IShellDispatch object
August 25, 2023 · View on GitHub
Represents an object in the Shell. Methods are provided to control the Shell and to execute commands within the Shell. There are also methods to obtain other Shell-related objects.
Note
IShellDispatch is implemented and accessed through the Shell object.
Members
The IShellDispatch object has these types of members:
Methods
The IShellDispatch object has these methods.
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| BrowseForFolder | Creates a dialog box that enables the user to select a folder and then returns the selected folder's Folder object. |
| CascadeWindows | Cascades all of the windows on the desktop. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Cascade windows. |
| ControlPanelItem | Runs the specified Control Panel application. If the application is already open, it will activate the running instance. Note: As of Windows Vista, most Control Panel applications are Shell items and cannot be opened with this function. To open those Control Panel applications, pass the canonical name to control.exe. For example: |
| EjectPC | Ejects the computer from its docking station. This is the same as clicking the Start menu and selecting Eject PC, if your computer supports this command. |
| Explore | Opens a specified folder in a Windows Explorer window. |
| FileRun | Displays the Run dialog to the user. |
| FindComputer | Displays the Search Results: Computers dialog box. The dialog box shows the result of the search for a specified computer. |
| FindFiles | Displays the Find: All Files dialog box. This is the same as clicking the Start menu and then selecting Search. |
| Help | Displays the Windows Help and Support window. This method has the same effect as clicking the Start menu and selecting Help and Support. |
| MinimizeAll | Minimizes all of the windows on the desktop. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Minimize All Windows on older systems or clicking the Show Desktop icon on the taskbar. |
| NameSpace | Creates and returns a Folder object for the specified folder. |
| Open | Opens the specified folder. |
| RefreshMenu | Refreshes the contents of the Start menu. Used only with systems preceding Windows XP. |
| SetTime | Displays the Date and Time dialog box. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the clock in the taskbar status area and selecting Adjust date/time. |
| ShutdownWindows | Displays the Shut Down Windows dialog box. This is the same as clicking the Start menu and selecting Shut Down. |
| Suspend | td |
| TileHorizontally | Tiles all of the windows on the desktop horizontally. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Show windows stacked. |
| TileVertically | Tiles all of the windows on the desktop vertically. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Show windows side by side. |
| TrayProperties | Displays the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Properties. |
| UndoMinimizeALL | Restores all desktop windows to the state they were in before the last MinimizeAll command. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Undo Minimize All Windows (on older systems) or a second clicking of the Show Desktop icon in the taskbar. |
| Windows | Creates and returns a ShellWindows object. This object represents a collection of all of the open windows that belong to the Shell. |
Properties
The IShellDispatch object has these properties.
| Property | Access type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Read-only | Contains an object that represents an application. |
| Parent | Read-only | Retrieves an object that represents the parent of the current object. |
Requirements
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Minimum supported client | Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP [desktop apps only] |
| Minimum supported server | Windows 2000 Server [desktop apps only] |
| Header |
|
| IDL |
|
| DLL |
|
See also