Whether it is to save, retrieve files, define the initial file dialog folder, … we often want to work with existing system folders. In this article, I thought I’d showcase a few possible ways to retrieve the path of system folders, or as some people refer to them as special folders.
Specifically, I will cover:
Environ Function
The Environ() is the easiest way to retrieve some information about the PC as it is part of the VBA library.
Code
Environ("NameOfTheVariable")
Usage Example
? Environ("Temp")
which will return something like:
C:\Users\Dev\AppData\Local\Temp
Where can we find a list of Variables? Simply open a Command Prompt and enter Set and press Enter. You will get a listing of all the variables available on your system. Things like:
APPDATA COMPUTERNAME OneDrive TEMP USERNAME USERPROFILE
If you viewed my YouTube video, you no doubt noticed I had wrapped it in a user defined function and some will ask me why? Simple, so I can access it in queries, macros and the likes. This is something you will see me do a lot. It renders the functionality ‘visible’ outside of VBA and makes it that much more useful and versatile!
The one thing to note with Environ() is that values can be spoofed/hacked. So normally, for anything important, security related, it should be avoided.
WScript.Shell
Code
Taken from my post:
Wscript.shell Specialfolders Not Behaving
I was recently doing some work in an old database trying to convert a very simple function which used Wscript.shell Specialfolders into a more versatile function that would accept a single input variable instead of a hardcoded value. My original function was Function m() As String Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell") m = WshShell.SpecialFolders("Desktop") End Function Running…
'---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Procedure : GetWindowsSpecialFldrPath
' Author : Daniel Pineault, CARDA Consultants Inc.
' Website : http://www.cardaconsultants.com
' Purpose : Return the full path for the specified Windows Special folder
' Copyright : The following may be altered and reused as you wish so long as the
' copyright notice is left unchanged (including Author, Website and
' Copyright). It may not be sold/resold or reposted on other sites (links
' back to this site are allowed).
' Req'd Refs: Uses Late Binding, so none required
'
' Input Variables:
' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
' vFldrName : The name of the folder to return the path of
' Values can be: AllUsersDesktop, AllUsersStartMenu, AllUsersPrograms,
' AllUsersStartup, Desktop, Favorites, Fonts, MyDocuments,
' NetHood, PrintHood, Programs, Recent, SendTo, StartMenu,
' Startup, Templates
'
' Usage:
' ~~~~~~
' ? GetWindowsSpecialFldrPath("Desktop")
' C:\Users\Daniel\Desktop
' ? GetWindowsSpecialFldrPath("MyDocuments")
' C:\Users\Daniel\Documents
'
' Revision History:
' Rev Date(yyyy/mm/dd) Description
' **************************************************************************************
' 1 2016-09-28 Initial Release
'---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Function GetWindowsSpecialFldrPath(vFldrName As Variant) As String
'https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/internet-explorer/ie-developer/windows-scripting/0ea7b5xe(v=vs.84)
On Error GoTo Error_Handler
Dim WshShell As Object
If IsNull(vFldrName) = True Then GoTo Error_Handler_Exit
Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
GetWindowsSpecialFldrPath = WshShell.SpecialFolders(vFldrName)
Error_Handler_Exit:
On Error Resume Next
If Not WshShell Is Nothing Then Set WshShell = Nothing
Exit Function
Error_Handler:
MsgBox "The following error has occurred" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
"Error Number: " & Err.Number & vbCrLf & _
"Error Source: GetWindowsSpecialFldrPath" & vbCrLf & _
"Error Description: " & Err.Description & _
Switch(Erl = 0, "", Erl <> 0, vbCrLf & "Line No: " & Erl) _
, vbOKOnly + vbCritical, "An Error has Occurred!"
Resume Error_Handler_Exit
End Function
Usage Example
? GetWindowsSpecialFldrPath("Desktop")
returns something along the lines of:
C:\Users\Daniel\Desktop
As noted in the Function header, the available Folders are:
AllUsersDesktop AllUsersStartMenu AllUsersPrograms AllUsersStartup Desktop Favorites Fonts MyDocuments NetHood PrintHood Programs Recent SendTo StartMenu Startup Templates
You can also use WScript to retrieve the same values as those retrieved by the Environ() and the code to do so would look like:
'---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Procedure : WScript_GetEnvironmentString
' Author : Daniel Pineault, CARDA Consultants Inc.
