show text box in FolderBrowserDialog - vb.net

Question

how i can show textbox in FolderBrowserDialog like below image,

Answer 1

This is not directly possible, you have to fallback to using the shell function. Project + Add Reference, Browse tab, select c:\windows\system32\shell32.dll. An example of how to use it in a Winforms app:
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Dim options As Integer = &H40 + &H200 + &H20
options += &H10 '' Adds edit box
Dim shell = New Shell32.ShellClass
Dim root = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Desktop)
Dim folder = CType(shell.BrowseForFolder(CInt(Me.Handle), _
"Select folder", options, root), Shell32.Folder2)
If folder IsNot Nothing Then
MsgBox("You selected " + folder.Self.Path)
End If
End Sub

Answer 2

Check this out : FolderBrowserDialogEx: A C# customization of FolderBrowserDialog
The code is in C#, Here is the VB Conversion
Imports System
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Linq
Imports System.Text
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports System.Diagnostics
Namespace DaveChambers.FolderBrowserDialogEx
Public Class FolderBrowserDialogEx
#Region "Fields that mimic the same-named fields in FolderBrowserDialog"
Public Property RootFolder() As Environment.SpecialFolder
Get
Return m_RootFolder
End Get
Set
m_RootFolder = Value
End Set
End Property
Private m_RootFolder As Environment.SpecialFolder
Public Property SelectedPath() As String
Get
Return m_SelectedPath
End Get
Set
m_SelectedPath = Value
End Set
End Property
Private m_SelectedPath As String
Public Property ShowNewFolderButton() As Boolean
Get
Return m_ShowNewFolderButton
End Get
Set
m_ShowNewFolderButton = Value
End Set
End Property
Private m_ShowNewFolderButton As Boolean
Public Property StartPosition() As FormStartPosition
Get
Return m_StartPosition
End Get
Set
m_StartPosition = Value
End Set
End Property
Private m_StartPosition As FormStartPosition
#End Region
' Fields specific to CustomFolderBrowserDialog
Public Property Title() As String
Get
Return m_Title
End Get
Set
m_Title = Value
End Set
End Property
Private m_Title As String
Public Property ShowEditbox() As Boolean
Get
Return m_ShowEditbox
End Get
Set
m_ShowEditbox = Value
End Set
End Property
Private m_ShowEditbox As Boolean
' These are the control IDs used in the dialog
Private Structure CtlIds
Public Const PATH_EDIT As Integer = &H3744
'public const int PATH_EDIT_LABEL = 0x3748; // Only when BIF_NEWDIALOGSTYLE
Public Const TITLE As Integer = &H3742
Public Const TREEVIEW As Integer = &H3741
Public Const NEW_FOLDER_BUTTON As Integer = &H3746
Public Const IDOK As Integer = 1
Public Const IDCANCEL As Integer = 2
End Structure
<StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet := CharSet.Unicode)> _
Public Structure InitData
' Titles shouldn't too long, should they?
<MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst := 128)> _
Public Title As String
<MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.ByValTStr, SizeConst := Win32.MAX_PATH)> _
Public InitialPath As String
Public ShowEditbox As Boolean
Public ShowNewFolderButton As Boolean
