Shell Object

Represents the objects in the Shell. Methods are provided to control the Shell and to execute commands within the Shell. There are also methods to obtain other Shell-related objects.

Members Table

The following table lists the members exposed by the Shell object.
Attributes/Properties
Property Description
Application Contains the object's Application object.
Parent Gets an object that represents the parent of the current object.
Methods
Method Description
BrowseForFolder Creates a dialog box that enables the user to select a folder and then returns the selected folder's Folder object.
CascadeWindows Cascades all of the windows on the desktop. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Cascade Windows.
ControlPanelItem Runs the specified Control Panel (*.cpl) application. If the application is already open, it will activate the running instance.
EjectPC Ejects the computer from its docking station. This is the same as clicking the Start menu and selecting Eject PC, if your computer supports this command.
Explore Opens a specified folder in a Windows Explorer window.
FileRun Displays the Run dialog to the user. This method has the same effect as clicking the Start menu and selecting Run.
FindComputer Displays the Search Results: Computers dialog box. The dialog box shows the result of the search for a specified computer.
FindFiles Displays the Find: All Files dialog box. This is the same as clicking the Start menu and then selecting Search (or its equivalent under systems earlier than Windows XP.
Help Displays the Windows Help and Support Center. This method has the same effect as clicking the Start menu and selecting Help and Support.
MinimizeAll Minimizes all of the windows on the desktop. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Minimize All Windows on older systems or clicking the Show Desktop icon in the Quick Launch area of the taskbar in Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
NameSpace Creates and returns a Folder object for the specified folder.
Open Opens the specified folder.
RefreshMenu Refreshes the contents of the Start menu. Used only with systems preceeding Windows XP.
SetTime Displays the Date and Time Properties dialog box. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the clock in the taskbar status area and selecting Adjust Date/Time.
ShutdownWindows Displays the Shut Down Windows dialog box. This is the same as clicking the Start menu and selecting Shut Down.
Suspend Not implemented.
TileHorizontally Tiles all of the windows on the desktop horizontally. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Tile Windows Horizontally.
TileVertically Tiles all of the windows on the desktop vertically. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Tile Windows Vertically.
TrayProperties Displays the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Properties.
UndoMinimizeALL Restores all desktop windows to the same state they were in before the last MinimizeAll command. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Undo Minimize All Windows on older systems or a second clicking of the Show Desktop icon in the Quick Launch area of the taskbar in Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
Windows Creates and returns a ShellWindows object. This object represents a collection of all of the open windows that belong to the Shell.

Property	Description
Application	Contains the object's Application object.
Parent	Gets an object that represents the parent of the current object.

Method	Description
BrowseForFolder	Creates a dialog box that enables the user to select a folder and then returns the selected folder's Folder object.
CascadeWindows	Cascades all of the windows on the desktop. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Cascade Windows.
ControlPanelItem	Runs the specified Control Panel (*.cpl) application. If the application is already open, it will activate the running instance.
EjectPC	Ejects the computer from its docking station. This is the same as clicking the Start menu and selecting Eject PC, if your computer supports this command.
Explore	Opens a specified folder in a Windows Explorer window.
FileRun	Displays the Run dialog to the user. This method has the same effect as clicking the Start menu and selecting Run.
FindComputer	Displays the Search Results: Computers dialog box. The dialog box shows the result of the search for a specified computer.
FindFiles	Displays the Find: All Files dialog box. This is the same as clicking the Start menu and then selecting Search (or its equivalent under systems earlier than Windows XP.
Help	Displays the Windows Help and Support Center. This method has the same effect as clicking the Start menu and selecting Help and Support.
MinimizeAll	Minimizes all of the windows on the desktop. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Minimize All Windows on older systems or clicking the Show Desktop icon in the Quick Launch area of the taskbar in Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
NameSpace	Creates and returns a Folder object for the specified folder.
Open	Opens the specified folder.
RefreshMenu	Refreshes the contents of the Start menu. Used only with systems preceeding Windows XP.
SetTime	Displays the Date and Time Properties dialog box. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the clock in the taskbar status area and selecting Adjust Date/Time.
ShutdownWindows	Displays the Shut Down Windows dialog box. This is the same as clicking the Start menu and selecting Shut Down.
Suspend	Not implemented.
TileHorizontally	Tiles all of the windows on the desktop horizontally. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Tile Windows Horizontally.
TileVertically	Tiles all of the windows on the desktop vertically. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Tile Windows Vertically.
TrayProperties	Displays the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Properties.
UndoMinimizeALL	Restores all desktop windows to the same state they were in before the last MinimizeAll command. This method has the same effect as right-clicking the taskbar and selecting Undo Minimize All Windows on older systems or a second clicking of the Show Desktop icon in the Quick Launch area of the taskbar in Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
Windows	Creates and returns a ShellWindows object. This object represents a collection of all of the open windows that belong to the Shell.