What are these Windows Explorer clipboard formats used for?

[**Developer**]

If I select files in Windows Explorer and click Copy I find the following
formats on the clipboard.
I know what FileDrop contains. How can I find out what the others are used
for?

FileDrop
FileName
FileNameW
Shell IDList Array
Preferred DropEffect
Shell Object Offsets appears if there is only one file

Thanks

 

[Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]]

Basically, an object on the clipboard can have many different formats.
Because the drag source doesn't know which application will use it (or what
format the drop target will want), the drag source places on the clipboard
what formats it supports. Then, the drop source can enumerate through those
types, and determine the one that best suits its needs.

Hope this helps.

 

[*developer*]

Basically, an object on the clipboard can have many different formats.
Because the drag source doesn't know which application will use it (or what
format the drop target will want), the drag source places on the clipboard
what formats it supports. Then, the drop source can enumerate through those
types, and determine the one that best suits its needs.

Hope this helps.

I was wondering what the formats I listed are used for.

Thanks