' Website : http://www.cardaconsultants.com
' Purpose : Retrieve the value of an Envrionment Variable
' Copyright : The following is release as Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
' (CC BY-SA 4.0) - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
' Req'd Refs: Late Binding -> none required
'
' Input Variables:
' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
' sEnvVarName : Name of the Environment Variable to get the value of (Expand)
'
' Usage:
' ~~~~~~
'? WScript_GetEnvironmentString("userprofile")
' C:\Users\Daniel
'? WScript_GetEnvironmentString("%userprofile%\Downloads")
' C:\Users\Daniel\Downloads
'? WScript_GetEnvironmentString("appdata")
' C:\Users\Daniel\AppData\Roaming
'? WScript_GetEnvironmentString("userprofile")
' C:\Users\Daniel
'
' Revision History:
' Rev Date(yyyy-mm-dd) Description
' **************************************************************************************
' 1 2023-01-12 Initial Public Release
'---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Function WScript_GetEnvironmentString(sEnvVarName As String) As String
'https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/internet-explorer/ie-developer/windows-scripting/dy8116cf(v=vs.84)
On Error GoTo Error_Handler
If InStr(sEnvVarName, "%") = 0 Then
WScript_GetEnvironmentString = CreateObject("WScript.Shell").ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%" & sEnvVarName & "%")
Else
WScript_GetEnvironmentString = CreateObject("WScript.Shell").ExpandEnvironmentStrings(sEnvVarName)
End If
Error_Handler_Exit:
On Error Resume Next
Exit Function
Error_Handler:
MsgBox "The following error has occurred" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
"Error Number: " & Err.Number & vbCrLf & _
"Error Source: WScript_GetEnvironmentString" & vbCrLf & _
"Error Description: " & Err.Description & _
Switch(Erl = 0, "", Erl <> 0, vbCrLf & "Line No: " & Erl) _
, vbOKOnly + vbCritical, "An Error has Occurred!"
Resume Error_Handler_Exit
End Function
Usage Example
? WScript_GetEnvironmentString("appdata")
which would return something like:
C:\Users\Daniel\AppData\Roaming
Also, note how you can concatenate directly within the function call, avoiding one extra step in your VBA code if you don’t want to do so.
? WScript_GetEnvironmentString("%userprofile%\Documents")
which would return something like:
C:\Users\Daniel\Documents
Once again, like Environ() since we are Expanding the Environment Strings, you are limited to the available Environment variables which you can validate by using the Command Prompt and it can be spoofed by malicious users.
Shell.Application
Code
Enum CSIDL
CSIDL_ADMINTOOLS = &H30
CSIDL_ALTSTARTUP = &H1D
CSIDL_APPDATA = &H1A
CSIDL_BITBUCKET = &HA
CSIDL_CDBURN_AREA = &H3B
CSIDL_COMMON_ADMINTOOLS = &H2F
CSIDL_COMMON_ALTSTARTUP = &H1E
CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA = &H23
CSIDL_COMMON_DESKTOPDIRECTORY = &H19
CSIDL_COMMON_DOCUMENTS = &H2E
CSIDL_COMMON_FAVORITES = &H1F
CSIDL_COMMON_MUSIC = &H35
CSIDL_COMMON_OEM_LINKS = &H3A
CSIDL_COMMON_PICTURES = &H36
CSIDL_COMMON_PROGRAMS = &H17
CSIDL_COMMON_STARTMENU = &H16
CSIDL_COMMON_STARTUP = &H18
CSIDL_COMMON_TEMPLATES = &H2D
CSIDL_COMMON_VIDEO = &H37
CSIDL_COMPUTERSNEARME = &H3D
CSIDL_CONNECTIONS = &H31
CSIDL_CONTROLS = &H3
CSIDL_COOKIES = &H21
CSIDL_DESKTOP = &H0
CSIDL_DESKTOPDIRECTORY = &H10
CSIDL_DRIVES = &H11
CSIDL_FAVORITES = &H6
CSIDL_FONTS = &H14
CSIDL_HISTORY = &H22
CSIDL_INTERNET = &H1
CSIDL_INTERNET_CACHE = &H20
CSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA = &H1C
CSIDL_MYDOCUMENTS = &H5
CSIDL_MYMUSIC = &HD
CSIDL_MYPICTURES = &H27
CSIDL_MYVIDEO = &HE
CSIDL_NETHOOD = &H13
CSIDL_NETWORK = &H12
CSIDL_PERSONAL = &H5
CSIDL_PRINTERS = &H4
CSIDL_PRINTHOOD = &H1B
CSIDL_PROFILE = &H28
CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES = &H26
CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES_COMMON = &H2B
CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES_COMMONX86 = &H2C
CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILESX86 = &H2A
CSIDL_PROGRAMS = &H2
CSIDL_RECENT = &H8
CSIDL_RESOURCES = &H38
CSIDL_RESOURCES_LOCALIZED = &H39
CSIDL_SENDTO = &H9
CSIDL_STARTMENU = &HB
CSIDL_STARTUP = &H7
CSIDL_SYSTEM = &H25
CSIDL_SYSTEMX86 = &H29
CSIDL_TEMPLATES = &H15
CSIDL_WINDOWS = &H24
End Enum
'---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Procedure : Shell_GetFolderPath
' Author : Daniel Pineault, CARDA Consultants Inc.
