Click here to Skip to main content
15,886,199 members
Articles / Desktop Programming / Windows Forms

Clipz - A Friendly Introduction to the Windows 7 Taskbar Features

Rate me:
Please Sign up or sign in to vote.
4.91/5 (57 votes)
17 Dec 2009CPOL9 min read 71.8K   1.6K   123  
An overview of the Windows 7 taskbar features, and how to use then in your own applications.
//Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Collections.ObjectModel;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices.ComTypes;
using MS.WindowsAPICodePack.Internal;

namespace Microsoft.WindowsAPICodePack.Shell.PropertySystem
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Defines the shell property description information for a property.
    /// </summary>
    public class ShellPropertyDescription : IDisposable
    {
        #region Private Fields

        private IPropertyDescription nativePropertyDescription = null;
        private string canonicalName = null;
        private PropertyKey propertyKey;
        private string displayName = null;
        private string editInvitation = null;
        private VarEnum? varEnumType = null;
        private PropertyDisplayType? displayType;
        private PropertyAggregationType? aggregationTypes;
        private uint? defaultColumWidth;
        private PropertyTypeFlags? propertyTypeFlags;
        private PropertyViewFlags? propertyViewFlags;
        private Type valueType = null;
        private ReadOnlyCollection<ShellPropertyEnumType> propertyEnumTypes = null;
        private PropertyColumnState? columnState;
        private PropertyConditionType? conditionType;
        private PropertyConditionOperation? conditionOperation;
        private PropertyGroupingRange? groupingRange;
        private PropertySortDescription? sortDescription;

        #endregion

        #region Public Properties

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the case-sensitive name of a property as it is known to the system, 
        /// regardless of its localized name.
        /// </summary>
        public string CanonicalName
        {
            get
            {
                if (canonicalName == null)
                {
                    PropertySystemNativeMethods.PSGetNameFromPropertyKey(ref propertyKey, out canonicalName);
                }

                return canonicalName;
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the property key identifying the underlying property.
        /// </summary>
        public PropertyKey PropertyKey
        {
            get
            {
                return propertyKey;
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the display name of the property as it is shown in any user interface (UI).
        /// </summary>
        public string DisplayName
        {
            get
            {
                if (NativePropertyDescription != null && displayName == null)
                {
                    IntPtr dispNameptr = IntPtr.Zero;

                    HRESULT hr = NativePropertyDescription.GetDisplayName(out dispNameptr);

                    if (CoreErrorHelper.Succeeded((int)hr) && dispNameptr != IntPtr.Zero)
                    {
                        displayName = Marshal.PtrToStringUni(dispNameptr);

                        // Free the string
                        Marshal.FreeCoTaskMem(dispNameptr);
                    }
                }

                return displayName;
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the text used in edit controls hosted in various dialog boxes.
        /// </summary>
        public string EditInvitation
        {
            get
            {
                if (NativePropertyDescription != null && editInvitation == null)
                {
                    // EditInvitation can be empty, so ignore the HR value, but don't throw an exception
                    IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;

                    HRESULT hr = NativePropertyDescription.GetEditInvitation(out ptr);

                    if (CoreErrorHelper.Succeeded((int)hr) && ptr != IntPtr.Zero)
                    {
                        editInvitation = Marshal.PtrToStringUni(ptr);
                        // Free the string
                        Marshal.FreeCoTaskMem(ptr);
                    }
                }

                return editInvitation;
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the VarEnum OLE type for this property.
        /// </summary>
        public VarEnum VarEnumType
        {
            get
            {
                if (NativePropertyDescription != null && varEnumType == null)
                {
                    VarEnum tempType;

                    HRESULT hr = NativePropertyDescription.GetPropertyType(out tempType);
                    
                    if(CoreErrorHelper.Succeeded((int)hr))
                        varEnumType = tempType;
                }

                return varEnumType.HasValue ? varEnumType.Value : default(VarEnum);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the .NET system type for a value of this property, or
        /// null if the value is empty.
        /// </summary>
        public Type ValueType
        {
            get
            {
                if (valueType == null)
                    valueType = VarEnumToSystemType(VarEnumType);

                return valueType;
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the current data type used to display the property.
        /// </summary>
        public PropertyDisplayType DisplayType
        {
            get
            {
                if (NativePropertyDescription != null && displayType == null)
                {
                    PropertyDisplayType tempDisplayType;

                    HRESULT hr = NativePropertyDescription.GetDisplayType(out tempDisplayType);

                    if (CoreErrorHelper.Succeeded((int)hr))
                        displayType =  tempDisplayType;
                }

                return displayType.HasValue ? displayType.Value : default(PropertyDisplayType);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the default user interface (UI) column width for this property.
        /// </summary>
        public uint DefaultColumWidth
        {
            get
            {
                if (NativePropertyDescription != null && !defaultColumWidth.HasValue)
                {
                    uint tempDefaultColumWidth;

