Display content size for a folder in Explorer using shell extensions

• Download demo project - 20.2 Kb

Introduction

Don't tell me you never had to right click a folder only to see in the properties the size of the content. If you never did it, skip reading this article!!!

Let's take a look at the code

If you did it, what you need is a shell extension!!! What is a shell extension? You will find the right answer reading The Michael Dunn's Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Shell Extensions, here on CodeProject. What I did is read the Part VIII of the series and modify two functions to get my content-size-column in the Explorer. First of all, I did all the building without the last Platform SDK. So, I needed to add manually to my code the IColumnProvider interface declaration, plus some other declarations in my header files, like this

// remove all this stuff if you have the right shlobj.h file

// *** start stuff


typedef struct {
    GUID fmtid;
    DWORD pid;
} SHCOLUMNID, *LPSHCOLUMNID;
typedef const SHCOLUMNID* LPCSHCOLUMNID;


typedef struct {
    ULONG    dwFlags;
    ULONG    dwReserved;
    WCHAR    wszFolder[MAX_PATH];
} SHCOLUMNINIT, *LPSHCOLUMNINIT;

#define MAX_COLUMN_NAME_LEN 80
#define MAX_COLUMN_DESC_LEN 128

#pragma pack(1)
typedef struct {
    SHCOLUMNID  scid;
    VARTYPE     vt;
    DWORD       fmt;
    UINT        cChars;
    DWORD       csFlags; 
    WCHAR wszTitle[MAX_COLUMN_NAME_LEN];
    WCHAR wszDescription[MAX_COLUMN_DESC_LEN];
} SHCOLUMNINFO, *LPSHCOLUMNINFO;


#define SHCDF_UPDATEITEM        0x00000001      

typedef struct {
    ULONG   dwFlags;
    DWORD   dwFileAttributes;
    ULONG   dwReserved;
    WCHAR   *pwszExt;
    WCHAR   wszFile[MAX_PATH];
} SHCOLUMNDATA, *LPSHCOLUMNDATA;
typedef const SHCOLUMNDATA* LPCSHCOLUMNDATA;


DECLARE_INTERFACE_(IColumnProvider, IUnknown)
{
    // IUnknown methods

    STDMETHOD (QueryInterface)(THIS_ REFIID riid, void **ppv) PURE;
    STDMETHOD_(ULONG, AddRef)(THIS) PURE;
    STDMETHOD_(ULONG, Release)(THIS) PURE;

    // IColumnProvider methods

    STDMETHOD (Initialize)(THIS_ LPSHCOLUMNINIT psci) PURE;
    STDMETHOD (GetColumnInfo)(THIS_ DWORD dwIndex, LPSHCOLUMNINFO psci) PURE;
    STDMETHOD (GetItemData)(THIS_ LPCSHCOLUMNID pscid, LPCSHCOLUMNDATA pscd,
VARIANT *pvarData) PURE;
};

// *** end stuff

Remember to remove all this code (in DirSizeColumn.h) if you have the right Platform SDK or you'll get some compiler error. The core of the dll are the two functions CDirSizeColumn::GetColumnInfo and CDirSizeColumn::GetItemData. The first tells Explorer that there will be a new column, right aligned etc etc:

STDMETHODIMP CDirSizeColumn::GetColumnInfo ( DWORD dwIndex, 
    LPSHCOLUMNINFO psci )
{
    HRESULT hRes=S_FALSE;

    if (dwIndex==0)
    {
        psci->scid.fmtid = *_Module.pguidVer;   
        psci->scid.pid   = MY_COLUMN_ID;                               
        psci->vt         = VT_LPSTR;                                        
        psci->fmt        = LVCFMT_RIGHT;                                  
        psci->csFlags    = 0x22; // this is  SHCOLSTATE_TYPE_INT | 

                                 // SHCOLSTATE_SLOW

        psci->cChars     = 6;
        lstrcpyW ( psci->wszTitle, L"Content Size\0");
        lstrcpyW ( psci->wszDescription, 
             L"Size of all files and subfolders contained\0");
                            
        hRes=S_OK;
    }

    return hRes;
}

The second one will do the calc stuff for any directory being passed as param

STDMETHODIMP CDirSizeColumn::GetItemData (
    LPCSHCOLUMNID   pscid,
    LPCSHCOLUMNDATA pscd,
    VARIANT*        pvarData )
{
    HRESULT hRes=S_FALSE;

