CSIDL Values
A number of folders are used frequently by applications, but may not have the
same name or location on any given system. For example, the system folder may be
"C:\Windows" on one system and "C:\Winnt" on another. CSIDL values provide a
unique system-independent way to identify these special folders. The values
supersede the use of environment variables for this purpose.
A CSIDL is used in conjunction with one of four shell functions, SHGetFolderLocation,
SHGetFolderPath,
SHGetSpecialFolderLocation,
and SHGetSpecialFolderPath,
to retrieve a special folder's pathname or item ID list (PIDL).
If a special folder does not exist, you can force its creation by using the
following special CSIDL:
- CSIDL_FLAG_CREATE
- Version
5.0. Combine this CSIDL with any of the CSIDLs listed below to force the
creation of the associated folder.
The remaining CSIDLs correspond to either file system folders or virtual
folders. Where the CSIDL identifies a file system folder, a commonly used path
is given as an example. Other paths may be used. Some CSIDLs can be mapped to an
equivalent %VariableName% environment variable. CSIDLs are more reliable,
however, and should be used if possible.
- CSIDL_ADMINTOOLS
- Version
5.0. File system directory that is used to store administrative tools for
an individual user. The Microsoft Management Console will save customized
consoles to this directory, and it will roam with the user.
- CSIDL_ALTSTARTUP
- File system directory that corresponds to the user's nonlocalized Startup
program group.
- CSIDL_APPDATA
- Version
4.71. File system directory that serves as a common repository for
application-specific data. A typical path is C:\Documents and
Settings\username\Application Data. This CSIDL is supported by the
redistributable ShFolder.dll for systems that do not have the Internet
Explorer 4.0 integrated shell installed.
- CSIDL_BITBUCKET
- Virtual folder containing the objects in the user's Recycle Bin.
- CSIDL_COMMON_ADMINTOOLS
- Version
5.0. File system directory containing containing administrative tools for
all users of the computer.
- CSIDL_COMMON_ALTSTARTUP
- File system directory that corresponds to the nonlocalized Startup program
group for all users. Valid only for Windows NT® systems.
- CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA
- Version
5.0. Application data for all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and
Settings\All Users\Application Data.
- CSIDL_COMMON_DESKTOPDIRECTORY
- File system directory that contains files and folders that appear on the
desktop for all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Desktop. Valid only for Windows NT® systems.
- CSIDL_COMMON_DOCUMENTS
- File system directory that contains documents that are common to all
users. Typical paths are C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents. Valid
for Windows NT® systems and Windows 95 and Windows 98 systems with
Shfolder.dll installed.
- CSIDL_COMMON_FAVORITES
- File system directory that serves as a common repository for all users'
favorite items. Valid only for Windows NT® systems.
- CSIDL_COMMON_PROGRAMS
- File system directory that contains the directories for the common program
groups that appear on the Start menu for all users. A typical path is
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs. Valid only for
Windows NT® systems.
- CSIDL_COMMON_STARTMENU
- File system directory that contains the programs and folders that appear
on the Start menu for all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and
Settings\All Users\Start Menu. Valid only for Windows NT® systems.
- CSIDL_COMMON_STARTUP
- File system directory that contains the programs that appear in the
Startup folder for all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. Valid only for Windows NT® systems.
- CSIDL_COMMON_TEMPLATES
- File system directory that contains the templates that are available to
all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Templates.
Valid only for Windows NT® systems.
- CSIDL_CONTROLS
- Virtual folder containing icons for the Control Panel applications.
- CSIDL_COOKIES
- File system directory that serves as a common repository for Internet
cookies. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Cookies.
- CSIDL_DESKTOP
- Windows Desktop—virtual folder that is the root of the namespace.
- CSIDL_DESKTOPDIRECTORY
- File system directory used to physically store file objects on the desktop
(not to be confused with the desktop folder itself). A typical path is
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Desktop
- CSIDL_DRIVES
- My Computer—virtual folder containing everything on the local computer:
storage devices, printers, and Control Panel. The folder may also contain
mapped network drives.
- CSIDL_FAVORITES
- File system directory that serves as a common repository for the user's
favorite items. A typical path is C:\Documents and
Settings\username\Favorites.
- CSIDL_FONTS
- Virtual folder containing fonts. A typical path is C:\WINNT\Fonts.
- CSIDL_HISTORY
- File system directory that serves as a common repository for Internet
history items.
- CSIDL_INTERNET
- Virtual folder representing the Internet.
- CSIDL_INTERNET_CACHE
- Version
4.72. File system directory that serves as a common repository for
temporary Internet files. A typical path is C:\Documents and
Settings\username\Temporary Internet Files.
- CSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA
- Version
5.0. File system directory that serves as a data repository for local
(non-roaming) applications. A typical path is C:\Documents and
Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data.
- CSIDL_MYPICTURES
- Version
5.0. My Pictures folder. A typical path is C:\Documents and
Settings\username\My Documents\My Pictures.
- CSIDL_NETHOOD
- A file system folder containing the link objects that may exist in the My
Network Places virtual folder. It is not the same as CSIDL_NETWORK,
which represents the network namespace root. A typical path is C:\Documents
and Settings\username\NetHood.
- CSIDL_NETWORK
- Network Neighborhood—virtual folder representing the root of the network
namespace hierarchy.
- CSIDL_PERSONAL
- File system directory that serves as a common repository for documents. A
typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents.
- CSIDL_PRINTERS
- Virtual folder containing installed printers.
- CSIDL_PRINTHOOD
- File system directory that contains the link objects that may exist in the
Printers virtual folder. A typical path is C:\Documents and
Settings\username\PrintHood.
- CSIDL_PROFILE
- Version
5.0. User's profile folder.
- CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES
- Version
5.0. Program Files folder. A typical path is C:\Program Files.
- CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES_COMMON
- Version
5.0. A folder for components that are shared across applications. A
typical path is C:\Program Files\Common. Valid only for Windows NT® and
Windows® 2000 systems.
- CSIDL_PROGRAMS
- File system directory that contains the user's program groups (which are
also file system directories). A typical path is C:\Documents and
Settings\username\Start Menu\Programs.
- CSIDL_RECENT
- File system directory that contains the user's most recently used
documents. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Recent.
To create a shortcut in this folder, use SHAddToRecentDocs.
In addition to creating the shortcut, this function updates the shell's list
of recent documents and adds the shortcut to the Documents submenu of the
Start menu.
- CSIDL_SENDTO
- File system directory that contains Send To menu items. A typical path is
C:\Documents and Settings\username\SendTo.
- CSIDL_STARTMENU
- File system directory containing Start menu items. A typical path is
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Start Menu.
- CSIDL_STARTUP
- File system directory that corresponds to the user's Startup program
group. The system starts these programs whenever any user logs onto Windows
NT® or starts Windows® 95. A typical path is C:\Documents and
Settings\username\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.
- CSIDL_SYSTEM
- Version
5.0. System folder. A typical path is C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32.
- CSIDL_TEMPLATES
- File system directory that serves as a common repository for document
templates.
- CSIDL_WINDOWS
- Version
5.0. Windows directory or SYSROOT. This corresponds to the %windir% or
%SYSTEMROOT% environment variables. A typical path is C:\WINNT.
See Also
SHGetFolderLocation,
SHGetFolderPath,
SHGetSpecialFolderLocation,
SHGetSpecialFolderPath