                    HRESULT hr = NativePropertyDescription.GetDefaultColumnWidth(out tempDefaultColumWidth);

                    if(CoreErrorHelper.Succeeded((int)hr))
                        defaultColumWidth = tempDefaultColumWidth;
                }

                return defaultColumWidth.HasValue ? defaultColumWidth.Value : default(uint);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets a value that describes how the property values are displayed when 
        /// multiple items are selected in the user interface (UI).
        /// </summary>
        public PropertyAggregationType AggregationTypes
        {
            get
            {
                if (NativePropertyDescription != null && aggregationTypes == null)
                {
                    PropertyAggregationType tempAggregationTypes;   
                 
                    HRESULT hr = NativePropertyDescription.GetAggregationType(out tempAggregationTypes);
                    
                    if (CoreErrorHelper.Succeeded((int)hr))
                        aggregationTypes =  tempAggregationTypes;
                }

                return aggregationTypes.HasValue ? aggregationTypes.Value : default(PropertyAggregationType);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets a list of the possible values for this property.
        /// </summary>
        public ReadOnlyCollection<ShellPropertyEnumType> PropertyEnumTypes
        {
            get
            {
                if (NativePropertyDescription != null && propertyEnumTypes == null)
                {
                    List<ShellPropertyEnumType> propEnumTypeList = new List<ShellPropertyEnumType>();

                    Guid guid = new Guid(ShellIIDGuid.IPropertyEnumTypeList);
                    IPropertyEnumTypeList nativeList;
                    HRESULT hr = NativePropertyDescription.GetEnumTypeList(ref guid, out nativeList);

                    if (nativeList != null && CoreErrorHelper.Succeeded((int)hr))
                    {

                        uint count;
                        nativeList.GetCount(out count);
                        guid = new Guid(ShellIIDGuid.IPropertyEnumType);

                        for (uint i = 0; i < count; i++)
                        {
                            IPropertyEnumType nativeEnumType;
                            nativeList.GetAt(i, ref guid, out nativeEnumType);
                            propEnumTypeList.Add(new ShellPropertyEnumType(nativeEnumType));
                        }
                    }

                    propertyEnumTypes = new ReadOnlyCollection<ShellPropertyEnumType>(propEnumTypeList);
                }

                return propertyEnumTypes;

            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the column state flag, which describes how the property 
        /// should be treated by interfaces or APIs that use this flag.
        /// </summary>
        public PropertyColumnState ColumnState
        {
            get
            {
                // If default/first value, try to get it again, otherwise used the cached one.
                if (NativePropertyDescription != null && columnState == null)
                {
                    PropertyColumnState state;

                    HRESULT hr = NativePropertyDescription.GetColumnState(out state);

                    if (CoreErrorHelper.Succeeded((int)hr))
                        columnState = state;
                }

                return columnState.HasValue ? columnState.Value : default(PropertyColumnState);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the condition type to use when displaying the property in 
        /// the query builder user interface (UI). This influences the list 
        /// of predicate conditions (for example, equals, less than, and 
        /// contains) that are shown for this property.
        /// </summary>
        /// <remarks>For more information, see the <c>conditionType</c> attribute 
        /// of the <c>typeInfo</c> element in the property's .propdesc file.</remarks>
        public PropertyConditionType ConditionType
        {
            get
            {
                // If default/first value, try to get it again, otherwise used the cached one.
                if (NativePropertyDescription != null && conditionType == null)
                {
                    PropertyConditionType tempConditionType;
                    PropertyConditionOperation tempConditionOperation;

                    HRESULT hr = NativePropertyDescription.GetConditionType(out tempConditionType, out tempConditionOperation);

                    if (CoreErrorHelper.Succeeded((int)hr))
                    {
                        conditionOperation = tempConditionOperation;
                        conditionType = tempConditionType;
                    }
                }

                return conditionType.HasValue ? conditionType.Value : default(PropertyConditionType);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the default condition operation to use 
        /// when displaying the property in the query builder user 
        /// interface (UI). This influences the list of predicate conditions 
        /// (for example, equals, less than, and contains) that are shown 
        /// for this property.
        /// </summary>
        /// <remarks>For more information, see the <c>conditionType</c> attribute of the 
        /// <c>typeInfo</c> element in the property's .propdesc file.</remarks>
        public PropertyConditionOperation ConditionOperation
        {
            get
            {
                // If default/first value, try to get it again, otherwise used the cached one.
                if (NativePropertyDescription != null && conditionOperation == null)
                {
                    PropertyConditionType tempConditionType;
                    PropertyConditionOperation tempConditionOperation;