' Website : http://www.cardaconsultants.com
' Purpose : Retrieve the path of various system folders
' Copyright : The following is release as Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
' (CC BY-SA 4.0) - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
' Req'd Refs: Late Binding -> none required
' Dependencies: CSIDL Enum
'
' Input Variables:
' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
' lFolder : the CSIDL for the folder path you wish to retrive the path of
'
' Usage:
' ~~~~~~
'? Shell_GetFolderPath(CSIDL_STARTUP)
' C:\Users\Dev\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
'
' Revision History:
' Rev Date(yyyy-mm-dd) Description
' **************************************************************************************
' 1 2023-01-12 Initial Public Release
'---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function Shell_GetFolderPath(lFolder As CSIDL)
On Error GoTo Error_Handler
Shell_GetFolderPath = CreateObject("Shell.Application").Namespace((lFolder)).Self.Path
Error_Handler_Exit:
On Error Resume Next
Exit Function
Error_Handler:
MsgBox "The following error has occurred" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
"Error Source: Shell_GetFolderPath" & vbCrLf & _
"Error Number: " & Err.Number & vbCrLf & _
"Error Description: " & Err.Description & _
Switch(Erl = 0, "", Erl <> 0, vbCrLf & "Line No: " & Erl) _
, vbOKOnly + vbCritical, "An Error has Occurred!"
Resume Error_Handler_Exit
End Function
Usage Example
? Shell_GetFolderPath(CSIDL_STARTUP)
which returns
C:\Users\Daniel\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
PowerShell
Code
All the code is available on my article:
Get Environment and System Variables using VBA and PowerShell
In my continuing quest to build a PowerShell library, today I thought I’d look at how we can possibly use PowerShell, through VBA, to get various environment and system variable values. I’ve somewhat touched upon this subject in the past in articles like VBA – Recognize User, Get Username VBA – Get The Computer Name…
Usage Example
For Environment Variables:
? PS_GetEnvVariable("temp")
which returns
C:\Users\Daniel\AppData\Local\Temp
For System Variables:
? PS_GetSystemVariable("MyDocuments", True)
which returns
C:\Users\Daniel\Documents
The one drawback here is the fact that the PS approach is slightly slower than other techniques. Furthermore, the PS_GetEnvVariable can be spoofed just like the Environ() function.
SHGetFolderPath
Code
Private Declare Function SHGetFolderPath Lib "shfolder" _
Alias "SHGetFolderPathA" _
(ByVal hwnd As Long, _
ByVal CSIDL As Long, _
ByVal hToken As Long, _
ByVal dwFlags As Long, _
ByVal pszPath As String) As Long
Enum CSIDL
CSIDL_ADMINTOOLS = &H30
CSIDL_ALTSTARTUP = &H1D
CSIDL_APPDATA = &H1A
CSIDL_BITBUCKET = &HA
CSIDL_CDBURN_AREA = &H3B
CSIDL_COMMON_ADMINTOOLS = &H2F
CSIDL_COMMON_ALTSTARTUP = &H1E
CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA = &H23
CSIDL_COMMON_DESKTOPDIRECTORY = &H19
CSIDL_COMMON_DOCUMENTS = &H2E
CSIDL_COMMON_FAVORITES = &H1F
CSIDL_COMMON_MUSIC = &H35
CSIDL_COMMON_OEM_LINKS = &H3A
CSIDL_COMMON_PICTURES = &H36
CSIDL_COMMON_PROGRAMS = &H17
CSIDL_COMMON_STARTMENU = &H16
CSIDL_COMMON_STARTUP = &H18
CSIDL_COMMON_TEMPLATES = &H2D
CSIDL_COMMON_VIDEO = &H37
