CSIDL Values

There are a number of folders that are used frequently by applications, but may not have the same name or location on any given system. For example, the system folder may be "C:\Windows" on one system and "C:\Winnt" on another. CSIDL values provide a unique system-independent way to identify these special folders. They supersede the use of environment variables for this purpose.

A CSIDL is used in conjunction with one of four shell functions, SHGetFolderLocation, SHGetFolderPath, SHGetSpecialFolderLocation, and SHGetSpecialFolderPath, to retrieve a special folder's pathname or item ID list (PIDL).

If a special folder does not exist, you can force it to be created by using the following special CSIDL:

CSIDL_FLAG_CREATE

Version 5.0. Combine this CSIDL with any of the CSIDLs listed below to force the creation of the associated folder.

The remaining CSIDLs correspond to either file system or virtual folders. Where the CSIDL identifies a file system folder, a commonly used path is given as an example. Other paths may be used. Some CSIDLs can be mapped to an equivalent %VariableName% environment variable. CSIDLs are much more reliable, however, and should be used if at all possible.

CSIDL_ADMINTOOLS

Version 5.0. File system directory that is used to store administrative tools for an individual user. The Microsoft Management Console will save customized consoles to this directory and it will roam with the user.

CSIDL_ALTSTARTUP

File system directory that corresponds to the user's nonlocalized Startup program group.

CSIDL_APPDATA

Version 4.71. File system directory that serves as a common repository for application-specific data. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data. This CSIDL is supported by the redistributable ShFolder.dll for systems that do not have the Internet Explorer 4.0 integrated shell installed.

CSIDL_BITBUCKET

Virtual folder containing the objects in the user's Recycle Bin.

CSIDL_COMMON_ADMINTOOLS

Version 5.0. File system directory containing containing administrative tools for all users of the computer.

CSIDL_COMMON_ALTSTARTUP

File system directory that corresponds to the nonlocalized Startup program group for all users. Valid only for Windows NT® systems.

CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA

Version 5.0. Application data for all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data.

CSIDL_COMMON_DESKTOPDIRECTORY

File system directory that contains files and folders that appear on the desktop for all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop. Valid only for Windows NT® systems.

CSIDL_COMMON_DOCUMENTS

File system directory that contains documents that are common to all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents. Valid for Windows NT® systems and Windows 95 and Windows 98 systems with Shfolder.dll installed.

CSIDL_COMMON_FAVORITES

File system directory that serves as a common repository for all users' favorite items. Valid only for Windows NT® systems.

CSIDL_COMMON_PROGRAMS

File system directory that contains the directories for the common program groups that appear on the Start menu for all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs. Valid only for Windows NT® systems.

CSIDL_COMMON_STARTMENU

File system directory that contains the programs and folders that appear on the Start menu for all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu. Valid only for Windows NT® systems.

CSIDL_COMMON_STARTUP

File system directory that contains the programs that appear in the Startup folder for all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. Valid only for Windows NT® systems.

CSIDL_COMMON_TEMPLATES

File system directory that contains the templates that are available to all users. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Templates. Valid only for Windows NT® systems.

CSIDL_CONTROLS

Virtual folder containing icons for the Control Panel applications.

CSIDL_COOKIES

File system directory that serves as a common repository for Internet cookies. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Cookies.

CSIDL_DESKTOP

Windows Desktop—virtual folder that is the root of the namespace.

CSIDL_DESKTOPDIRECTORY

File system directory used to physically store file objects on the desktop (not to be confused with the desktop folder itself). A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Desktop

CSIDL_DRIVES

My Computer—virtual folder containing everything on the local computer: storage devices, printers, and Control Panel. The folder may also contain mapped network drives.

CSIDL_FAVORITES

File system directory that serves as a common repository for the user's favorite items. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Favorites.

CSIDL_FONTS

Virtual folder containing fonts. A typical path is C:\WINNT\Fonts.

CSIDL_HISTORY

File system directory that serves as a common repository for Internet history items.

CSIDL_INTERNET

Virtual folder representing the Internet.

CSIDL_INTERNET_CACHE

File system directory that serves as a common repository for temporary Internet files. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Temporary Internet Files.

CSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA

Version 5.0. File system directory that serves as a data repository for local (non-roaming) applications. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data.

CSIDL_MYPICTURES

Version 5.0. My Pictures folder. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Pictures.

CSIDL_NETHOOD

A file system folder containing the link objects that may exist in the My Network Places virtual folder. It is not the same as CSIDL_NETWORK, which represents the network namespace root. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\NetHood.

CSIDL_NETWORK

Network Neighborhood—virtual folder representing the root of the network namespace hierarchy.

CSIDL_PERSONAL

File system directory that serves as a common repository for documents. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents.

CSIDL_PRINTERS

Virtual folder containing installed printers.

CSIDL_PRINTHOOD

File system directory that contains the link objects that may exist in the Printers virtual folder. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\PrintHood.

CSIDL_PROFILE

Version 5.0. User's profile folder.

CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES

Version 5.0. Program Files folder. A typical path is C:\Program Files.

CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES_COMMON

Version 5.0. A folder for components that are shared across applications. A typical path is C:\Program Files\Common. Valid only for Windows NT® and Windows® 2000 systems.

CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILES_COMMONX86

Version 5.0. Program Files folder that is common to all users for x86 applications on RISC systems. A typical path is C:\Program Files (x86)\Common.

CSIDL_PROGRAM_FILESX86

Version 5.0. Program Files folder for x86 applications on RISC systems. Corresponds to the %PROGRAMFILES(X86)% environment variable. A typical path is C:\Program Files (x86).

CSIDL_PROGRAMS

File system directory that contains the user's program groups (which are also file system directories). A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Start Menu\Programs.

CSIDL_RECENT

File system directory that contains the user's most recently used documents. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Recent. To create a shortcut in this folder, use SHAddToRecentDocs. In addition to creating the shortcut, this function updates the shell's list of recent documents and adds the shortcut to the Documents submenu of the Start menu.

CSIDL_SENDTO

File system directory that contains Send To menu items. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\SendTo.

CSIDL_STARTMENU

File system directory containing Start menu items. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Start Menu.

CSIDL_STARTUP

File system directory that corresponds to the user's Startup program group. The system starts these programs whenever any user logs onto Windows NT® or starts Windows® 95. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.

CSIDL_SYSTEM

Version 5.0. System folder. A typical path is C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32.

CSIDL_SYSTEMX86

Version 5.0. System folder for x86 applications on RISC systems. A typical path is C:\WINNT\SYS32X86.

CSIDL_TEMPLATES

File system directory that serves as a common repository for document templates.

CSIDL_WINDOWS

Version 5.0. Windows directory or SYSROOT. This corresponds to the %windir% or %SYSTEMROOT% environment variables. A typical path is C:\WINNT.