    // is my module?

    if ( pscid->fmtid == *_Module.pguidVer )
    {
        // is a directory?

        if ( (pscd->dwFileAttributes & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY)==
            FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY)
        {
            // is my column?

            if ( pscid->pid == MY_COLUMN_ID )
            {
                CString strFileName(pscd->wszFile);

                char szText[100];
                sprintf(szText,"%I64d KB",(__int64)(
                     GetDirSize(strFileName)/(__int64)1024));

                CComVariant vData(szText);

                vData.Detach ( pvarData );

                hRes=S_OK;
            }
        }
    }

    return hRes;
}

Really simple, isn't it? :) The function that read folders size is a simple recursive function, uses CFileFind from MFC and iterate in any subfolder and any file in a given folder.

__int64 GetDirSize(CString strFileName)
{
    __int64 i64Size=0;

    TRY
    {
        CFileFind finder;
        BOOL bWorking = finder.FindFile(strFileName+"\\*.*");

        while (bWorking)
        {
            bWorking = finder.FindNextFile();

            // check for dots

            if (!finder.IsDots())
            {
                // check for recursion

                if (finder.IsDirectory())
                    i64Size=i64Size+GetDirSize(finder.GetFilePath());
                else
                    i64Size=i64Size+finder.GetLength64();
            }
        }
    }
    CATCH(CException, ex)
    {
        // catch any error here


        i64Size=0;
    }
    END_CATCH

    return i64Size;
}

Install/Uninstall

To install the extension use the following command:

regsvr32 SHDireSizeColumn.dll

and to uninstall, type:

regsvr32 /u SHDireSizeColumn.dll

Remember to close all Explorer windows and next time you want to know the size of the content of a dir you will have to right click etc etc etc... :)

And then...

Many many thanks to Michael Dunn, writing this article has been a matter of minutes once I read his guides!!! :) See you soon.