CSIDL_COMPUTERSNEARME = &H3D
CSIDL_CONNECTIONS = &H31
CSIDL_CONTROLS = &H3
CSIDL_COOKIES = &H21
CSIDL_DESKTOP = &H0
CSIDL_DESKTOPDIRECTORY = &H10
CSIDL_DRIVES = &H11
CSIDL_FAVORITES = &H6
CSIDL_FONTS = &H14
CSIDL_HISTORY = &H22
CSIDL_INTERNET = &H1
CSIDL_INTERNET_CACHE = &H20
CSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA = &H1C
CSIDL_MYDOCUMENTS = &H5
CSIDL_MYMUSIC = &HD
CSIDL_MYPICTURES = &H27
CSIDL_MYVIDEO = &HE
CSIDL_NETHOOD = &H13
CSIDL_NETWORK = &H12
CSIDL_PERSONAL = &H5
CSIDL_PRINTERS = &H4
CSIDL_PRINTHOOD = &H1B
CSIDL_PROFILE = &H28
CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES = &H26
CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES_COMMON = &H2B
CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES_COMMONX86 = &H2C
CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILESX86 = &H2A
CSIDL_PROGRAMS = &H2
CSIDL_RECENT = &H8
CSIDL_RESOURCES = &H38
CSIDL_RESOURCES_LOCALIZED = &H39
CSIDL_SENDTO = &H9
CSIDL_STARTMENU = &HB
CSIDL_STARTUP = &H7
CSIDL_SYSTEM = &H25
CSIDL_SYSTEMX86 = &H29
CSIDL_TEMPLATES = &H15
CSIDL_WINDOWS = &H24
End Enum
'---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Procedure : API_SHGetFolderPath
' Author : Daniel Pineault, CARDA Consultants Inc.
' Website : http://www.cardaconsultants.com
' Purpose : Retrieve the path of various system folders
' Copyright : The following is release as Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
' (CC BY-SA 4.0) - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
' Req'd Refs: None required
' Resources :
' https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/shlobj_core/nf-shlobj_core-shgetfolderpatha
'
' Input Variables:
' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
' lFolder : the CSIDL for the folder path you wish to retrive the path of
'
' Usage:
' ~~~~~~
' ? API_GetFolderPath(CSIDL_DESKTOP)
' C:\Users\Daniel\Desktop
'
' Revision History:
' Rev Date(yyyy-mm-dd) Description
' **************************************************************************************
' 1 2023-01-12 Initial Public Release
'---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Function API_SHGetFolderPath(lFolder As CSIDL) As String
On Error GoTo Error_Handler
Dim sPath As String
Dim lRetVal As Long
sPath = String(260, 0)
lRetVal = SHGetFolderPath(0, lFolder, 0, 1, sPath)
If lRetVal = 0 Then
API_SHGetFolderPath = Left(sPath, InStr(1, sPath, Chr(0)) - 1)
End If
Error_Handler_Exit:
On Error Resume Next
Exit Function
Error_Handler:
MsgBox "The following error has occurred" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
"Error Source: API_SHGetFolderPath" & vbCrLf & _
"Error Number: " & Err.Number & vbCrLf & _
"Error Description: " & Err.Description & _
Switch(Erl = 0, "", Erl <> 0, vbCrLf & "Line No: " & Erl) _
, vbOKOnly + vbCritical, "An Error has Occurred!"
Resume Error_Handler_Exit
End Function
Usage Example
? Shell_GetFolderPath(CSIDL_STARTUP)
which returns
C:\Users\Daniel\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
SHGetKnownFolderPath
Code
This is entirely based off of:
VBnet™ Visual Basic Developers Resource Centre
Windows Vista has introduced a new mechanism to access what had previously been known as "special folders" since Windows 95 - under Vista they are called "Known Folders".
