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Windows Shell

Shell objects

Shell objects include
Shell objects can be right clicked to open a context menu that allows to perform actions that are specific to the shell object.
These actions are also referred to as verb.
The same verbs are also used as parameter to the function ShellExecuteEx()

Shell namespace extensions

The Shell can be extended with namespace extensions. These allow to customize the functionality of the Explorer, for example displaying a list of virtual items in a directory.
Technically, suchy namespace extensions are COM objects.

Required interfaces and classes

A namespace extension consists of two classes.
One of these classes needs to implement the following interfaces
  • IShellFolder
  • IPersistFolder
The other class needs to implement IShellView and stub
  • ICommDlgBrowser
  • IOleWindow
  • IShellBrowser
See also Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Approved

Shell instance object

A Shell instance object is a Shell namespace extension that does not need its own DLL because evertyhing it needs is provided by shdocvw.dll.
The information needed to created a Shell instance object is found in the registry.

See also

The System.Windows.Shell namespace

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