'specialFolderPath' Codes
'specialFolderPath' Codes |
|
specialFolderPath function, but
you can also pass a number (under Windows) or a four-character code (under MacOS) in
specialFolderPath to gain access to the paths to a
variety of folders.
If you ask for a specialFolderPath that does not exist, it will return
empty and the result will be set to folder not found (this is representated by a -- code below).
Macintosh Special FoldersNote that the last character of the first item in the list (for the Apple Menu Items Folder) is the ƒ symbol, which is typed in on the Mac using Option-F. It may or may not be visible this way in your browser.
(Testing was done under OS 9.2.2 and OS X 10.2.3 in a standalone (non-networked) environment. Note that some codes supplied by Apple did not return any values during my testing, even though they were supposed to. Although an entry may say "folder not found", that doesn't mean that it may not work for you; it just didn't work for me (perhaps my configuration is not set up properly).)
Assuming the name of the hard disk is "HD" and the user is "kenray" (under OS X), the following values are returned:
Folder Code Reference: http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Carbon/Reference/Folder_Manager/Reference/reference.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30000238-CH4g-C006668
specialFolderPath:
| Code | Description | Returned Value (MacOS 9) | Returned Value (MacOS X) |
| acmp | Audio Plug-In Components Folder | -- | /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components |
| adio | Audio Folder | -- | /Library/Audio |
| aexƒ | Apple Extras Folder | /HD/Applications (Mac OS 9)/Apple Extras | -- |
| alrt | Alert Sounds Folder | -- | /Library/Audio/Sounds/Alerts |
| amnu | Apple Menu Items Folder | /HD/System Folder/Apple Menu Items | -- |
| aplg | Audio Plugins Folder | -- | /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins |
| appr | Appearance Folder | /HD/System Folder/Appearance | -- |
| apps | Applications Folder | /HD/Applications (Mac OS 9) | /Applications |
| asnd | Audio Sounds Folder | -- | /Library/Audio/Sounds |
| astƒ | Assistants Folder | /HD/Applications (Mac OS 9)/Utilities/Assistants | -- |
| asup | Application Support Folder | /HD/System Folder/Application Support | /Library/Application Support |
| bank | Bank Sounds Folder | -- | /Library/Audio/Sounds/Banks |
| cach | Caches Folder | -- | /Library/Caches |
| cmnu | Contextual Menu Items Folder | /HD/System Folder/Contextual Menu Items | -- |
| cmpd | Components Folder | -- | /System/Library/Components |
| csrv | Core Services Folder | -- | /System/Library/CoreServices |
| ctrD | Control Panels Disabled Folder | /HD/System Folder/Control Panels (Disabled) | -- |
| ctrl | Control Panels Folder | /HD/System Folder/Control Panels | -- |
| cusr | Current User Folder | -- | /Users/kray |
| desk | Desktop Folder | /HD/Desktop Folder | /Users/kenray/Desktop |
| dlib | Domain Library Folder | -- | /Library |
| docs | Documents Folder | /HD/Documents | /Users/kenray/Documents |
| dtop | Domain Top Folder | -- | /System |
| dtpƒ | Desktop Pictures Folder | -- | /Library/Desktop Pictures |
| fsys | Filesystems Folder | -- | /System/Library/Filesystems |
| empt | Empty Trash Folder | /HD/Trash | /Users/kenray/.Trash |
| empz | StartupItems Folder | -- | /Library/StartupItems |
| extD | Extensions Disabled Folder | /HD/System Folder/Extensions (Disabled) | -- |
| extn | Extensions Folder | /HD/System Folder/Extensions | -- |
| favs | Favorites Folder | /HD/System Folder/Favorites | /Users/kenray/Library/Favorites |
| fnds | Find Support Folder | -- | /System/Library/Find |
| flnt | Deleted Items at Boot | -- | /private/var/folders/vt/vtUPTqpgFuaK06XY1kgDG++++TI/Cleanup At Startup |
| font | Fonts Folder | /HD/System Folder/Fonts | /System/Library/Fonts |
| fram | Frameworks Folder | -- | /System/Library/Frameworks |
