VB 6.0 - File System, IO & Registry Samples

Register and Unregister ActiveX Components
Register and unregister ActiveX DLLs and OCXs from VB without running Regsvr32.exe.

Touch Files
Set file creation, modified and last accessed dates.

Windows-Like File Operations
Copy, move, rename and delete files and folders or send them to the Recycle Bin displaying the same dialog boxes, status and confirmation messages, and progress indicators as Windows.

Using the Scripting Runtime Engine's FileSystemObject
The Scripting Runtime Engine (Scrrun.dll) FileSystemObject simplifies file operations like copying, moving and deleting files and folders, querying drive, folder or file information and reading and writing text files.

Get the Paths of the Windows and System Folders
Find the Location of your Executable and
Convert Long Path Names to Short (8 Character) Names
Determine where the Windows and System folders reside. Dynamically find out where your executable lives. App.Path isn't reliable when your .Exe lives on a server.

Convert long path names to their equivalent short path names. Example: C:\Program Files\My becomes C:\Progra~1\Mybrie~.

Get Windows Special Folders Paths
Use the SHGetFolderPath API to get the path to folders such as: Windows, System, My Documents, My Pictures, Application Data,... This is the recommended way to find these folders under Windows XP.

Automatically Detect When the Contents of a Folder Change
Have Windows alert your application whenever a folder or any of its sub-folders change. Changes detected include copying, deleting, renaming files as well as changing the size or attributes of any files in the folder.

Browse for Files, Folders, Computer and Printers
The SHBrowseForFolder API lets you invoke a system dialog used to browse for files and folders on your hard drive as well as network computers and printers.

Registry/Ini File Function Library
This ready to use .Bas module is full of functions to perform common Registry and/or .Ini file operations such as reading, setting, deleting and enumerating values and keys. It is self contained and can be included in your application. Or, use it as a starting point to write your own functions. It illustrates all the common registry and .Ini API functions.

Registry Operations Simplified w/ Windows Scripting Host
The Windows Scripting Host (WSH) trivializes registry tasks normally requiring much more code. Wshom.ocx lets you perform basic reading, writing and deleting of registry values and keys. You can use the common registry data types and access any part of the registry.

You can also create .VBS files to contain and execute your VB script code allowing you to create powerful batch files.

Create Desktop Shortcuts, Get Special Folder Locations,
and Refresh the Desktop (Part I)
Create Desktop shortcuts using standard API calls by creating a .Lnk file in the Recent Files folder then moving it to the Desktop. This method does not let you set all shortcut properties. Also, see my next two samples.

Also see how to refresh the desktop and get the location of the Desktop, Recycle Bin, Control Panel Recent Files and other special folders.

Create Shortcuts (Shell Links) (Part II)
Create shortcuts (shell links - .lnk files) with the iShellLnk interface and set ALL shortcut properties. Determine the location of special folders such as the desktop, start menu, recent files,...

Create Desktop & Internet Shortcuts (Part III)
Here's the easiest way yet to create shortcuts (shell links - .lnk files) and internet shortcuts. Use the Windows Scripting Host (WSH).

Extract Icons From EXEs and DLLs
View the icons in an .Exe or .Dll and extract them to a PictureBox or other control with a device context handle (.hdc). You can also draw them to controls without .hdc's such as an ImageList. This is useful when creating toolbars where you need to dynamically add icons at run time.

Change the Text and Background Color of Desktop Icons

Learn about the desktop and how to programmatically customize it. Change the color of the text and the text's background on your desktop icons.

Replace Files that are Currently In Use
Delete, rename, or move files that are currently being used by the system.

View and Extract the Contents of CAB Files
Programmatically view and extract the contents of cabinet (.CAB) files with the SetupIterateCabinet API.

Digitally Sign and Verify Files
Protect files from tampering by digitally signing them. Digitally sign files with private keys then electronically transmit them along with the public keys to an associate. Using the public key your associate can verify the files insuring they were not tampered with or corrupted during transmission.

Use the Internet Transfer Control to FTP files
The Internet Transfer Control allows you to FTP files to and from a remote computer. My class module provides methods to transfer one or more files.

Retrieve File Version Information
Read national language, code page, target OS, version, ... info as well as the developer's comment, description, copyright and trademark info from EXEs, OCXs, DLLs, device drivers, and font files.