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Can't debug :( ? termal 7:13 18 Jun '08   When i try to debug this project i recive this message: Debugging information for "explorer.exe" cannot be found or does not match Any idea how to solve this? I use VS8! Thanks for any help! termal Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Doesn't work on Vista :( kmst 16:02 10 Jun '08   "The IColumnHandler is deprecated and it is not supported on Vista. Microsoft introduced new property system, so you have to implement PropertyHandler." Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink 1.00/5 (1 vote) Visual C++ 2008 Express missing afxwin.h prader 22:47 23 May '08   Hi, Header describes my problem. Iv installed Visual C++ 2008 Express for free, just wana try your cool Tutorial. Now, iv converted to VC++2008Express project and try to build project. Compiler reportet: j:\shdiresizecolumn_demo\shdiresizecolumn\stdafx.h(18) : "afxwin.h": No such file or directory Thanks Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink SHDireSizeColumn_demo does not work! CdD98 15:35 21 Nov '04   Hey - SHDireSizeColumn_demo SHDireSizeColumn.dll does not work! Nor do your commands to install: regsvr32 SHDireSizeColumn.dll & to uninstall: regsvr32 /u SHDireSizeColumn.dll They need to include the dll's path,wherever placed: ie to install: regsvr32 C:\SHDireSizeColumn.dll & to uninstall: regsvr32 /u C:\SHDireSizeColumn.dll I get the following error message: LoadLibrary["c:\SHDireSizeColumn.dll"] failed. GetLastError returns 0x00000485. Similar shell dll DirSize.dll (The Code Project - Folder Size Information in the Windows Explorer Details view - Shell Programming) installs and uninstalls OK, so my loading technique is OK. I am running WMe. What is wrong with your dll? CrocDunD98 ---===X=====X8=< Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Re: SHDireSizeColumn_demo does not work! Khan-Dam06 1:48 25 Oct '06   I've the same Probleme with Windows 2000. But i've installed a soft "FastFolder" who give me on right click the folder content menu and some folder infos. In This Soft there are already a column viewer for total size for folder. Uninstaling FastFolder and deleting all his own dll ( on the install folder ) make this demo work fine Khan-Dam Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink can we add image bar also in column? AJAYP 1:28 31 Aug '04   Hi Can we enable a image also in a detailed view of column. Like the first column take different images like folder, exe etc etc.. Ajay I'm started woring with VC++ 6.0 and MFC. But want to master on these things. Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Another Newbie Question Jackboy 7:23 17 Jul '04   Using the SHCOLUMNID struct where {F29F85E0-4FF9-1068-AB91-08002B27B3D9 (Summary Info), 2 (or 3, 4, etc.) pid} to get this info from Shell functions is clear for as in Windows Explorer. But, how do you SET (edit, update, delete) these column values for a file (in this case, an XLS file shell property sheet under the 'summary' tab)? Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Is the new column necessary - Part II Rage 3:57 7 May '04   Hi! Since it does not seem easy to add the directory size to the "Size" column, could you add also files sizes to your "Content Size" column ? So we could disable the standard "Size" column, and use yours instead. Thanks, ~RaGE(); Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink 5.00/5 (1 vote) Re: Is the new column necessary - Part II Anthony_Yio 1:24 3 May '06   Seems like the author have no interest in putting your request to the article. I am sure I like to have it and these are my changes. In DirSizeColumn.cpp Add #include <sys\types.h> #include <sys\stat.h> Add in a function __int64 FileSize64( LPCTSTR szFileName ) { struct _stati64 fileStat; int err = _tstati64( szFileName, &fileStat ); if (0 != err) return 0; return fileStat.st_size; } And change function CDirSizeColumn::GetItemData to below. STDMETHODIMP CDirSizeColumn::GetItemData ( LPCSHCOLUMNID pscid, LPCSHCOLUMNDATA pscd, VARIANT* pvarData ) { HRESULT hRes=S_FALSE; // is my module? if ( pscid->fmtid == *_Module.pguidVer ) { // is a directory? if ( (pscd->dwFileAttributes & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY)==FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY) { // is my column? if ( pscid->pid == MY_COLUMN_ID ) { CString strFileName(pscd->wszFile); char szText[100]; sprintf(szText,"%I64d KB",(__int64)(GetDirSize(strFileName)/(__int64)1024)); CComVariant vData(szText); vData.Detach ( pvarData ); hRes=S_OK; } } else { //it is a file if ( pscid->pid == MY_COLUMN_ID ) { CString strFileName(pscd->wszFile); __int64 iFileSize = FileSize64((LPCTSTR)strFileName); iFileSize = iFileSize / (__int64)1024; TCHAR szBuffer[_MAX_PATH]; _stprintf(szBuffer, _T("%I64d KB"), iFileSize); CComVariant vData(szBuffer); vData.Detach ( pvarData ); hRes=S_OK; } } } return hRes; } Sonork 100.41263:Anthony_Yio -- modified at 6:25 Wednesday 3rd May, 2006 Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Sorting ability with size in KB, MB, GB... Anonymous 16:58 10 Apr '04   How can we show the size in KB, MB, and GB and still retain ability to sort? Thanks Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink 5.00/5 (2 votes) Re: Sorting ability with size in KB, MB, GB... sazerty 13:13 5 Jul '04   yes how ? ) thx for this great stuff Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Cached & realtime updated (NTFS only)! Mark Porsby 4:13 7 Dec '03   I have implemented similar functionality in an application I call NTFS Repository. My application keeps a memory image of the filetable, and uses the NTFS change journal to keep the image updated. This sucks up a considerable amount of memory (<10MB per 100k of files), but allows for really fast filename searches, and instant display of folder content size, all realtime updated using the NTFS changejournal. Check it out at: http://markporsby.dk/repos/download.php[^] The program is open-source, and when I'm done I plan to put up an article here on CP to document it's interface and use, but until then, any feedback is warmly welcomed! /Mark Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Compiler Errors bhuvan01 4:47 26 Nov '03   I tried to compile with Visual Studio 7.0 and the following errors were displayed.. Compiling... SHDireSizeColumn.cpp ..... error C2371: 'SHCOLUMNID' : redefinition; different basic types ...