| fvoc | Voices Folder | /HD/System Folder/Extensions/Voices | /System/Library/Speech/Voices |
| ilgf | Installer Logs (Receipts) Folder | -- | /Library/Receipts |
| impr | Printers Folder | -- | /System/Library/Printers |
| info | Documentation Folder | -- | /Library/Documentation |
| intƒ | Internet Folder | /HD/Applications (Mac OS 9) | -- |
| isst | Internet Search Sites Folder | /HD/System Folder/Internet Search Sites | -- |
| kchn | Keychain Folder | -- | /Users/kray/Library/Keychains |
| kext | Kernel Extensions Folder | -- | /System/Library/Extensions |
| klay | Keyboard Layouts Folder | -- | /System/Library/Keyboard Layouts |
| macD | System Extensions Disabled Folder | /HD/System Folder/System Extensions (Disabled) | -- |
| macs | System Folder | /HD/System Folder | /System |
| mdoc | Movies Folder | -- | /Users/kray/Movies |
| midi | MIDI Drivers Folder | -- | /Library/Audio/MIDI Drivers |
| µdoc | Music Folder | -- | /Users/kray/Music |
| morƒ | MacOS Read Me Folder | -- | -- |
| pdoc | Pictures Folder | -- | /Users/kray/Pictures |
| pfrm | Private Frameworks Folder | -- | /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks |
| ppdf | Printer Descriptions Folder | /HD/System Folder/Extensions/Printer Descriptions | /System/Library/Printers/PPDs |
| pref | Preferences Folder | /HD/System Folder/Preferences | /Users/kenray/Library/Preferences |
| prfƒ | Preferences Folder (alternate?) | -- | -- |
| prnt | PrintMonitor Documents Folder | /HD/System Folder/PrintMonitor Documents | -- |
| prof | ColorSync Profiles Folder | /HD/System Folder/ColorSync Profiles | /System/Library/ColorSync/Profiles |
| pubb | Public Folder | -- | /Users/kray/Public |
| qtex | QuickTime Extensions Folder | -- | /System/Library/QuickTime |
| rapp | Recent Applications Folder | /HD/System Folder/Apple Menu Items/Recent Applications | -- |
| rcpt | Receipts Folder | -- | /Library/Receipts |
| rdoc | Recent Documents Folder | /HD/System Folder/Apple Menu Items/Recent Documents | -- |
| root | Root System Folder | -- | /System |
| rsvr | Recent Servers Folder | /HD/System Folder/Apple Menu Items/Recent Servers | /Users/kray/Library/Recent Servers |
| scrƒ | Scripts Folder | /HD/System Folder/Scripts | /Users/kenray/Library/Scripts |
| sctl | System Control Panels Folder* | /HD/System Folder/Control Panels | -- |
| sdat | Shared Folder | -- | /Users/Shared |
| sdsk | System Desktop Folder** | /HD/System Folder/Control Panels | -- |
| sdvƒ | Control Strip Modules Folder | -- | -- |
| shar | AppleShare Folder | -- | /System/Library/Filesystems/AppleShare |
| shdD | Shutdown Items Disabled Folder | /HD/System Folder/Shutdown Items (Disabled) | -- |
| shdf | Shutdown Items Folder | /HD/System Folder/Shutdown Items | -- |
| site | Sites Folder | -- | /Users/kray/Sites |
| spki | Speakable Items Folder | /HD/System Folder/Apple Menu Items/Speakable Items | -- |
| spch | Speech Folder | -- | /System/Library/Speech |
| sprf | System Preferences Folder*** | /HD/System Folder/Preferences | /System/Library/PreferencePanels |
| ssnd | System Sound Folder | -- | /System/Library/Sounds |
| strD | Startup Items Disabled Folder | /HD/System Folder/Startup Items (Disabled) | -- |
| strs | System Trash Folder**** | /HD/Trash | -- |
| strt | Startup Items Folder | /HD/System Folder/Startup Items | -- |
| sync | ColorSync Folder | -- | /System/Library/ColorSync |
| temp | Temporary Items Folder | /HD/Temporary Items | /private/tmp/501/Temporary Items |
| trsh | Trash Folder | /HD/Trash | /Users/kenray/.Trash |
| usrs | Users Folder | -- | /Users |
| utiƒ | Utilities Folder | /HD/Applications (Mac OS 9)/Utilities | /Applications/Utilities |
| utmp | User Temporary Folder | -- | /private/var/folders/vt/vtUPTqpgFuaK06XY1kgDG++++TI |
| wcmp | QuickTime Components Folder | -- | /System/Library/QuickTime |
| ƒhlp | Help Folder | /HD/System Folder/Help | /Library/Documentation/Help |