Public StartPosition As FormStartPosition
Public hParent As IntPtr
Public Sub New(dlg As FolderBrowserDialogEx, hParent As IntPtr)
' We need to make copies of these values from the dialog.
' I tried passing the dlg obj itself in this struct, but Windows will barf after repeated invocations.
Me.Title = dlg.Title
Me.InitialPath = dlg.SelectedPath
Me.ShowNewFolderButton = dlg.ShowNewFolderButton
Me.ShowEditbox = dlg.ShowEditbox
Me.StartPosition = dlg.StartPosition
Me.hParent = hParent
End Sub
End Structure
Public Sub New()
Title = "Browse For Folder"
' Default to same caption as std dialog
RootFolder = Environment.SpecialFolder.Desktop
SelectedPath = "c:\"
ShowEditbox = False
ShowNewFolderButton = False
StartPosition = FormStartPosition.WindowsDefaultLocation
End Sub
Public Function ShowDialog(owner As IWin32Window) As DialogResult
Dim initdata As New InitData(Me, owner.Handle)
Dim bi As New Win32.BROWSEINFO()
bi.iImage = 0
bi.hwndOwner = owner.Handle
If 0 <> Win32.SHGetSpecialFolderLocation(owner.Handle, CInt(Me.RootFolder), bi.pidlRoot) Then
bi.pidlRoot = IntPtr.Zero
End If
bi.lpszTitle = ""
bi.ulFlags = Win32.BIF_RETURNONLYFSDIRS
' do NOT use BIF_NEWDIALOGSTYLE or BIF_STATUSTEXT
If Me.ShowEditbox Then
bi.ulFlags = bi.ulFlags Or Win32.BIF_EDITBOX
End If
If Not Me.ShowNewFolderButton Then
bi.ulFlags = bi.ulFlags Or Win32.BIF_NONEWFOLDERBUTTON
End If
bi.lpfn = New Win32.BrowseCallbackProc(_browseCallbackHandler)
' Initialization data, used in _browseCallbackHandler
Dim hInit As IntPtr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(Marshal.SizeOf(initdata))
Marshal.StructureToPtr(initdata, hInit, True)
bi.lParam = hInit
Dim pidlSelectedPath As IntPtr = IntPtr.Zero
Try
pidlSelectedPath = Win32.SHBrowseForFolder(bi)
Dim sb As New StringBuilder(256)
If Win32.SHGetPathFromIDList(pidlSelectedPath, sb) Then
SelectedPath = sb.ToString()
Return DialogResult.OK
End If
Finally
' Caller is responsible for freeing this memory.
Marshal.FreeCoTaskMem(pidlSelectedPath)
End Try
Return DialogResult.Cancel
End Function
Private Function _browseCallbackHandler(hDlg As IntPtr, msg As Integer, lParam As IntPtr, lpData As IntPtr) As Integer
Select Case msg
Case Win32.BFFM_INITIALIZED
' remove context help button from dialog caption
Dim lStyle As Integer = Win32.GetWindowLong(hDlg, Win32.GWL_STYLE)
lStyle = lStyle And Not Win32.DS_CONTEXTHELP
Win32.SetWindowLong(hDlg, Win32.GWL_STYLE, lStyle)
lStyle = Win32.GetWindowLong(hDlg, Win32.GWL_EXSTYLE)
lStyle = lStyle And Not Win32.WS_EX_CONTEXTHELP
Win32.SetWindowLong(hDlg, Win32.GWL_EXSTYLE, lStyle)
_adjustUi(hDlg, lpData)
Exit Select
Case Win32.BFFM_SELCHANGED
If True Then
Dim ok As Boolean = False
Dim sb As New StringBuilder(Win32.MAX_PATH)
If Win32.SHGetPathFromIDList(lParam, sb) Then
ok = True
Dim dir As String = sb.ToString()
Dim hEdit As IntPtr = Win32.GetDlgItem(hDlg, CtlIds.PATH_EDIT)
Win32.SetWindowText(hEdit, dir)
#If UsingStatusText Then
' We're not using status text, but if we were, this is how you'd set it
Win32.SendMessage(hDlg, Win32.BFFM_SETSTATUSTEXTW, 0, dir)
#End If
#If SHBrowseForFolder_lists_links Then
