Get all directories within an Explorer Library

Question

How can I get all the library locations added to My Music?

For this example, I have added these directories to the library:

E:\My Music
E:\Mp3

I tried:

Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyMusic);

But it returns:

C:\Users\MyUser\Music

Can you just add the directory one by one manually if only two folders exist? — Tianyun Ling, Apr 12 '13 at 01:59
i have lots of directory to add on my library location so adding it one by one is not an option for me.. :) — Vincent Dagpin, Apr 12 '13 at 02:00
You got your work cut out for you, but here is a great example on how it's done. http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/143038/Parsing-Windows-7-Libraries-Without-NET-4-or-the-W — Mike Perrenoud, Apr 12 '13 at 02:04
I don't suppose it's sufficient to discover the path to the Music Library folder itself? You can do that using the [`SHGetKnownFolderPath` function](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb762188.aspx) and passing the value `FOLDERID_MusicLibrary`. Much easier than enumerating all of the folders *added* to the library, and should be sufficient for most uses. — Cody Gray - on strike, Apr 12 '13 at 05:27
@MichaelPerrenoud Based on your link, it suggests that this is much easier to do with .NET 4 — Danny Beckett, Apr 12 '13 at 06:57

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 12 '13 at 08:00

1

Any libraries added to Media Player should end up in the AppData directory.

Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData) + @"\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries\Music.library-ms"

Maybe this will help.

answered Apr 12 '13 at 08:00

Rikki B

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score 1 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:51

1

Are you trying to develop a Windows Store Application? If yes, try with the Windows.Store library as suggested here

MSDN: http://msdn.microsoft.com/it-it/library/windows/apps/windows.storage.knownfolders.musiclibrary

edited May 23 '17 at 11:51

Community

1
1

answered Apr 12 '13 at 08:03

Francesco De Lisi

1,493
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score 0 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:43

I did something similar and posted a full solution with code using Windows API Code Pack at this other StackOverflow question. In your case, you would find the code that says:

        ICollection<IKnownFolder> allSpecialFolders = Microsoft.WindowsAPICodePack.Shell.KnownFolders.All;

And then iterate over these folders to find the one that matches your need:

    string fpath = "";
    // Iterate over each folder and find the one we want
    foreach ( var folder in allSpecialFolders )
    {
        if ( folder.ParsingName == foldername )
        {
            // We now have access to the xml path
            fpath = folder.Path;
        }
    }

    if ( fpath == "" )
        return null;

    var intFolders = GetLibraryInternalFolders(fpath);

    return intFolders.Folders.ToList();

And then use the GetLibraryInternalFolders() function to return the multiple folders inside that. Anyway, check out my full-code solution at the other question.

Get all directories within an Explorer Library

3 Answers3