C# Signature:

[DllImport("coredll.dll")]

static extern int SHGetSpecialFolderPath(IntPtr hwndOwner, IntPtr lpszPath, int nFolder, int fCreate);

VB Signature:

<DllImport("coredll.dll")> Shared Function SHGetSpecialFolderPath(ByVal hwndOwner As IntPtr,
   <Out()> ByVal lpszPath As IntPtr, ByVal nFolder As Integer, ByVal fCreate As Boolean) As Boolean
End Function

User-Defined Types:

None.

Notes:

lpszPath must be at least MAX_PATH (260) characters in size.

Tips & Tricks:

Please add some!

Sample Code:

const int CSIDL_PROGRAMS = 2;  // \Windows\Start Menu\Programs
StringBuilder path = new StringBuilder(260);
SHGetSpecialFolderPath(IntPtr.Zero, path, CSIDL_PROGRAMS, false);
// path.ToString() should now hold the path

Alternative Managed API:

Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.xxx) probably calls this internally - it does the same thing.

However not all of the enums are available (e.g. CSIDL_COMMON_DOCUMENTS missing on .NET 1.1) therefore this is needed sometimes.