How can I use a string file path as an Environment.SpecialFolder type?

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I have an issue with a program I am creating. I need to be able to use a string output from the FolderBrowserDialog.SelectedPath as an Environment.SpecialFolder type, but if the user selects a custom folder inside an obscure location not included in the Environment.SpecialFolder Enum, the OpenFileDialog won't accept the file path and throw an exception.

Is there a way to make a new Enum value for the Environment.SpecialFolder type based upon the path the user selects? Or is there a property I'm missing?

Posted 7-Dec-11 10:09am

EpikYummeh

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Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov · Answer 1 · 2011-12-07T12:45:00

I think there is no anything you are missing. There is no a predefined way to handle file structure the way you want unless you design and implement it by yourself based on one more path names returned by GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder), probably this method is not designed with intention to be use with browser or other file dialogs. In common practice, each software product has a fixed sub-directory on one or more of these "special folders", perhaps set up in a configuration file, user's options, etc., with no connection to file dialogs.

If you really need what you want (I advise you critically review this idea, but it might has its merits), and if you really want a high-quality solution, I would suggest you develop your own class(es) implementing file dialog(s) the way it could be initialized with some top level directory, so the dialog operations would never navigate outside of it.

Throwing and handling exception and showing it to the user in response to user's "wrong" decision in cases when it is not absolutely necessarily is called user brainwashing, a bad UI practice.

—SA