Get selected file from Desktop C#

Question

I would like to get the files path of the files selected from the user on the desktop, with this code I can get all file from the explorer

public void GetListOfSelectedFilesAndFolderOfWindowsExplorer()
    {
          Shell exShell = new Shell();
            List<string> selected = new List<string>();
            foreach (ShellBrowserWindow window in (IShellWindows)exShell.Windows())
            {
                // check both for either interface to work
                // add an Exit for to just work the first explorer window 
                if ((window.Document as IShellFolderViewDual) != null)
                {
                    foreach (FolderItem fi in window.Document.SelectedItems)
                        selected.Add(fi.Path);
                }
                else if ((window.Document as ShellFolderView) != null)
                {
                    foreach (FolderItem fi in window.Document.SelectedItems)
                        selected.Add(fi.Path);
                }
            }
    }

I need to get the files names of the files in the desktop, but the list result empty.

Answer 1

the files paths selected is not clear for me, but try the below code to get the list of files and folders in the user desktop

// Get the path of the user's desktop
        string desktopPath = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Desktop);

        // Get the paths of all files and directories on the desktop
        string[] files = Directory.GetFiles(desktopPath);
        string[] directories = Directory.GetDirectories(desktopPath);

        // Create a string to store the paths
        string message = "";

        // Add all files to the message
        foreach (string file in files)
        {
            message += file + "\n";
        }

        // Add all directories to the message
        foreach (string directory in directories)
        {
            message += directory + "\n";
        }

        // Show the message in a message box
        MessageBox.Show(message, "Paths of files and directories on desktop", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information);

To get list of selected folders or files, first you have to select the folders or files you need, and this must be done using a tool like FolderBrowserDialog and OpenFileDialog.

Here is an example of how you might use the OpenFileDialog to allow the user to select multiple files on the desktop:

DialogResult result = openFileDialog1.ShowDialog();
        if (result == DialogResult.OK)
        {
            // Get the paths of the selected files
            string[] selectedFiles = openFileDialog1.FileNames;

            // Add all files to the list box
            foreach (string file in selectedFiles)
            {
                message += file + "\n";
            }
        }

And for selecting folders you can use FolderBrowserDialog

 DialogResult result = folderBrowserDialog1.ShowDialog();
        if (result == DialogResult.OK)
        {
            // Get the path of the selected directory
            string directory = folderBrowserDialog1.SelectedPath;
            message =  directory;
        }