» Contents
This unit provides various components, classes and routines for handling Windows shell folders. It contains:
A OpenHelp compatible help file is supplied. It provides help on all the components, classes, interfaces and routines. The help file integrates with the help system of Delphi 4 to 7. Although it does not integrate with the Delphi 2005 and later IDE at can be used independently of the IDE, albeit with some loss of functionality.
An .als
file is also supplied to assist in integration with
Delphi 6 and 7.
A demo program with associated explanatory notes is included in the download. The demo lists and provides information about all the special shell folders supported by the unit.
» Contents
The Shell Folders Unit compiles with Delphi 4 and later. It has been tested with Delphi 4, 6, 7 and 2006.
» Contents
The Shell Folders Unit and components, the property editors, documentation and demo program are supplied in a zip file. Before installing you need to extract all the files from the zip file, preserving the directory structure. The following files will be extracted:
PJShellFolders.pas
– classes,
routines and component source code.
PJShellFolders.dcr
– resource file
containing component palette glyphs.
PJShellFoldersDsgn.pas
– source file
for component registration and property editors.
PJShellFolders.hlp
– help file that integrates with
the Delphi 3 to 7 OpenHelp system.
PJShellFolders.als
– a-link keyword file for
integration with the Delphi 6 or 7 OpenHelp system.
ReadMe.htm
– this file.
ChangeLog.txt
– component's change log.
SpecialFolderDescs.html
– description of each of the
supported shell folder constants.
Demo\DelphiDabbler.ico
– demo program icon.
Demo\DemoReadMe.html
– description of how to use the
demo program along with review of source code.
Demo\ShellFolderDemo.dpr
– demo project file.
Demo\ShellFolderDemo.res
– icon resource for demo.
Demo\ShellFolderDemo.cfg
– demo compiler
configuration file.
Demo\ShellFolderDemoForm.pas
– demo form source file.
Demo\ShellFolderDemoForm.dfm
– demo form file.
You can now proceed to install the components and property editor using the
emphasised files above. Installation methods vary between
Delphi versions, so follow the instructions that apply to your version
below. Note that $(DELPHI)
represents the
path where the appropriate version of Delphi was installed. Similarly
$(BDS)
refers to the installation path of a
version of the Borland Development System.
The components must be installed into a Delphi Win32 design package. It is
assumed that you will be installing into an existing package. You may decide
to install into the "user" package:
$(BDS)\Lib\dclusr.dpk
.
Borland Studio Projects
or $(BDS)\lib
folders.
PHShellFolders.pas
, PHShellFolders.dcr
and PHShellFoldersDsgn.pas
to the chosen installation
folder.
.bpl
extension. Right click the package's entry and
select Add to display the Add dialog box.
Enter the full path to PHShellFolders.pas
in the
Unit file name edit box (use the Browse button
to navigate to the file). Click OK to add the component
to the package.
PHShellFoldersDsgn.pas
.
PHShellFolders.pas
and
PHShellFoldersDsgn.pas
from the chosen installation folder.
The components must be installed into a design package. It is assumed that
you will be installing into an existing package. You may wish to use the
"user" package named dclusr.dpk
or
dclusrXX.dpk
(where XX
is a version number). This
package can be found in $(DELPHI)\Lib
. For Delphi 6 and 7
ensure that the chosen package "requires"
designide.dcp
.
$(DELPHI)\lib
folder.
PHShellFolders.pas
, PHShellFolders.dcr
and PHShellFoldersDsgn.pas
to the chosen installation
folder.
PJShellFolders.pas
in the Unit file
name edit box (use the adjacent Browse button to
navigate to the file). Repeat the previous step for
PJShellFoldersDsgn.pas
. Choose the required package
from the Package description combo box, or by
navigating to the package using Browse. Click
OK to confirm your selections.
PHShellFolders.pas
and
PHShellFoldersDsgn.pas
from the chosen installation folder.
.als
file. The simplest way to install help is to use my
Component Help
Installer Expert (v2.2.1 or later). If you prefer to install
manually,
this
article explains the process.
» Contents
There are no known outstanding bugs.
The following is a list of reported bugs along with notes of the releases where they were fixed:
PJShellFolders.pas
would not compile with Delphi 2005/6.
Fixed in release 2.2.2.
PJShellFolders.pas
was compiled with Delphi 6 or 7.
Fixed in release 2.1.
» Contents
A complete change log is provided in a text file that is included in the download.
» Contents
This source code is subject to the Mozilla Public License Version 1.1 (the "License"); you may not use this program except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at http://www.mozilla.org/MPL/.
Software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" basis, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the specific language governing rights and limitations under the License.
The Original Code is Shell Folders Unit.
The Initial Developer of the Original Code is Peter Johnson (http://www.delphidabbler.com/).
Portions created by the Initial Developer are Copyright © 2001-2005 Peter Johnson. All Rights Reserved.
Contributor(s):
Philippe Lucarz
Ryan Fischbach
All relevant trademarks are acknowledged.
» Contents
I'm Peter Johnson – a hobbyist programmer living in Ceredigion in West Wales, UK, writing write mainly in Delphi. My programs are available for download from: http://www.delphidabbler.com/.