' This check doesn't seem to be necessary - the SHBrowseForFolder dirtree doesn't seem to list links
Dim sfi As New Win32.SHFILEINFO()
Win32.SHGetFileInfo(lParam, 0, sfi, Marshal.SizeOf(sfi), Win32.SHGFI_PIDL Or Win32.SHGFI_ATTRIBUTES)
' fail if pidl is a link
If (sfi.dwAttributes And Win32.SFGAO_LINK) = Win32.SFGAO_LINK Then
ok = False
#End If
End If
End If
' if invalid selection, disable the OK button
If Not ok Then
Win32.EnableWindow(Win32.GetDlgItem(hDlg, CtlIds.IDOK), False)
End If
Exit Select
End If
End Select
Return 0
End Function
Private Sub _adjustUi(hDlg As IntPtr, lpData As IntPtr)
' Only do the adjustments if InitData was supplied
If lpData = IntPtr.Zero Then
Return
End If
Dim obj As Object = Marshal.PtrToStructure(lpData, GetType(InitData))
If obj Is Nothing Then
Return
End If
Dim initdata As InitData = DirectCast(obj, InitData)
' Only do the adjustments if we can find the dirtree control
Dim hTree As IntPtr = Win32.GetDlgItem(hDlg, CtlIds.TREEVIEW)
If hTree = IntPtr.Zero Then
hTree = Win32.FindWindowEx(IntPtr.Zero, IntPtr.Zero, "SysTreeView32", IntPtr.Zero)
If hTree = IntPtr.Zero Then
' This usually means that BIF_NEWDIALOGSTYLE is enabled.
hTree = Win32.FindWindowEx(hDlg, IntPtr.Zero, "SHBrowseForFolder ShellNameSpace Control", IntPtr.Zero)
End If
End If
If hTree = IntPtr.Zero Then
Return
End If
' Prep the basic UI
Win32.SendMessage(hDlg, Win32.BFFM_SETSELECTIONW, 1, initdata.InitialPath)
Win32.SetWindowText(hDlg, initdata.Title)
If initdata.StartPosition = FormStartPosition.CenterParent Then
_centerTo(hDlg, initdata.hParent)
ElseIf initdata.StartPosition = FormStartPosition.CenterScreen Then
_centerTo(hDlg, Win32.GetDesktopWindow())
End If
' else we do nothing
' Prep the edit box
Dim rcEdit As New Win32.RECT()
Dim hEdit As IntPtr = Win32.GetDlgItem(hDlg, CtlIds.PATH_EDIT)
If hEdit <> IntPtr.Zero Then
If initdata.ShowEditbox Then
Win32.GetWindowRect(hEdit, rcEdit)
Win32.ScreenToClient(hEdit, rcEdit)
Else
Win32.ShowWindow(hEdit, Win32.SW_HIDE)
End If
End If
' make the dialog larger
Dim rcDlg As Win32.RECT
Win32.GetWindowRect(hDlg, rcDlg)
rcDlg.Right += 40
rcDlg.Bottom += 30
If hEdit <> IntPtr.Zero Then
rcDlg.Bottom += (rcEdit.Height + 5)
End If
Win32.MoveWindow(hDlg, rcDlg, True)
Win32.GetClientRect(hDlg, rcDlg)
Dim vMargin As Integer = 10
' Accomodate the resizing handle's width
Dim hMargin As Integer = 10
' SystemInformation.VerticalScrollBarWidth;
' Move the Cancel button
Dim rcCancel As New Win32.RECT()
Dim hCancel As IntPtr = Win32.GetDlgItem(hDlg, CtlIds.IDCANCEL)
If hCancel <> IntPtr.Zero Then
Win32.GetWindowRect(hCancel, rcCancel)
Win32.ScreenToClient(hDlg, rcCancel)
rcCancel = New Win32.RECT(rcDlg.Right - (rcCancel.Width + hMargin), rcDlg.Bottom - (rcCancel.Height + vMargin), rcCancel.Width, rcCancel.Height)
Win32.MoveWindow(hCancel, rcCancel, False)
End If
' Move the OK button
Dim rcOK As New Win32.RECT()
Dim hOK As IntPtr = Win32.GetDlgItem(hDlg, CtlIds.IDOK)
If hOK <> IntPtr.Zero Then
Win32.GetWindowRect(hOK, rcOK)
Win32.ScreenToClient(hDlg, rcOK)
rcOK = New Win32.RECT(rcCancel.Left - (rcCancel.Width + hMargin), rcCancel.Top, rcOK.Width, rcOK.Height)
