The two key functions to browse through those virtual Windows folders are
SHGetSpecialFolderLocation();
and
SHGetPathFromIDList()
They can be used as shown in the sample code. You may replace the CSIDL_PROGRAMS constant with another one from the list in the comment below.
uses ShlObj,ActiveX;
procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var
BI: TBrowseInfo;
Buf: PChar;
Dir,
Root: PItemIDList;
Alloc: IMalloc;
begin
SHGetMalloc(Alloc);
Buf := Alloc.Alloc(Max_Path);
// CSIDL_BITBUCKET RecycleBin
// CSIDL_CONTROLS ControlPanel
// CSIDL_DESKTOP Desktop
// CSIDL_DRIVES My Computer
// CSIDL_FONTS Fonts
// CSIDL_NETHOOD Network Neighborhood
// CSIDL_NETWORK The virtual version of the above
// CSIDL_PERSONAL 'Personal'
// CSIDL_PRINTERS printers
// CSIDL_PROGRAMS Programs in the Start Menu
// CSIDL_RECENT Recent Documents
// CSIDL_SENDTO Folder SendTo
// CSIDL_STARTMENU The whole Start menu
// CSIDL_STARTUP The Autostart Group
// CSIDL_TEMPLATES Document templates
// use of the constants above
SHGetSpecialFolderLocation(Handle, CSIDL_PROGRAMS, Root);
with BI do
begin
hwndOwner := Form1.Handle;
// NIL means show all
pidlRoot := Root;
pszDisplayName := Buf;
lpszTitle := 'Choose Folder';
ulFlags := 0;
lpfn := nil;
end;
try
Dir := SHBrowseForFolder(BI);
if Dir<>nil then
begin
SHGetPathFromIDList(Dir, Buf);
ShowMessage(Buf);
Alloc.Free(Dir);
end;
finally
Alloc.Free(Root);
Alloc.Free(Buf);
end;
end;