ShellExecute(Ex) with 'properties' verb

Question

I am trying to write a program, that opens the properties of a file, from the command-line. I read that it is possible to do, using either of the functions ShellExecute and ShellExecuteEx, with the 'properties' verb.

So, I wrote such a C++ program in Visual Studio for Windows 10. This is that program:

#include <windows.h>
#include <iostream>
void ShowFileProperties(char *);
int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
    if (argc >= 2)
    {
        std::cout << argv[1] << std::endl;
        ShowFileProperties(argv[1]);
    }
    std::cout << GetLastError();
    return 0;
}

void ShowFileProperties(char *szPathName)
{
    HRESULT result = CoInitializeEx(NULL, COINIT_APARTMENTTHREADED | COINIT_DISABLE_OLE1DDE);
    SHELLEXECUTEINFO Sei;
    ZeroMemory(&Sei,sizeof(SHELLEXECUTEINFO));
    Sei.cbSize = sizeof(SHELLEXECUTEINFO);
    Sei.lpFile = szPathName;
    Sei.nShow = SW_SHOW;
    Sei.fMask = SEE_MASK_INVOKEIDLIST;
    Sei.lpVerb = "properties";
    ShellExecuteEx(&Sei);
    if (result == S_OK || result == S_FALSE)
        CoUninitialize();
}

If I run the program from the command line with a valid filename (such as . or the name of the executable itself), all it outputs is the filename and a zero (there was no error), but the properties of the file don't open.

Now, I have seen that other people have this problem, i.e. that the 'properties' verb doesn't do anything or that they get a messagebox saying that the filetype doesn't have an associated program for the operation, but I have not been able to find a fix.

Is there anyone here that can help me?

Thanks in advance.

Please try with a `Sleep` after your call to `ShellExecuteEx`. http://stackoverflow.com/a/33472984/4181011 — Simon Kraemer, Nov 08 '16 at 16:04

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 12 '16 at 21:49

0

Pass the SEE_MASK_NOASYNC (0x00000100) flag in your SHELLEXECUTEINFO to tell ShellExecuteEx that you're calling it without a message loop and not to return until it has finished.

See the remarks in the SHELLEXECUTEINFO docs on MSDN.

Sleep() is neither necessary nor recommended.

answered Nov 12 '16 at 21:49

Rob Caplan - MSFT

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I tried that now, but it didn't work. I need to call Sleep(). – Dominus Nov 13 '16 at 13:46
I agree that Sleep is not a good approach. But your suggestion to use SEE_MASK_NOASYNC doesn't work either, at least not on my Win10. Just like I [commented here](https://stackoverflow.com/a/33472984/670017), if I add SEE_MASK_NOASYNC to SEE_MASK_INVOKEIDLIST, the `ShellExecuteEx` returns TRUE immediately and then later I get an error MessageBox with `"The properties for this item are not available."` Only calling it w/o SEE_MASK_NOASYNC solves the issue, but that may be just a timing issue. TBH, I hate `ShellExecute` and how convoluted it is! – c00000fd Feb 02 '18 at 21:01

ShellExecute(Ex) with 'properties' verb

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