Enum REFKNOWNFOLDERID
FOLDERID_AddNewPrograms
FOLDERID_AdminTools
FOLDERID_AppUpdates
FOLDERID_CDBurning
FOLDERID_ChangeRemovePrograms
FOLDERID_CommonAdminTools
FOLDERID_CommonOEMLinks
FOLDERID_CommonPrograms
FOLDERID_CommonStartMenu
FOLDERID_CommonStartup
FOLDERID_CommonTemplates
FOLDERID_ComputerFolder
FOLDERID_ConflictFolder
FOLDERID_ConnectionsFolder
FOLDERID_Contacts
FOLDERID_ControlPanelFolder
FOLDERID_Cookies
FOLDERID_Desktop
FOLDERID_Documents
FOLDERID_Downloads
FOLDERID_Favorites
FOLDERID_Fonts
FOLDERID_Games
FOLDERID_GameTasks
FOLDERID_History
FOLDERID_InternetCache
FOLDERID_InternetFolder
FOLDERID_Links
FOLDERID_LocalAppData
FOLDERID_LocalAppDataLow
FOLDERID_LocalizedResourcesDir
FOLDERID_Music
FOLDERID_NetHood
FOLDERID_NetworkFolder
FOLDERID_OriginalImages
FOLDERID_PhotoAlbums
FOLDERID_Pictures
FOLDERID_Playlists
FOLDERID_PrintersFolder
FOLDERID_PrintHood
FOLDERID_Profile
FOLDERID_ProgramData
FOLDERID_ProgramFiles
FOLDERID_ProgramFilesCommon
FOLDERID_ProgramFilesCommonX64
FOLDERID_ProgramFilesCommonX86
FOLDERID_ProgramFilesX64
FOLDERID_ProgramFilesX86
FOLDERID_Programs
FOLDERID_Public
FOLDERID_PublicDesktop
FOLDERID_PublicDocuments
FOLDERID_PublicDownloads
FOLDERID_PublicGameTasks
FOLDERID_PublicMusic
FOLDERID_PublicPictures
FOLDERID_PublicVideos
FOLDERID_QuickLaunch
FOLDERID_Recent
FOLDERID_RecordedTV
FOLDERID_RecycleBinFolder
FOLDERID_ResourceDir
FOLDERID_RoamingAppData
FOLDERID_SampleMusic
FOLDERID_SamplePictures
FOLDERID_SamplePlaylists
FOLDERID_SampleVideos
FOLDERID_SavedGames
FOLDERID_SavedSearches
FOLDERID_SEARCH_CSC
FOLDERID_SEARCH_MAPI
FOLDERID_SearchHome
FOLDERID_SendTo
FOLDERID_SidebarDefaultParts
FOLDERID_SidebarParts
FOLDERID_StartMenu
FOLDERID_Startup
FOLDERID_SyncManagerFolder
FOLDERID_SyncResultsFolder
FOLDERID_SyncSetupFolder
FOLDERID_System
FOLDERID_SystemX86
FOLDERID_Templates
FOLDERID_TreeProperties
FOLDERID_UserProfiles
FOLDERID_UsersFiles
FOLDERID_Videos
FOLDERID_Windows
End Enum
Private Type GUID
Data1 As Long
Data2 As Integer
Data3 As Integer
Data4(7) As Byte
End Type
Private Declare Function SHGetKnownFolderPath Lib "shell32" _
(rfid As Any, _
ByVal dwFlags As Long, _
ByVal hToken As Long, _
ppszPath As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function CLSIDFromString Lib "ole32" _
(ByVal lpszGuid As Long, _
pGuid As Any) As Long
Private Declare Sub CopyMemory Lib "kernel32" _
Alias "RtlMoveMemory" _
(pDest As Any, _
pSrc As Any, _
ByVal ByteLen As Long)
Private Declare Sub CoTaskMemFree Lib "ole32" (ByVal hMem As Long)
Private Declare Function lstrlenW Lib "kernel32" (ByVal ptr As Long) As Long
'? GetFolder(FOLDERID_Documents)
' T:\Documents
'? GetFolder(FOLDERID_Pictures)
' C:\Users\Dev\Pictures
Public Function GetFolder(lRfid As REFKNOWNFOLDERID) As String
Dim ppszPath As Long
Dim gGuid As GUID
Dim sRfid As String
sRfid = Get_sRfid(lRfid)
'attempt to convert the knownfolder ID to a GUID
If CLSIDFromString(StrPtr(sRfid), gGuid) = 0 Then
'pass gGuid to SHGetKnownFolderPath, which returns
'the path as a pointer to a Unicode string.
