Windows Shell exposed by Delphi

Store User and Application Data in the Correct Location
When in the need of storing some content related to your Delphi application on the user's hard disk, you should take care of the support for state separation of user data, user settings, and computer settings.

An Introduction to (Keyboard) Hook Procedures
This document describes what Windows hooks are and how to use them within a Delphi application.

"The Big Brother" Delphi Code Toolkit
Going undercover with Delphi: hiding from the task list, disabling task-switch, removing from the TaskBar, disabling Windows shut down, ...

Tips, tricks and code samples
In the heart of the OS. Working with the Desktop, Tray, Screen Savers, Cursors, processes. Disabling tasks, associate a file type, etc.

How to create an Internet Shortcut (.URL) file
Unlike regular .LNK shortcuts (that point to a document or an application), Internet Shortcuts point to an URL (web document). Here's how to create an .URL file, Internet Shortcut, using Delphi.

Monitoring System Shell Changes using Delphi
Wanna get notified when a file gets created, renamed or deleted on the system? Need to know the exact folder and file name? Let's start monitoring system shell changes! What a great extension to your "Big Brother" Delphi code toolkit - part 3.

System Tray Delphi applications
Placing Delphi applications in the System Tray in easy steps. The perfect place form programs that are left running for long periods of time with no user interaction.

Browse for Computers, Folders, Files and Printers
Use Delphi (and API) to display the directory structure of a computer and allow a user to select a folder without using the Common Dialog control. Plus: select a printer or network computer.

Shortcuts
Creating a standard Windows shortcut file from Delphi.

Shortcut target finder
A sample Delphi application, with full source code, that can be used to locate all the shortcut files (.LNK) on a drive (directory) and find the target that is executed by a shortcut.

Shell Extensions – Info Tip
Creating the InfoTip Shell Extension, which lets us, control the information that appears in Explorer when the mouse hovers over a file. Creating a Delphi Infotip that will display the FileName, the project type (Program or Library), the Project Name (from the source file), and the size of the file in bytes.

Monitoring Registry Changes
Monitoring Registry Changes. Need to get notified about changes to the attributes or contents of a specified Registry key.

Shell Controls: Delphi's Hidden Gems
How to create a reasonable Delphi facsimile of the Windows explorer, all without writing a single line of code

Start from Delphi
Executing and running applications and files from Delphi.

Shell Extensions - Creating four COM objects
Creating four Windows 9x shell-extension COM objects. The Context-Menu Handler, the Drag-and-drop Handler, the Property-Sheet Handler and the Icon Handler.

Shell Notifications
Getting Windows to Share Some of Its Secrets. "It's undocumented, so just how does Windows keep itself abreast of current events?"

Shell Extensions - "View Form as Text" menu item
How to extend the Windows Explorer shell by creating custom COM servers that implement specific interfaces.