Select known file after launching folder in explorer (VB.NET)

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I have a simple program which displays an image, and an option to "View file in folder".

Currently, I can view the folder of the image file, but would like to have the file selected in explorer where explorer launches.

For example, if the image location is "C:\Images\Test.png" I want explorer to open the directory "C:\Images" and the file Test.png to be automatically selected and in view.

What I have tried:

As of now, I launch the load the folder of the file using

Process.Start("explorer.exe", filepath.substring(0,lastindexof("\"))))

Posted 10-Mar-22 2:16am

Member 15435283

Updated 10-Mar-22 3:27am

v3

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Richard MacCutchan 10-Mar-22 8:55am

"I want to launch the directory"
What exactly does that mean? You can get the contents of a directory, or a specific file name from the Directory and File classes.

Member 15435283 10-Mar-22 9:20am

Launch the directory of the file, and highlight file. I've updated question for clarity.

Richard MacCutchan 10-Mar-22 9:41am

See Solution 1 below.

OriginalGriff 10-Mar-22 9:00am

This is not a good question - we cannot work out from that little what you are trying to do.
Remember that we can't see your screen, access your HDD, or read your mind - we only get exactly what you type to work with - we get no other context for your project.
Imagine this: you go for a drive in the country, but you have a problem with the car. You call the garage, say "it broke" and turn off your phone. How long will you be waiting before the garage arrives with the right bits and tools to fix the car given they don't know what make or model it is, who you are, what happened when it all went wrong, or even where you are?

That's what you've done here. So stop typing as little as possible and try explaining things to people who have no way to access your project!

Use the "Improve question" widget to edit your question and provide better information.

Member 15435283 10-Mar-22 9:20am

Updated question for clarity

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Maciej Los · Accepted Answer · 2022-03-10T03:27:00

If i understand you well, you want to open folder in windows explorer and select specific file.

Try this:

VB.NET

Dim sFileName As String = "C:\Images\Test.png"
Process.Start("explorer.exe", "/select," & sFileName)

As is shown here[^] there's few arguments you can pass to the explorer:

/e
/idlist,:handle:process	specifies object as ITEMIDLIST in shared memory block with given handle in context of given process
/n	redundant in Windows Vista
/root,/idlist,:handle:process /root,clsid /root,clsid,path /root,path	specifies object as root
/select	show object as selected item in parent folder
/separate	show in separate EXPLORER process
path	specifies object; ignored if object already specified; overridden by specification in later /idlist or /root argument