If SHGetKnownFolderPath(gGuid, 0, 0, ppszPath) = 0 Then
'if no error on return get the path
'if present and release the pointer
GetFolder = GetPointerToByteStringW(ppszPath)
Call CoTaskMemFree(ppszPath)
End If
End If 'CLSIDFromString
End Function
Private Function GetPointerToByteStringW(ByVal dwData As Long) As String
Dim tmp() As Byte
Dim tmplen As Long
If dwData <> 0 Then
'determine the size of the returned data
tmplen = lstrlenW(dwData) * 2
If tmplen <> 0 Then
'create a byte buffer for the string
'then assign it to the return value
'of the function
ReDim tmp(0 To (tmplen - 1)) As Byte
CopyMemory tmp(0), ByVal dwData, tmplen
GetPointerToByteStringW = tmp
End If
End If
End Function
Function Get_sRfid(lREFKNOWNFOLDERID As Long) As String
'xref REFKNOWNFOLDERID Enum value to GUID string value
Select Case lREFKNOWNFOLDERID
Case FOLDERID_AddNewPrograms: Get_sRfid = "{de61d971-5ebc-4f02-a3a9-6c82895e5c04}"
Case FOLDERID_AdminTools: Get_sRfid = "{724EF170-A42D-4FEF-9F26-B60E846FBA4F}"
Case FOLDERID_AppUpdates: Get_sRfid = "{a305ce99-f527-492b-8b1a-7e76fa98d6e4}"
Case FOLDERID_CDBurning: Get_sRfid = "{9E52AB10-F80D-49DF-ACB8-4330F5687855}"
Case FOLDERID_ChangeRemovePrograms: Get_sRfid = "{df7266ac-9274-4867-8d55-3bd661de872d}"
Case FOLDERID_CommonAdminTools: Get_sRfid = "{D0384E7D-BAC3-4797-8F14-CBA229B392B5}"
Case FOLDERID_CommonOEMLinks: Get_sRfid = "{C1BAE2D0-10DF-4334-BEDD-7AA20B227A9D}"
Case FOLDERID_CommonPrograms: Get_sRfid = "{0139D44E-6AFE-49F2-8690-3DAFCAE6FFB8}"
Case FOLDERID_CommonStartMenu: Get_sRfid = "{A4115719-D62E-491D-AA7C-E74B8BE3B067}"
Case FOLDERID_CommonStartup: Get_sRfid = "{82A5EA35-D9CD-47C5-9629-E15D2F714E6E}"
Case FOLDERID_CommonTemplates: Get_sRfid = "{B94237E7-57AC-4347-9151-B08C6C32D1F7}"
Case FOLDERID_ComputerFolder: Get_sRfid = "{0AC0837C-BBF8-452A-850D-79D08E667CA7}"
Case FOLDERID_ConflictFolder: Get_sRfid = "{4bfefb45-347d-4006-a5be-ac0cb0567192}"
Case FOLDERID_ConnectionsFolder: Get_sRfid = "{6F0CD92B-2E97-45D1-88FF-B0D186B8DEDD}"
Case FOLDERID_Contacts: Get_sRfid = "{56784854-C6CB-462b-8169-88E350ACB882}"
Case FOLDERID_ControlPanelFolder: Get_sRfid = "{82A74AEB-AEB4-465C-A014-D097EE346D63}"
Case FOLDERID_Cookies: Get_sRfid = "{2B0F765D-C0E9-4171-908E-08A611B84FF6}"
Case FOLDERID_Desktop: Get_sRfid = "{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}"
Case FOLDERID_Documents: Get_sRfid = "{FDD39AD0-238F-46AF-ADB4-6C85480369C7}"
Case FOLDERID_Downloads: Get_sRfid = "{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}"
Case FOLDERID_Favorites: Get_sRfid = "{1777F761-68AD-4D8A-87BD-30B759FA33DD}"
Case FOLDERID_Fonts: Get_sRfid = "{FD228CB7-AE11-4AE3-864C-16F3910AB8FE}"
Case FOLDERID_Games: Get_sRfid = "{CAC52C1A-B53D-4edc-92D7-6B2E8AC19434}"
Case FOLDERID_GameTasks: Get_sRfid = "{054FAE61-4DD8-4787-80B6-090220C4B700}"
Case FOLDERID_History: Get_sRfid = "{D9DC8A3B-B784-432E-A781-5A1130A75963}"
