Special Directories

Accessing Special Directories with System.Environment


Private Sub SpecialFolders()
   Dim mydocs, mymusic, mypics As String

   mydocs = System.Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments)

   mymusic = System.Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyMusic)

   mypics = System.Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyPictures)

  Console.WriteLine(mydocs)
  Console.WriteLine(mymusic)
  Console.WriteLine(mypics)
End Sub

Output:

C:\Users\John\Documents
C:\Users\John\Music
C:\Users\John\Pictures

Here we are using System.Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments) to access certain commonly used folders. The input parameter is an Enum type integer.

The strong point about using Envirnoment to access special folders is that Environment provides access to most, if not all special directories.

Accessing Special Directories with Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO


Private Sub SpecialDirectories()
  Dim MyDocs, CurrentUsr, MyMusic, MyPics, TempFile As String

  MyDocs = Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.SpecialDirectories.MyDocuments
  Console.WriteLine(MyDocs)

  CurrentUsr = Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.SpecialDirectories.CurrentUserApplicationData
  Console.WriteLine(CurrentUsr)

  MyMusic = Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.SpecialDirectories.MyMusic
  Console.WriteLine(MyMusic)

  MyPics = Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.SpecialDirectories.MyPictures
  Console.WriteLine(MyPics)

  TempFile = Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.SpecialDirectories.Temp
  Console.WriteLine(TempFile)

End Sub


Output:
C:\Users\John\Documents
C:\Users\John\AppData\Roaming\PathWorks\PathWorks\1.0.0.0
C:\Users\John\Music
C:\Users\John\Pictures
C:\Users\John\AppData\Local\Temp

VisualBasic.FileIO.SpecialDirectories provides access to just a few special directories. It provides access to the Temp directory, which Environment does not.

Accessing the current directory- 3 ways

Private Sub CurDir()

  Dim dircurrentdir,envcurrentdir,vbfcurrentdir As String 
       
  dircurrentdir = System.IO.Directory.GetCurrentDirectory
  envcurrentdir = System.Environment.CurrentDirectory
  vbfcurrentdir = Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.FileSystem.CurrentDirectory
 ' they are all the same, take your pick

End Sub

Sometimes you need the current directory., Here are three ways to get it. They are all exactly the same. If your are in the development environment it yields the \bin\Debug directory in your current project.

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11/24/2015