The ShellBrowser .NET Components are a set of UI controls that look and behave exactly like the Windows Explorer. You can use them to integrate Explorer components in your applications or even build your own Explorer. The components are based on and target Windows Forms. They are written in C#, but can be used in all supporting languages (like C# or VB.NET).

ShellBrowser .NET Components support all current versions of Windows (32-bit and 64-bit) and Visual Studio.

Easy to Use

Simply drop the UI components right on your own forms or dialogs.

Versatile

ShellBrowser contains the controls you need for any use case, so you can concentrate on your actual work.

Highly Configurable

Choose your use case and create your own Explorer within minutes!

ShellBrowser .NET Components Features

Main Features at a Glance

Enhance Your .NET Application with Drop-in Shell Functionality

Includes a comprehensive set of visual and non-visual controls for Visual Studio.
Create Explorer clones within minutes with the ShellTreeView, the ShellListView, and the ShellControlConnector or the ExplorerBrowser control.
Easy drop-in: Simply drop the UI components right on your own forms or dialogs.
All captions, e.g. the column headers in the ShellListView, are from the system in the active language.
Icons and thumbnails are determined in background threads. This optimizes the reactivity and does not slow down the speed of the user interface.
Integrate the preview pane introduced with the Windows Explorer with the ShellFilePreview component and let the ShellChangeNotifier inform you about relevant shell events.
Use Windows functionality without struggling with p/invoking the respective Windows APIs and COM Objects and Interfaces.

Look-and-Feel of the Windows Explorer

The ExplorerBrowser provides a complete, configurable Windows Explorer view.
Windows Shell context menu.
Drag-and-drop with the Windows Explorer and similar applications.
Different view styles: The ShellListView supports small icons, large icons, lists, details and thumbnails.
Overlay icons are supported.
Installed Shell extensions supported by the Windows Explorer are also supported by the ShellBrowser .NET Edition
Background context menu in the ShellListView is supported.

How-To Guides

Comprehensive documentation of the controls.
Sample Projects for basic and advanced features of ShellBrowser .NET Edition included.

100% C# Code - Transparent Costs

The components are based on the .NET Framework Controls and are written in 100% C# code; no additional DLLs or ActiveX controls are necessary.
The ShellBrowser .NET Edition is royalty free and involves no runtime fees.
Supports Visual Studio 2010 and higher.

All Included Components

The ShellBrowser .NET Edition includes a comprehensive set of visual and non-visual controls for Visual Studio. The components are based on the .NET Framework Controls and are written in 100% C# code; no additional DLLs or ActiveX controls are necessary. Use Windows functionality without struggling with p/invoking the respective Windows APIs and COM Objects and Interfaces.

Controls

ShellTreeView

Display the shell namespace of Microsoft Windows in a tree looking and behaving like the Windows Explorer's left pane with ShellTreeView.

ShellListView

Display the contents of a folder in a list looking and behaving like the right pane of the Windows Explorer and customize it according to your needs using the ShellListView component.

ExplorerBrowser

The ExplorerBrowser component provides an entire Windows Explorer. Easily integrate a wide range of features in your app.

ShellSearchEdit

ShellSearchEdit contains the search edit field of the Windows Explorer. It can be connected to the ShellList or ExplorerBrowser to define the scope and present the results of the search.

ShellComboBox

Use the ShellComboBox to create a fully configurable Windows Explorer combo box for shell objects.

ShellAddressBar

The ShellAddressBar mimics the breadcrumb bar known from Windows File Explorer.

ShellHistoryToolBar

With the ShellHistoryToolBar you can add a navigatable browsing history to your application.

ShellFilePreview

With the ShellFilePreview control users can view the content of files without opening them first. The .NET control connects to the IPreviewHandlers.

ThumbnailImage

Use the ThumbnailImage control to display thumbnail images of files or folders using the same API calls that the Windows Explorer employs.

FileList

The FileList control can be used to collect any file or folder in one list or to facilitate search operations.

DriveList

With the DriveList component you can easily compile a list of a system's local and network drives. The list will also show the capacity and free disk space of each drive.

PathEdit

With the PathEdit component you can enable the users of your application to enter or to browse for a file or folder path in a dialog.

ShellHistoryToolStrip

With ShellHistoryToolStrip you can integrate a browse history as well as the back and forward navigation buttons known from the Windows Explorer.

Dialogs

ControlPanelTaskDialog

Use ControlPanelTaskDialog to run single tasks from the Windows Control Panel like "User Accounts" or the "Device Center" very easily. Thus, you can add shortcuts for often needed administrative tools to your application.

Non-visual Components

ShellBrowser

ShellBrowser is a non-visual component. It enables you to browse the Windows shell namespace, query information concerning shell objects, and perform context menu operations.

ShellControlConnector

Synchronize the visual shell controls ShellTreeView, ShellListView, DriveList, and ThumbnailImage with the ShellControlConnector component.