| ƒlib | Shared Libraries Folder | /HD/System Folder/Extensions | /System/Library/CFMSupport |
| ƒloc | Locales Folder | /HD/System Folder/Language & Region Support | -- |
| ƒmod | Modem Scripts Folder | -- | /System/Library/Modem Scripts |
| ƒnet | Internet Plugin Folder | /HD/System Folder/Internet Plug-Ins | -- |
| ƒprd | Printer Driver Folder | -- | -- |
| ƒscr | Scripting Additions Folder | /HD/System Folder/Scripting Additions | /System/Library/ScriptingAdditions |
| ƒtex | Text Encodings Folder | /HD/System Folder/Text Encodings | -- |
According to Apple:
* Always "Control Panels" inside the System Folder; never the redirected one
** The desktop folder at the root of the hard drive, never the redirected user desktop folder
*** System-type Preferences go here - this is always the system's preferences folder, never a logged in user's
**** The trash folder at the root of the drive, never the redirected user trash folder
Windows Special FoldersVersion Reference: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/shellcc/platform/shell/programmersguide/versions.asp
| Version | DLL | Distributed With... |
| 4.00 | All | Windows 95/Windows NT 4.0 |
| 4.70 | All | Internet Explorer 3.x |
| 4.71 | All | Internet Explorer 4.0 |
| 4.72 | All | Internet Explorer 4.01 and Windows 98 |
| 5.00 | shlwapi.dll | Internet Explorer 5 |
| 5.00 | shell32.dll | Windows 2000 and Windows ME |
| 5.80 | comctl32.dll | Internet Explorer 5 |
| 5.81 | comctl32.dll | Windows 2000 and Windows ME |
| 6.00 | comctl32.dll | Windows XP and Windows Vista |
CSIDL Reference: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/shellcc/platform/Shell/reference/enums/csidl.asp
specialFolderPath
| No. | Microsoft Constant Name | Example Returned Value | Nec. Version | Comments |
| 0 | CSIDL_DESKTOP | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/Desktop | ||
| 1 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 2 | CSIDL_PROGRAMS | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/Start Menu/Programs | ||
| 3 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 4 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 5 | CSIDL_PERSONAL | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/My Documents | Also "documents". | |
| 6 | CSIDL_FAVORITES | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/Favorites | ||
| 7 | CSIDL_STARTUP | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/Start Menu/Programs/Startup | ||
| 8 | CSIDL_RECENT | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/Recent | ||
| 9 | CSIDL_SENDTO | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/SendTo | ||
| 10 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 11 | CSIDL_STARTMENU | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/Start Menu | Also "start". | |
| 12 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 13 | CSIDL_MUSIC | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/My Documents/My Music | 6.0 | |
| 14 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 15 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 16 | CSIDL_DESKTOPDIRECTORY | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/Desktop | Also "desktop". | |
| 17 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 18 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 19 | CSIDL_NETHOOD | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/NetHood | ||
| 20 | CSIDL_FONTS | C:/WINDOWS/Fonts | Also "fonts". | |
| 21 | CSIDL_TEMPLATES | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/Templates | ||
| 22 | CSIDL_COMMON_STARTMENU | C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Start Menu | Win NT/2000/XP only. | |
| 23 | CSIDL_COMMON_PROGRAMS | C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Start Menu/Programs | Win NT/2000/XP only. | |
| 24 | CSIDL_COMMON_STARTUP | C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Start Menu/Programs/Startup | Win NT/2000/XP only. | |