Win32.MoveWindow(hOK, rcOK, False)
End If
' Manage the "Make New Folder" button
Dim hBtn As IntPtr = Win32.GetDlgItem(hDlg, CtlIds.NEW_FOLDER_BUTTON)
If Not initdata.ShowNewFolderButton Then
' Make sure this button is not visible
Win32.ShowWindow(hBtn, Win32.SW_HIDE)
ElseIf hBtn = IntPtr.Zero Then
' Create a button - button is only auto-created under BIF_NEWDIALOGSTYLE
' This is failing, and I don't know why!
hBtn = Win32.CreateWindowEx(&H50010000, "button", "&Make New Folder", &H4, hMargin, rcOK.Top, _
105, rcOK.Height, hDlg, New IntPtr(CtlIds.NEW_FOLDER_BUTTON), Process.GetCurrentProcess().Handle, IntPtr.Zero)
End If
' Position the path editbox and it's label
' We'll repurpose the Title (static) control as the editbox label
Dim treeTop As Integer = vMargin
If hEdit <> IntPtr.Zero Then
Dim xEdit As Integer = hMargin
Dim cxEdit As Integer = rcDlg.Width - (2 * hMargin)
Dim hLabel As IntPtr = Win32.GetDlgItem(hDlg, CtlIds.TITLE)
If hLabel <> IntPtr.Zero Then
Dim labelText As String = "Folder: "
Win32.SetWindowText(hLabel, labelText)
' This code obtains the required size of the static control that serves as the label for the editbox.
' All this GDI code is a bit excessive, but I figured "what the hell".
Dim hdc As IntPtr = Win32.GetDC(hLabel)
Dim hFont As IntPtr = Win32.SendMessage(hLabel, Win32.WM_GETFONT, IntPtr.Zero, IntPtr.Zero)
Dim oldfnt As IntPtr = Win32.SelectObject(hdc, hFont)
Dim szLabel As Size = Size.Empty
Win32.GetTextExtentPoint32(hdc, labelText, labelText.Length, szLabel)
Win32.SelectObject(hdc, oldfnt)
Win32.ReleaseDC(hLabel, hdc)
Dim rcLabel As New Win32.RECT(hMargin, vMargin + ((rcEdit.Height - szLabel.Height) / 2), szLabel.Width, szLabel.Height)
Win32.MoveWindow(hLabel, rcLabel, False)
xEdit += rcLabel.Width
cxEdit -= rcLabel.Width
End If
' Expand the folder tree to fill the dialog
rcEdit = New Win32.RECT(xEdit, vMargin, cxEdit, rcEdit.Height)
Win32.MoveWindow(hEdit, rcEdit, False)
treeTop = rcEdit.Bottom + 5
End If
Dim rcTree As New Win32.RECT(hMargin, treeTop, rcDlg.Width - (2 * hMargin), rcDlg.Bottom - (treeTop + (2 * vMargin) + rcOK.Height))
Win32.MoveWindow(hTree, rcTree, False)
End Sub
Private Sub _centerTo(hDlg As IntPtr, hRef As IntPtr)
Dim rcDlg As Win32.RECT
Win32.GetWindowRect(hDlg, rcDlg)
Dim rcRef As Win32.RECT
Win32.GetWindowRect(hRef, rcRef)
Dim cx As Integer = (rcRef.Width - rcDlg.Width) / 2
Dim cy As Integer = (rcRef.Height - rcDlg.Height) / 2
Dim rcNew As New Win32.RECT(rcRef.Left + cx, rcRef.Top + cy, rcDlg.Width, rcDlg.Height)
Win32.MoveWindow(hDlg, rcNew, True)
End Sub
End Class
End Namespace
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Answer 3

I see two issues with the above dialogboxes (and any other dialog I've seen):
1: You cannot specify a custom start folder which will be preselected when the dialogbox opens, let's say "c:\temp"
2: When you type a path in the textbox and push TAB or ENTER this should NOT be seen as the final selected folder, but the treeview should instead move and expand to that path (just as if you did the same in Windows Explorer).
(sorry for putting this as an answer, cannot make a comment)