Case FOLDERID_InternetCache: Get_sRfid = "{352481E8-33BE-4251-BA85-6007CAEDCF9D}"
Case FOLDERID_InternetFolder: Get_sRfid = "{4D9F7874-4E0C-4904-967B-40B0D20C3E4B}"
Case FOLDERID_Links: Get_sRfid = "{bfb9d5e0-c6a9-404c-b2b2-ae6db6af4968}"
Case FOLDERID_LocalAppData: Get_sRfid = "{F1B32785-6FBA-4FCF-9D55-7B8E7F157091}"
Case FOLDERID_LocalAppDataLow: Get_sRfid = "{A520A1A4-1780-4FF6-BD18-167343C5AF16}"
Case FOLDERID_LocalizedResourcesDir: Get_sRfid = "{2A00375E-224C-49DE-B8D1-440DF7EF3DDC}"
Case FOLDERID_Music: Get_sRfid = "{4BD8D571-6D19-48D3-BE97-422220080E43}"
Case FOLDERID_NetHood: Get_sRfid = "{C5ABBF53-E17F-4121-8900-86626FC2C973}"
Case FOLDERID_OriginalImages: Get_sRfid = "{2C36C0AA-5812-4b87-BFD0-4CD0DFB19B39}"
Case FOLDERID_PhotoAlbums: Get_sRfid = "{69D2CF90-FC33-4FB7-9A0C-EBB0F0FCB43C}"
Case FOLDERID_Pictures: Get_sRfid = "{33E28130-4E1E-4676-835A-98395C3BC3BB}"
Case FOLDERID_Playlists: Get_sRfid = "{DE92C1C7-837F-4F69-A3BB-86E631204A23}"
Case FOLDERID_PrintersFolder: Get_sRfid = "{76FC4E2D-D6AD-4519-A663-37BD56068185}"
Case FOLDERID_PrintHood: Get_sRfid = "{9274BD8D-CFD1-41C3-B35E-B13F55A758F4}"
Case FOLDERID_Profile: Get_sRfid = "{5E6C858F-0E22-4760-9AFE-EA3317B67173}"
Case FOLDERID_ProgramData: Get_sRfid = "{62AB5D82-FDC1-4DC3-A9DD-070D1D495D97}"
Case FOLDERID_ProgramFiles: Get_sRfid = "{905e63b6-c1bf-494e-b29c-65b732d3d21a}"
Case FOLDERID_ProgramFilesCommon: Get_sRfid = "{F7F1ED05-9F6D-47A2-AAAE-29D317C6F066}"
Case FOLDERID_ProgramFilesCommonX64: Get_sRfid = "{6365D5A7-0F0D-45e5-87F6-0DA56B6A4F7D}"
Case FOLDERID_ProgramFilesCommonX86: Get_sRfid = "{DE974D24-D9C6-4D3E-BF91-F4455120B917}"
Case FOLDERID_ProgramFilesX64: Get_sRfid = "{6D809377-6AF0-444b-8957-A3773F02200E}"
Case FOLDERID_ProgramFilesX86: Get_sRfid = "{7C5A40EF-A0FB-4BFC-874A-C0F2E0B9FA8E}"
Case FOLDERID_Programs: Get_sRfid = "{A77F5D77-2E2B-44C3-A6A2-ABA601054A51}"
Case FOLDERID_Public: Get_sRfid = "{DFDF76A2-C82A-4D63-906A-5644AC457385}"
Case FOLDERID_PublicDesktop: Get_sRfid = "{C4AA340D-F20F-4863-AFEF-F87EF2E6BA25}"
Case FOLDERID_PublicDocuments: Get_sRfid = "{ED4824AF-DCE4-45A8-81E2-FC7965083634}"
Case FOLDERID_PublicDownloads: Get_sRfid = "{3D644C9B-1FB8-4f30-9B45-F670235F79C0}"
Case FOLDERID_PublicGameTasks: Get_sRfid = "{DEBF2536-E1A8-4c59-B6A2-414586476AEA}"
Case FOLDERID_PublicMusic: Get_sRfid = "{3214FAB5-9757-4298-BB61-92A9DEAA44FF}"
Case FOLDERID_PublicPictures: Get_sRfid = "{B6EBFB86-6907-413C-9AF7-4FC2ABF07CC5}"
Case FOLDERID_PublicVideos: Get_sRfid = "{2400183A-6185-49FB-A2D8-4A392A602BA3}"
Case FOLDERID_QuickLaunch: Get_sRfid = "{52a4f021-7b75-48a9-9f6b-4b87a210bc8f}"
Case FOLDERID_Recent: Get_sRfid = "{AE50C081-EBD2-438A-8655-8A092E34987A}"
Case FOLDERID_RecordedTV: Get_sRfid = "{bd85e001-112e-431e-983b-7b15ac09fff1}"
Case FOLDERID_RecycleBinFolder: Get_sRfid = "{B7534046-3ECB-4C18-BE4E-64CD4CB7D6AC}"
Case FOLDERID_ResourceDir: Get_sRfid = "{8AD10C31-2ADB-4296-A8F7-E4701232C972}"