| 25 | CSIDL_COMMON_DESKTOPDIRECTORY | C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Desktop | Win NT/2000/XP only. | |
| 26 | CSIDL_APPDATA | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/Application Data | 4.71 | |
| 27 | CSIDL_PRINTHOOD | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/PrintHood | ||
| 28 | CSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/Local Settings/Application Data | 5.00 | |
| 29 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 30 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 31 | CSIDL_COMMON_FAVORITES | C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Favorites | Win NT/2000/XP only. | |
| 32 | CSIDL_INTERNET_CACHE* | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/Local Settings/Temporary Internet Files | 4.72* | |
| 33 | CSIDL_COOKIES | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/Cookies | ||
| 34 | CSIDL_HISTORY* | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/Local Settings/History | ||
| 35 | CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA | C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Application Data | 5.00 | |
| 36 | CSIDL_WINDOWS | C:/WINDOWS | 5.00 | Also "system". |
| 37 | CSIDL_SYSTEM | C:/WINDOWS/system32 | 5.00 | Could also be #41. |
| 38 | CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES | C:/Program Files | 5.00 | |
| 39 | CSIDL_MYPICTURES | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/My Documents/My Pictures | 5.00 | |
| 40 | CSIDL_PROFILE | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken | 5.00 | |
| 41 | (CSIDL_SYSTEM) | C:/WINDOWS/system32 | 5.00 | Could also be #37. |
| 42 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 43 | CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES_COMMON | C:/Program Files/Common Files | 5.00 | Win NT/2000/XP only. |
| 44 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 45 | CSIDL_COMMON_TEMPLATES | C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Templates | Win NT/2000/XP only. | |
| 46 | CSIDL_COMMON_DOCUMENTS | C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Documents | Win NT/2000/XP; Win 95/98 if Shfolder.dll is installed. | |
| 47 | CSIDL_COMMON_ADMINTOOLS | C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Start Menu/Programs/Administrative Tools | 5.00 | |
| 48 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 49 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 50 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 51 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 52 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 53 | CSIDL_COMMON_MUSIC | C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Documents/My Music | 6.0 | |
| 54 | CSIDL_COMMON_PICTURES | C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Documents/My Pictures | 6.0 | |
| 55 | CSIDL_COMMON_VIDEO | C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Documents/My Videos | 6.0 | |
| 56 | CSIDL_RESOURCES | C:/WINDOWS/Resources | 6.0 | |
| 57 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 58 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 59 | CSIDL_CDBURN_AREA | C:/Documents and Settings/Ken/Local Settings/Application Data/Microsoft/CD Burning | 6.0 |
Windows Vista Special Folders
specialFolderPath
| No. | Microsoft Constant Name | Example Returned Value | Nec. Version | Comments |
| 0 | CSIDL_DESKTOP | C:/Users/Ken/Desktop | ||
| 1 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 2 | CSIDL_PROGRAMS | C:/Users/Ken/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs | ||
| 3 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 4 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 5 | CSIDL_PERSONAL | C:/Users/Ken/Documents | Also "documents". | |
| 6 | CSIDL_FAVORITES | C:/Users/Ken/Favorites | ||
| 7 | CSIDL_STARTUP | C:/Users/Ken/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs/Startup | ||
| 8 | CSIDL_RECENT | C:/Users/Ken/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Recent | ||
