any reason that the
Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles) wrapper
returns "\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs"?

...

 

[Bjørn Brox]

Paul G. Tobey [eMVP] skrev:

I'm sure there must be, but I certainly don't know what it is! What version
of .NET CF does it do that in? Maybe it was fixed in a later version or
service pack.

I am using CF 3.5

Anyhow, both "\\Program Files" and "\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs" are
in my opinion both special folders that should be covered by the
Environment.SpecialFolder enum.

Paul G. Tobey [eMVP] skrev:

Generally, you'd use SHGetSpecialFolderPath(). I'm not aware of a
generally-available (all versions of Windows Mobile), method of getting
that without P/Invoking it.

BOOL SHGetSpecialFolderPath(
HWND hwndOwner,
LPTSTR lpszPath,
int nFolder,
BOOL fCreate
);

SHGetSpecialFolderPath( hwnd, pathstring, CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES /* 0x26 */,
FALSE ) would get the path that you're interested in.

Thanks, it worked.
The returned value from this was as expected: "\\Program Files"

Any reason that the
Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles) wrapper
returns "\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs"?

...