ShellChangeNotifier

The ShellChangeNotifier component informs about changes (e.g. copy, move, or delete) in the shell and file system.

ShellBrowser .NET Components Features

Seamless Compatibility for Optimal Performance

ShellBrowser .NET Components support all current versions of Windows (32-bit and 64-bit) and Visual Studio.

Supported Integrated Development Environment (IDEs)

Visual Studio 2010 or higher
.NET Framework 4.0

Supported Operating Systems

Windows 10
Windows 8.1
Windows 7
Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows Server 2012
Windows Server 2008 R2

(32-bit and 64-bit)

Let Us Inspire You

Selected Examples of Usage

Getting Started

The Getting Started application will help you get your projects up and running with a minimum of effort. This sample project provides an easy overview about the features of ShellBrowser .NET components.

Clearly structured source code will enable you to use the components in your own projects with ease.

JamExplorer: Overview

JamExplorer is a project illustrating how to build an Explorer-like application using the visual shell controls of ShellBrowser .NET Components.

The well-known TreeView was placed on the left pane, while the contents of the current folder are displayed on the right pane. In the toolbar you will find some of the typical explorer buttons like delete, properties, and small/large icons. For every item the context menu will be displayed when the user right-clicks on it. All items can be renamed.

The only code written for this sample project were the handlers for the buttons in the toolbar of the window (usually one line of code per button).

JamExplorer: Different Views

ShellBrowser .NET Components supports different view modes, for example "Extra Large Icons". You can see the components at work in JamExplorer.

JamExplorer: Using Graphics

In the JamExplorer sample project you can define different background graphics. Icon transparency is fully supported.

JamSearch

JamSearch is a project simulating the Windows file search. The user can search for certain file dates or file sizes and decide whether subfolders should be included in the search or not.

ExplorerBrowser

The ExplorerBrowser sample project shows you how to use the ExplorerBrowser component. The ExplorerBrowser control emulates an entire Windows Explorer. See how easily you can configure columns and display panes, apply filters, or set group and sorting options.

CoreSample

The CoreSample project illustrates how you could use ShellBrowser components in console applications. It makes only use of the ShellBrowser.Core assembly that contains common Shell functionality but no visual components, so you can use it without a form.

JamCommander

A typical "Commander" project including two side-by-side folder panes that can be separately controlled. Technically, we have grouped the relevant ShellBrowser controls that make up a folder pane, in a "UserControl".

Hear From Our Customers and Read Media Reviews

We are 100% committed to offering our customers and partners worldwide the best possible solutions and service. But don't just take our word for it! Read first-hand opinions of ShellBrowser .NET users.

“The ShellBrowser Components .NET Edition from JAM Software provided the specialised explorer-like functionality I needed to map and traverse folder structures, saving me enormous effort and allowing me to focus on the logic specific to my application. Their support was excellent too!”

Guy Burkill

“ShellBrowser Components .NET Edition is easy to implement and has completely satisfied our expectations. Really great product support.”

Markus Dörig, Siemens Building Technologies, Switzerland

“I have intensively searched the market, and your product is the best I found, after many and various tests that I have performed. I am currently in the process of developing an application which will definitely use your "ShellBrowser .NET Components" product. I sincerely think the .NET version performs exactly all the Windows Explorer behavior, it is great programmed and implemented to the specifications.”

Daniel Cristea

What is New in ShellBrowser .NET?

Version 6.1

New features and improvements

ShellAddressBar: There is a new component "ShellAddressBar". It resembles the address bar known from Windows Explorer, containing a section that splits the current path into "BreadCrumbs" and allows easy navigation in the file system. Additionally it optionally contains a history and a search edit box. These panes can be turned on or off using the "VisiblePanes" property.
The new "HistoryToolBar" that is included in the "ShellAddressBar" can also be used standalone.
In addition, ExplorerBrowser now uses the ShellAddressBar instead of a ShellComboBox.
Examples: A further sample project in the style of a classic "commander" file manager with 2 columns has been added.
ShellListView: Standard .NET Drag/Drop events are now called, even if the "ShellDragDrop" property is true. However, it is not yet possible to set the "Effect" parameter via the event arguments. This is only possible using the "CopyMode" property of the control.
ShellBrowser: The "Desktop" node in the ShellTree now has a context menu too.
ShellFilePreview: Depending on the PreviewHandler, it is now possible to view files that do not have a physical path (e.g. files on an attached mobile phone). This now typically works for pdf and text files, and images.
ShellListView, FileList, and ShellTreeView: Implemented the "ItemChecked" event for the ShellListView and FileList and the "NodeChecked" event for the ShellTreeView. They indicate the checking or unchecking of an element. In contrast to the "CheckStateChanged" the event is not called when a checkstate is applied indirectly or automatically applied by ShellBrowser.
ShellListView, FileList: Date/Time columns now display values without seconds.
ShellFilePreview: When the preview is synchronized via ShellControlConnector, it is now loaded after a small delay. This avoids the unnecessary loading of files that are only selected very shortly and also loading the preview doesn't interfere with message handling, so that double-clicks are not disrupted and not recognized anymore.