| 9 | CSIDL_SENDTO | C:/Users/Ken/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/SendTo | ||
| 10 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 11 | CSIDL_STARTMENU | C:/Users/Ken/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu | Also "start". | |
| 12 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 13 | CSIDL_MUSIC | C:/Users/Ken/Music | 6.0 | |
| 14 | CSIDL_VIDEO | C:/Users/Ken/Videos | 6.0 | |
| 15 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 16 | CSIDL_DESKTOPDIRECTORY | C:/Users/Ken/Desktop | Also "desktop". | |
| 17 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 18 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 19 | CSIDL_NETHOOD | C:/Users/Ken/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Network Shortcuts | ||
| 20 | CSIDL_FONTS | C:/Windows/Fonts | Also "fonts". | |
| 21 | CSIDL_TEMPLATES | C:/Users/Ken/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Templates | ||
| 22 | CSIDL_COMMON_STARTMENU | C:/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu | ||
| 23 | CSIDL_COMMON_PROGRAMS | C:/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs | ||
| 24 | CSIDL_COMMON_STARTUP | C:/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs/Startup | ||
| 25 | CSIDL_COMMON_DESKTOPDIRECTORY | C:/Users/Public/Desktop | ||
| 26 | CSIDL_APPDATA | C:/Users/Ken/AppData/Roaming | ||
| 27 | CSIDL_PRINTHOOD | C:/Users/Ken/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Printer Shortcuts | ||
| 28 | CSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA | C:/Users/Ken/AppData/Local | ||
| 29 | n/a | C:/Users/Ken/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs/Startup | ||
| 30 | n/a | C:/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs/Startup | ||
| 31 | CSIDL_COMMON_FAVORITES | C:/Users/Ken/Favorites | ||
| 32 | CSIDL_INTERNET_CACHE* | C:/Users/Ken/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary Internet Files | ||
| 33 | CSIDL_COOKIES | C:/Users/Ken/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Cookies | ||
| 34 | CSIDL_HISTORY* | C:/Users/Ken/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/History | ||
| 35 | CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA | C:/ProgramData | ||
| 36 | CSIDL_WINDOWS | C:/Windows | Also "system". | |
| 37 | CSIDL_SYSTEM | C:/Windows/system32 | Could also be #41. | |
| 38 | CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES | C:/Program Files | ||
| 39 | CSIDL_MYPICTURES | C:/Users/Ken/Pictures | ||
| 40 | CSIDL_PROFILE | C:/Users/Ken | ||
| 41 | (CSIDL_SYSTEM) | C:/Windows/system32 | Could also be #37. | |
| 42 | n/a | C:/Program Files | ||
| 43 | CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES_COMMON | C:/Program Files/Common Files | ||
| 44 | n/a | C:/Program Files/Common Files | ||
| 45 | CSIDL_COMMON_TEMPLATES | C:/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/Templates | ||
| 46 | CSIDL_COMMON_DOCUMENTS | C:/Users/Public/Documents | ||
| 47 | CSIDL_COMMON_ADMINTOOLS | C:/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs/Administrative Tools | ||
| 48 | n/a | C:/Users/Ken/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs/Administrative Tools | ||
| 49 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 50 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 51 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 52 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 53 | CSIDL_COMMON_MUSIC | C:/Users/Public/Music | 6.0 | |
| 54 | CSIDL_COMMON_PICTURES | C:/Users/Public/Pictures | 6.0 | |
| 55 | CSIDL_COMMON_VIDEO | C:/Users/Public/Videos | 6.0 | |
| 56 | CSIDL_RESOURCES | C:/Windows/Resources | 6.0 | |
| 57 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 58 | n/a | (empty) | ||
| 59 | CSIDL_CDBURN_AREA | C:/Users/Ken/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Burn/Burn | 6.0 |
Posted 12/22/2002 by Ken Ray
Updated 2/22/2007 by Ken Ray - Added Vista information.