Browse for a directory in C#

Question

How can I preset a control to the user that allows them to select a directory?

There doesn't seem to be any native .net controls which do this?

Answer 1

You could use a TreeView in combination with the DirectoryInfo class.

Answer 2

It's not heavy-weight at all. Crude, yes, but it's much better than rolling your own.

Answer 3

FolderBrowserDialog class?

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.folderbrowserdialog.aspx

Answer 4

You could just use the FolderBrowserDialog class from System.Windows.Forms

Answer 5

How'd I miss that FolderBrowserDialog? woops :-)

Answer 6

Please don't try and roll your own with a TreeView/DirectoryInfo class. For one thing there are many nice features you get for free (icons/right-click/networks) by using SHBrowseForFolder. For another there are a edge cases/catches you will likely not be aware of.

Answer 7

you missed it bacause the framework is getting so big, its getting very easy to miss stuff. I'm doing it alot these days!

Answer 8

For much more functionality than the FolderBrowserdialog, like filtering, check-boxes, etc, take a look at 3rd party controls like Shell MegaPack. Since they are controls, so they can be put in your own forms instead of appearing as a modal dialog.