The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5) - hooking into windows explorer

hooking into windows explorer

Don't know much about Windows programming, but I was wondering if it would be hard to write a tabbed windows explorer. Basically I'm wondering if it possible to use the windows explorer interface as a control, analogous to how you can use IE as a control.

Basically I just wouldn't want to have to duplicate behavior like "Please insert a disk", or spawning a copy file thread, or displaying the special icons on My Documents, or whatever.

Roose
Wednesday, February 11, 2004

SetParent() is your friend. :)

Just find the Windows Explorer window, and then SetParent() it so it has your app's form as a parent.

George
Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Not exactly an answer, but Total commander supports tabbed browsing :) Quite neat. My only problem is that I can't keep track of all the tabs I had open and forgot to close :)

deja vu
Wednesday, February 11, 2004

But why? When you have a fantastic free explorer replacement which does all that and more...

http://netez.com/2xExplorer/

Code Monkey
Wednesday, February 11, 2004

You can do this kind of thing easily in VB. Create an ActiveX (custom) control containing the constituent controls and all the logic and event code.

Agree with other posters, though...why would you want to?

Doing it is a LOT of work, even though it's not very difficult work. All the properties dialogues, design vs run time checking, help manuals etc. Basically all the time and work goes into the parts that your users and often developers won't notice or appreciate.

I did something similar last year - an explorer interface for managing objects/properties on CTI system.

Justin
Thursday, February 12, 2004