                    HRESULT hr = NativePropertyDescription.GetConditionType(out tempConditionType, out tempConditionOperation);

                    if (CoreErrorHelper.Succeeded((int)hr))
                    {
                        conditionOperation = tempConditionOperation;
                        conditionType = tempConditionType;
                    }
                }

                return conditionOperation.HasValue ? conditionOperation.Value : default(PropertyConditionOperation);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the method used when a view is grouped by this property.
        /// </summary>
        /// <remarks>The information retrieved by this method comes from 
        /// the <c>groupingRange</c> attribute of the <c>typeInfo</c> element in the 
        /// property's .propdesc file.</remarks>
        public PropertyGroupingRange GroupingRange
        {
            get
            {
                // If default/first value, try to get it again, otherwise used the cached one.
                if (NativePropertyDescription != null && groupingRange == null)
                {
                    PropertyGroupingRange tempGroupingRange;

                    HRESULT hr = NativePropertyDescription.GetGroupingRange(out tempGroupingRange);

                    if (CoreErrorHelper.Succeeded((int)hr))
                        groupingRange = tempGroupingRange;
                }

                return groupingRange.HasValue ? groupingRange.Value : default(PropertyGroupingRange);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the current sort description flags for the property, 
        /// which indicate the particular wordings of sort offerings.
        /// </summary>
        /// <remarks>The settings retrieved by this method are set 
        /// through the <c>sortDescription</c> attribute of the <c>labelInfo</c> 
        /// element in the property's .propdesc file.</remarks>
        public PropertySortDescription SortDescription
        {
            get
            {
                // If default/first value, try to get it again, otherwise used the cached one.
                if (NativePropertyDescription != null && sortDescription == null)
                {
                    PropertySortDescription tempSortDescription;

                    HRESULT hr = NativePropertyDescription.GetSortDescription(out tempSortDescription);

                    if (CoreErrorHelper.Succeeded((int)hr))
                        sortDescription = tempSortDescription;
                }

                return sortDescription.HasValue ? sortDescription.Value : default(PropertySortDescription);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the localized display string that describes the current sort order.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="descending">Indicates the sort order should 
        /// reference the string "Z on top"; otherwise, the sort order should reference the string "A on top".</param>
        /// <returns>The sort description for this property.</returns>
        /// <remarks>The string retrieved by this method is determined by flags set in the 
        /// <c>sortDescription</c> attribute of the <c>labelInfo</c> element in the property's .propdesc file.</remarks>
        public string GetSortDescriptionLabel(bool descending)
        {
            IntPtr ptr = IntPtr.Zero;
            string label = String.Empty;

            if (NativePropertyDescription != null)
            {
                HRESULT hr = NativePropertyDescription.GetSortDescriptionLabel(descending, out ptr);

                if (CoreErrorHelper.Succeeded((int)hr) && ptr != IntPtr.Zero)
                {
                    label = Marshal.PtrToStringUni(ptr);
                    // Free the string
                    Marshal.FreeCoTaskMem(ptr);
                }
            }

            return label;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets a set of flags that describe the uses and capabilities of the property.
        /// </summary>
        public PropertyTypeFlags TypeFlags
        {
            get
            {
                if (NativePropertyDescription != null && propertyTypeFlags == null)
                {
                    PropertyTypeFlags tempFlags;
                    
                    HRESULT hr = NativePropertyDescription.GetTypeFlags(PropertyTypeFlags.MaskAll, out tempFlags);

                    propertyTypeFlags = CoreErrorHelper.Succeeded((int)hr) ? tempFlags : default(PropertyTypeFlags);
                }

                return propertyTypeFlags.HasValue ? propertyTypeFlags.Value : default(PropertyTypeFlags);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the current set of flags governing the property's view.
        /// </summary>
        public PropertyViewFlags ViewFlags
        {
            get
            {
                if (NativePropertyDescription != null && propertyViewFlags == null)
                {
                    PropertyViewFlags tempFlags;
                    HRESULT hr = NativePropertyDescription.GetViewFlags(out tempFlags);

                    propertyViewFlags = CoreErrorHelper.Succeeded((int)hr) ? tempFlags : default(PropertyViewFlags);
                }

                return propertyViewFlags.HasValue ? propertyViewFlags.Value : default(PropertyViewFlags);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets a value that determines if the native property description is present on the system.
        /// </summary>
        public bool HasSystemDescription
        {
            get { return NativePropertyDescription != null; }
        }

        #endregion

        #region Internal Constructor

        internal ShellPropertyDescription(PropertyKey key)
        {
            this.propertyKey = key;
        }