\ShObjIdl.h(1934) : see declaration of 'SHCOLUMNID' .....error C2011: 'IColumnProvider' : 'struct' type redefinition .....error C2039: 'GetLength64' : is not a member of 'CFileFind' SHDireSizeColumn - 19 error(s), 0 warning(s) Which SDK is required to compile this code?? and what are the compiler settings required?? I'm using Windows XP, and if just register the dll, it just doesnt work?? are there any special instructions for installation of the dll..Example.. File Location, registry settings, etc?? But the Idea of doing this is great... Thanks a lot Jonathan thanks and regards Thanks and Regards Bhuvan Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink 2.00/5 (1 vote) Re: Compiler Errors Sharan Basappa 23:09 27 Nov '03   You need Microsoft Platform SDK. To make this component work, register it and create a new key with component's CLSID as the keyname under HKCR\Folder\shellex\ColumnHandlers. There are no extra compiler settings, its just a inproc COM component. Cheers! -Sharan Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink 2.00/5 (1 vote) Re: Compiler Errors amauta 9:39 17 Jul '04   Hello, The idea is great, but I have the same errors. How to solve that????. I think add also files sizes to your "Content Size" and show the size in KB, MB, and GB and still retain ability to sort, will be perfect. Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink 1.00/5 (1 vote) Reading espelly 2:58 21 Nov '03   Hello folks Because I had trouble to understand numbers like 3422543KB, I made a little change in this part : char szText[100]; sprintf(szText,"%I64d KB",(__int64)(GetDirSize(strFileName)/(__int64)1024)); It becomes : char szText[100]; __int64 size = (__int64)(GetDirSize(strFileName)/(__int64)1024); if (size > (1024 * 1024)) sprintf(szText,"%I64d.%I64d Go", (__int64)(size / (__int64)(1024 * 1024)), (__int64)(size % (__int64)(1024 * 1024) / 10000) ); else if (size > 1024) sprintf(szText,"%I64d Mo", (__int64)(size / (__int64)1024) ); else sprintf(szText,"%I64d KB",size); Should be a personnal point of view. Anyway thank you for this DLL !!!!! Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink 5.00/5 (1 vote) Performance question dog_spawn 9:32 20 Nov '03   What impact does this have on performace? Is there going to be a load of disk thrashing when we use explorer or is it not that bad? It is interesting that the size of all children is not part of the file system (updated when a file is created/deleted/changed rather than calculated). It seems an obvious and trivial thing to code Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Re: Performance question JonathanLivingstone 22:13 20 Nov '03   Because of the SHCOLSTATE_SLOW flag, Explorer will spawn a new thread to use the dll, so avoiding GUI hangs. On my system i noticed that Explorer fills the extra column really fast (P4 1400MHz) I hope next release of window will include this snippet Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Re: Performance question gebrudergrimm 15:03 26 Nov '03   JonathanLivingstone wrote: I hope next release of window will include this snippet As new option welcome for that one like it. But with performance issues in mind its not a very good idea. Think about network shares and so on. I formerly use often alt-gr + return to get folder proberties. But now I just hover over a folder to get popup info - it is enough. we will see Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink 2.00/5 (1 vote) I just use Total Commander for this ;) Kochise 0:24 20 Nov '03   It's included as the [Shift]+[Alt]+[Return] shortcut, it calculates all the folders content size. Also selecting the folder with the space bar show its size Well, I find strange and old fashioned to try to enhance the Explorer (which like IE is not free at all, just bundled with every Windows), where good alternatives (such Total Commander, AccelMan, ...) just exists and improve the usage of Windows by thousands Anyway, this DLL would have had been included with any standart distribution of Windows, as it offers a REAL push-on to the usability of Windows. My 2 cents ? 5 stars - EXCELLENT ! Keep up the good work... Kochise PS : Yeap, it would be better not to add another column, as there is already so many Try [Ctrl]+[Num +], it helps... In Code we trust ! Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Check out Directory Opus as well. Leo Davidson 4:02 21 Nov '03   IMO a much better file manager than all the alternatives and it has this feature. It can also be set to automatically calculate directory sizes (on a background thread) for fixed drives, or all drives, or whatever, if you like. www.dopus.com Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Compiler errors. WREY 23:30 19 Nov '03   Mostly about redefinitions of basic types involving "typedef struct". :( William Fortes in fide et opere! Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Is new column necessary? Hans Dietrich 23:12 19 Nov '03   Is it possible to put the content size in the "Size" column? Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Re: Is new column necessary? JonathanLivingstone 0:02 20 Nov '03   Sure it is, take a look at Michael Dunn's guide :P there are just two code lines to modify to achieve the result!!! Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Re: Is new column necessary? Hans Dietrich 2:54 20 Nov '03   JonathanLivingstone wrote: there are just two code lines to modify Thanks. Which two? Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink

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