Bugfixes

PathEdit: The "Browse" button is working again.
ShellListView: Drag-and-Drop of files from an attached mobile phone to a ShellList now works as expected in 32-bit applications.
ShellListView: Breaking change: Removed the obsolete "Details" property.
ShellListView: Folders are not affected by a set filter. In the last version, they were accidentally filtered too.
ShellListView: Instead of remaining empty, the ShellList now displays the contents of a folder even if it is disabled.
ShellListView: Fixed a problem that wrong or too small columns were displayed after browsing a folder on an attached mobile phone.
ShellListView: The "New" menu item in the background context menu is now disabled in zip folders.
ShellListView: Under certain circumstances, the automatic refresh of the ShellList stopped working after an edit operation was cancelled via code. This has been fixed.
ShellListView: Fixed the issue that thumbnails might be empty for files that are copied to the directory that is currently displayed in the ShellList.
ShellListView: Now handling exceptions that might have occurred if asynchronous tasks return to an already disposed or currently disposing control.
ShellListView: Fixed a sorting problem when pasting files into a folder - instead of respecting the sort order, the files were alphabetically sorted between the subfolders in the same parent folder.
ShellListView, ShellTreeView: It is now possible to temporarily hide custom context menu entries that are assigned to the "ContextMenuStrip" property of a ShellListView or ShellTreeView, by setting the "Visible" property of the menu items to "false" in the "Opening" event handler of the ContextMenuStrip. The setting was ignored in the last version.
ShellTreeView: The "Favorites" folder in Windows 7 is filled again instead of appearing empty.
ShellTreeView: When selecting a path, the ShellTree now fully expands all relevant nodes, instead of just inserting nodes for this path only. The problem that sometimes the destination node appeared twice in the ShellTree was fixed.
ShellTreeView: If a node beneath "Quick Access" is selected, controls connected via the same ShellControlConnector instance will now display the link target of the selected node, instead of remaining in the Quick Access scope. The ShellTree keeps the selection in Quick Access if the "Expand to current folder" setting is false in Windows Explorer.
ShellTreeView: The "NoFillOnStartup" property has been fixed to work with multiple roots. If set, the roots of the ShellTree will not automatically be expanded when the program starts. If this avoids automatically expanding a slow folder, this can improve performance.
ShellTreeView: Fixed a flickering problem that was caused by the asynchronous loading of the network node when navigating to a network path while the network node was still collapsed.
ExplorerBrowser: The "ThumbnailSize" property is now only applied if view mode is "Thumbnail".
ExplorerBrowser: Execution of the "DefaultAction" (i.e. the action that takes place on double-click) can now again be intercepted in the "DefaultAction" event by setting "e.InvocationProcessed" to true.
ExplorerBrowser: Fixed bug when trying to access items in "C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\History".
ExplorerBrowser: Dropped support for CheckMode.Checkboxes as it is incompatible with Windows 10 Dark Mode (use CheckMode.AutoSelect instead).
ExplorerBrowser: The "SelectionChanged" event is now fired only once, when a different element is selected.
ShellSearchEdit: The text hint is now updated if the folder that defines the search scope is renamed.
ShellFilePreview: The Excel PreviewHandler is now released correctly, if the previews of two or more Excel files are unloaded "at the same time" (i.e. at program end), instead of not being able to shut down the Excel process or eventually causing an error in Excel.
Also, we tried resolving exceptions that appeared to occasionally occur when the preview component is disposed.
Many minor improvements and fixes have been incorporated.

30 April 2019

Frequently Asked Questions

We collected the most frequently asked questions by our customers and our experts gave the profound answers. Check if your question on our ShellBrowser .NET Components has already been answered.

Is there a WPF Edition of ShellBrowser.NET components or are the ShellBrowser.NET components compatible with WPF?

Yes, we also provide native Explorer Shell Controls for WPF - ShellBrowser WPF Components.

Do we have to pay additional royalty fees for EXE files that we distribute and that use the ShellBrowser .Net Components?

No. The ShellBrowser components are royalty free. That means after you purchased them, you may distribute compiled projects without additional costs or fees.

I just purchased your product. How can I now activate my trial version?

You will have to download the full version of the software from our customer's area. The login data may be found in the e-mail or in the printed license which you have received after the purchase. In case you do not have your login data anymore, you may request them to be sent to the e-mail address you already used when purchasing the software.

Does your product require any DLL dependency?

ShellBrowser .NET itself consists of two assemblies: ShellBrowser.dll and ShellBrowser.Core.dll. Apart from this, we have no dependencies to third party DLLs. We are only using functions that are part of windows (e.g. shell32.dll).

Are the components native .Net code? What .NET language is used?

The components are written in pure C# directly accessing the Windows Shell-API.

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