        #endregion

        #region Internal Methods

        static internal Type VarEnumToSystemType(VarEnum VarEnumType)
        {
            switch (VarEnumType)
            {
                case (VarEnum.VT_EMPTY):
                case (VarEnum.VT_NULL):

                    return typeof(Object);

                case (VarEnum.VT_UI1):

                    return typeof(Byte?);

                case (VarEnum.VT_I2):

                    return typeof(Int16?);

                case (VarEnum.VT_UI2):

                    return typeof(UInt16?);

                case (VarEnum.VT_I4):

                    return typeof(Int32?);

                case (VarEnum.VT_UI4):

                    return typeof(UInt32?);

                case (VarEnum.VT_I8):

                    return typeof(Int64?);

                case (VarEnum.VT_UI8):

                    return typeof(UInt64?);

                case (VarEnum.VT_R8):

                    return typeof(Double?);

                case (VarEnum.VT_BOOL):

                    return typeof(Boolean?);

                case (VarEnum.VT_FILETIME):

                    return typeof(DateTime?);

                case (VarEnum.VT_CLSID):

                    return typeof(IntPtr?);

                case (VarEnum.VT_CF):

                    return typeof(IntPtr?);

                case (VarEnum.VT_BLOB):

                    return typeof(Byte[]);

                case (VarEnum.VT_LPWSTR):

                    return typeof(String);

                case (VarEnum.VT_UNKNOWN):

                    return typeof(IntPtr?);

                case (VarEnum.VT_STREAM):

                    return typeof(IStream);

                case (VarEnum.VT_VECTOR | VarEnum.VT_UI1):

                    return typeof(Byte[]);

                case (VarEnum.VT_VECTOR | VarEnum.VT_I2):

                    return typeof(Int16[]);

                case (VarEnum.VT_VECTOR | VarEnum.VT_UI2):

                    return typeof(UInt16[]);

                case (VarEnum.VT_VECTOR | VarEnum.VT_I4):

                    return typeof(Int32[]);

                case (VarEnum.VT_VECTOR | VarEnum.VT_UI4):

                    return typeof(UInt32[]);

                case (VarEnum.VT_VECTOR | VarEnum.VT_I8):

                    return typeof(Int64[]);

                case (VarEnum.VT_VECTOR | VarEnum.VT_UI8):

                    return typeof(UInt64[]);

                case (VarEnum.VT_VECTOR | VarEnum.VT_R8):

                    return typeof(Double[]);

                case (VarEnum.VT_VECTOR | VarEnum.VT_BOOL):

                    return typeof(Boolean[]);

                case (VarEnum.VT_VECTOR | VarEnum.VT_FILETIME):

                    return typeof(DateTime[]);

                case (VarEnum.VT_VECTOR | VarEnum.VT_CLSID):

                    return typeof(IntPtr[]);

                case (VarEnum.VT_VECTOR | VarEnum.VT_CF):

                    return typeof(IntPtr[]);

                case (VarEnum.VT_VECTOR | VarEnum.VT_LPWSTR):

                    return typeof(String[]);

                default:

                    return typeof(Object);
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Get the native property description COM interface
        /// </summary>
        internal IPropertyDescription NativePropertyDescription
        {
            get
            {
                if (nativePropertyDescription == null)
                {
                    Guid guid = new Guid(ShellIIDGuid.IPropertyDescription);
                    PropertySystemNativeMethods.PSGetPropertyDescription(ref propertyKey, ref guid, out nativePropertyDescription);
                }

                return nativePropertyDescription;
            }
        }

        #endregion

        #region IDisposable Members

        /// <summary>
        /// Release the native objects
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="disposing">Indicates that this is being called from Dispose(), rather than the finalizer.</param>
        public void Dispose(bool disposing)
        {
            if (nativePropertyDescription != null)
            {
                Marshal.ReleaseComObject(nativePropertyDescription);
                nativePropertyDescription = null;
            }

            if (disposing)
            {
                // and the managed ones
                canonicalName = null;
                displayName = null;
                editInvitation = null;
                defaultColumWidth = null;
                valueType = null;
                propertyEnumTypes = null;
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Release the native objects
        /// </summary>
        public void Dispose()
        {
            Dispose(true);
            GC.SuppressFinalize(this);
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Release the native objects
        /// </summary>
        ~ShellPropertyDescription()
        {
            Dispose(false);
        }

        #endregion
    }
}

By viewing downloads associated with this article you agree to the Terms of Service and the article's licence.

If a file you wish to view isn't highlighted, and is a text file (not binary), please let us know and we'll add colourisation support for it.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Web Developer PageLabs
United States United States
I'm the founder of PageLabs, a web-based performance and SEO optimization site.

Give your site a boost in performance, even take a free speed test!

http://www.pagelabs.com

Comments and Discussions