Case FOLDERID_RoamingAppData: Get_sRfid = "{3EB685DB-65F9-4CF6-A03A-E3EF65729F3D}"
Case FOLDERID_SampleMusic: Get_sRfid = "{B250C668-F57D-4EE1-A63C-290EE7D1AA1F}"
Case FOLDERID_SamplePictures: Get_sRfid = "{C4900540-2379-4C75-844B-64E6FAF8716B}"
Case FOLDERID_SamplePlaylists: Get_sRfid = "{15CA69B3-30EE-49C1-ACE1-6B5EC372AFB5}"
Case FOLDERID_SampleVideos: Get_sRfid = "{859EAD94-2E85-48AD-A71A-0969CB56A6CD}"
Case FOLDERID_SavedGames: Get_sRfid = "{4C5C32FF-BB9D-43b0-B5B4-2D72E54EAAA4}"
Case FOLDERID_SavedSearches: Get_sRfid = "{7d1d3a04-debb-4115-95cf-2f29da2920da}"
Case FOLDERID_SEARCH_CSC: Get_sRfid = "{ee32e446-31ca-4aba-814f-a5ebd2fd6d5e}"
Case FOLDERID_SEARCH_MAPI: Get_sRfid = "{98ec0e18-2098-4d44-8644-66979315a281}"
Case FOLDERID_SearchHome: Get_sRfid = "{190337d1-b8ca-4121-a639-6d472d16972a}"
Case FOLDERID_SendTo: Get_sRfid = "{8983036C-27C0-404B-8F08-102D10DCFD74}"
Case FOLDERID_SidebarDefaultParts: Get_sRfid = "{7B396E54-9EC5-4300-BE0A-2482EBAE1A26}"
Case FOLDERID_SidebarParts: Get_sRfid = "{A75D362E-50FC-4fb7-AC2C-A8BEAA314493}"
Case FOLDERID_StartMenu: Get_sRfid = "{625B53C3-AB48-4EC1-BA1F-A1EF4146FC19}"
Case FOLDERID_Startup: Get_sRfid = "{B97D20BB-F46A-4C97-BA10-5E3608430854}"
Case FOLDERID_SyncManagerFolder: Get_sRfid = "{43668BF8-C14E-49B2-97C9-747784D784B7}"
Case FOLDERID_SyncResultsFolder: Get_sRfid = "{289a9a43-be44-4057-a41b-587a76d7e7f9}"
Case FOLDERID_SyncSetupFolder: Get_sRfid = "{0F214138-B1D3-4a90-BBA9-27CBC0C5389A}"
Case FOLDERID_System: Get_sRfid = "{1AC14E77-02E7-4E5D-B744-2EB1AE5198B7}"
Case FOLDERID_SystemX86: Get_sRfid = "{D65231B0-B2F1-4857-A4CE-A8E7C6EA7D27}"
Case FOLDERID_Templates: Get_sRfid = "{A63293E8-664E-48DB-A079-DF759E0509F7}"
Case FOLDERID_TreeProperties: Get_sRfid = "{5b3749ad-b49f-49c1-83eb-15370fbd4882}"
Case FOLDERID_UserProfiles: Get_sRfid = "{0762D272-C50A-4BB0-A382-697DCD729B80}"
Case FOLDERID_UsersFiles: Get_sRfid = "{f3ce0f7c-4901-4acc-8648-d5d44b04ef8f}"
Case FOLDERID_Videos: Get_sRfid = "{18989B1D-99B5-455B-841C-AB7C74E4DDFC}"
Case FOLDERID_Windows: Get_sRfid = "{F38BF404-1D43-42F2-9305-67DE0B28FC23}"
Case FOLDERID_NetworkFolder: Get_sRfid = "{D20BEEC4-5CA8-4905-AE3B-BF251EA09B53}"
End Select
End Function
Usage Example
? GetFolder(FOLDERID_Documents)
which returns
C:\Users\Daniel\Documents
Which Approach Is Best?
As you’ve seen, there are a number of ways to quickly retrieve the path to system/environment paths. Each approach has Pros and Cons, and I leave it to your good judgement to use the approach that best suits your needs, but as always try and implement the KISS principle (Keep it simple, stupid!) in all you development!
Have you ever tested whether the spoofed/hacked environment variables don’t affect any of the other approaches as well?
It would seem that anything reliant on Environment variables can be spoofed, which makes sense when you think of it. So Environ, WScript using ExpandEnvironmentStrings, even some Powershell approaches.