Resolving Windows 7 special Paths

Question

I'm having a problem with Windows 7 paths that can really be used to launch files etc, for example

"C:\Users\mattias\My Pictures\manual.pdf"

the actual location is

"c:\Users\mattias\Documents\My Pictures\manual.pdf"

This is probably because Windows 7 uses libraries, but I need a good way to resolve these kinds of paths to the actual path. I could hack something together Environment.SpecialFolder but it doesn't seem like a good solution since it doesnt take the user into account, The solution should also work under Vista. Do I have to mess around with the Windows API Code Pack and check windows versions or is there a better solution=

This has nothing to do with libraries, but instead that a displayed path can be different from the actual file system path (e.g. localised). — Joey, Feb 03 '12 at 12:06
yeah, but what if the path is a different account then the current user — Homde, Feb 03 '12 at 12:25
For other users see this question http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3493607/how-to-find-mymusic-folder-from-other-users — Bali C, Feb 03 '12 at 12:50
Then you won't be able to access it anyway. Even if you were able to figure out its physical location. — Oliver Weichhold, Feb 03 '12 at 12:51

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 03 '12 at 12:07

3

This should get you the actual path:

Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyPictures);

Just change the MyPictures if you need a different location.

answered Feb 03 '12 at 12:07

Bali C

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As I said, I can probably hack together something with Environment.Specialfolder but it doesn't seem like a really good solution since it'll be hard to cover all scenarios – Homde Feb 03 '12 at 12:17
I don't see what the issue with `SpecialFolder` is. It gets the drive, username and directory for you, what could be easier? – Bali C Feb 03 '12 at 12:18
You'd need to check each path and see if it's legal and manipulate it differently depending on what directory they're trying to access, I want something like GetRealPath(path) – Homde Feb 03 '12 at 12:21

Resolving Windows 7 special Paths

1 Answers1