VB Shell Programming: Integrating Applications with the Windows Shell

A definitive guide to Visual Basic shell programming demonstrates how to design and create shell extensions and furnishes advanced coverage of COM programming with Visual Basic. Original. (Intermediate/Advanced)

Windows users take advantage of shell extensions on the desktop every single day, but understanding what they are and how to program with them can be tricky and, until now anyway, usually required the use of Visual C++. Filled with expert knowledge of the underlying Windows shell COM objects, Visual Basic Shell Programming is all that you need to write shell-enabled applications that look more professional, as well as rival the functionality of programs that are written in C++.

First and foremost, this efficiently packaged text is a reference to all of the COM objects and APIs that are needed to program with the Windows shell successfully. Each section is organized by topic, with an explanation of what kind of functionality you can add, and then all of the COM objects, methods, and constants that you'll need to use in VB, along with sample code. For many of the examples, a custom file extension (.rad) illustrates how to integrate this file into the desktop, and extend what it can do within the Windows desktop.

Reading this book is also an education in the features that the Windows shell actually offers. For example, you'll learn how to add dynamic, context-sensitive menus to desktop icons, and drag-and-drop processing and custom property sheets that pop up on the desktop.

Later sections turn to the Internet, with browser extensions, which can customize the look and feel of Internet Explorer (and File Explorer). One sample presents the code for a Web site crawler, which automatically downloads a group of files. Throughout, the book is careful to point out those features that are easy to do in VB and those that require advanced programming techniques. (Generally speaking, there's a lot of VB expertise on display here.) The author provides a custom COM type library for exposing all of the shell functionality to VB programmers. Of course, you can use this file to develop your own VB shell applications.

Overall, this book helps explain a rather difficult topic in Windows programming, and makes accessible for the very first time this exciting area of functionality to experienced VB programmers. Read Visual Basic Shell Programming to create applications that both are more professional looking and take full advantage of every available feature in today's Windows desktop. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered:

• Introduction to Visual Basic and the Windows shell
• COM basics (including type libraries, IUnknown, and IDispatch)
• Introduction to shell extensions
• Context menu handlers (static and dynamic)
• Icon and property-sheet handlers
• Drop handlers (and drag-and-drop processing)
• Data handlers
• Copy hook handlers
• InfoTip handlers
• Basics of namespace extensions
• Pointer to identifier list (PIDL)
• Browser extensions
• Browser help objects
• Band objects
• Sample code for a Web site crawler
• Docking Windows
• VBShell (custom type library for letting VB programmers access shell objects)
• Reference material on all Windows shell COM objects and APIs
• Techniques for copying memory and using pointers within VB