Using Explorer's File Copy Dialog Box

For example to back up your documents and VB programs to a backup folder, you could use this code:

Dim lret As Long
Dim fileop As SHFILEOPSTRUCT

With fileop
.hwnd = 0
.wFunc = FO_COPY
.pFrom = "C:\Program Files\DevStudio\VB\My Programs" & _
vbNullChar & "C:\My Documents" & vbNullChar & vbNullChar
.pTo = "c:\Backup of Documents" & vbNullChar & vbNullChar
.lpszProgressTitle = "Please wait, backing up..."
.fFlags = FOF_SIMPLEPROGRESS Or FOF_RENAMEONCOLLISION
End With

lret = SHFileOp(fileop)

If result <> 0 Then ' Operation failed
MsgBox Err.LastDllError 'Show the error returned from the API.
Else
If fileop.fAnyOperationsAborted <> 0 Then
MsgBox "Operation Failed"
End If
End If

To send this directory to the recycle bin when it is too old, you could use this code:

Dim lret As Long
Dim fileop As SHFILEOPSTRUCT

With fileop
.hwnd = 0
.wFunc = FO_DELETE
.pFrom = "c:\Backup of Documents" & vbNullChar & vbNullChar
.lpszProgressTitle = "Please wait, backing up..."
.fFlags = FOF_SIMPLEPROGRESS Or FOF_ALLOWUNDO
End With

lret = SHFileOp(fileop)

If result <> 0 Then ' Operation failed
MsgBox Err.LastDllError 'Show the error returned from the API.
Else
If fileop.fAnyOperationsAborted <> 0 Then
MsgBox "Operation Failed"
End If
End If

That just about wraps up the SHFileOperation function. Have an experiment and a play about with it, and before long you will have the wonderful progress dialog box seamlessly integrated into your application.

If you have any comments/suggestions/questions, please email me.

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This article was originally published on November 20, 2002