How to Read and Write Extended file properties in C#

In C#, you can read and write extended file properties (also known as metadata) using the Shell32 and Microsoft.WindowsAPICodePack.Shell libraries. The first approach uses the COM-based Shell32 library, which is built-in but requires adding a reference manually. The second approach uses the Microsoft.WindowsAPICodePack.Shell library, which provides a more modern and managed API but requires installation through NuGet.

Approach 1: Using Shell32

Add a reference to the Shell32.dll:
- In your Visual Studio project, right-click on "References" in the Solution Explorer.
- Click "Add Reference..."
- Go to the "COM" tab, and search for "Microsoft Shell Controls And Automation".
- Check the box next to it and click "OK".
Add using statements:

using Shell32;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

Create helper methods to read and write extended file properties:

public static string GetExtendedFileProperty(string filePath, int propertyId)
{
    Shell shell = new Shell();
    Folder folder = shell.NameSpace(Path.GetDirectoryName(filePath));
    FolderItem item = folder.ParseName(Path.GetFileName(filePath));

    return folder.GetDetailsOf(item, propertyId);
}

public static void SetExtendedFileProperty(string filePath, int propertyId, string value)
{
    Shell shell = new Shell();
    Folder folder = shell.NameSpace(Path.GetDirectoryName(filePath));
    FolderItem item = folder.ParseName(Path.GetFileName(filePath));

    folder.SetDetailsOf(item, propertyId, value);
}

Use the helper methods to read and write extended file properties:

string filePath = @"C:\example.txt";

// Read the "Title" property (propertyId: 21)
string title = GetExtendedFileProperty(filePath, 21);
Console.WriteLine("Title: " + title);

// Set the "Title" property (propertyId: 21)
SetExtendedFileProperty(filePath, 21, "New Title");

Approach 2: Using Microsoft.WindowsAPICodePack.Shell

Install the Microsoft.WindowsAPICodePack.Shell NuGet package:
- In Visual Studio, go to "Tools" > "NuGet Package Manager" > "Manage NuGet Packages for Solution".
- Search for "Microsoft.WindowsAPICodePack.Shell" and install it to your project.
Add a using statement:

using Microsoft.WindowsAPICodePack.Shell;
using Microsoft.WindowsAPICodePack.Shell.PropertySystem;

Create helper methods to read and write extended file properties:

public static string GetExtendedFileProperty(string filePath, string propertyKey)
{
    using (ShellFile shellFile = ShellFile.FromFilePath(filePath))
    {
        return shellFile.Properties.GetProperty(propertyKey).ValueAsObject?.ToString();
    }
}

public static void SetExtendedFileProperty(string filePath, string propertyKey, string value)
{
    using (ShellFile shellFile = ShellFile.FromFilePath(filePath))
    {
        shellFile.Properties.GetProperty(propertyKey).ValueAsObject = value;
    }
}

Use the helper methods to read and write extended file properties:

string filePath = @"C:\example.txt";

// Read the "Title" property
string title = GetExtendedFileProperty(filePath, SystemProperties.System.Title);
Console.WriteLine("Title: " + title);

// Set the "Title" property
SetExtendedFileProperty(filePath, SystemProperties.System.Title, "New Title");

These approaches will help you read and write extended file properties in C#.

"C# read extended file properties example": Demonstrating how to read extended file properties in C#.

using System.IO;
using System.Linq;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        string filePath = "C:\\example.txt";
        var fileProperties = GetFileProperties(filePath);

        foreach (var property in fileProperties)
        {
            Console.WriteLine($"{property.Key}: {property.Value}");
        }
    }

    static Dictionary<string, object> GetFileProperties(string filePath)
    {
        var fileInfo = new FileInfo(filePath);
        return fileInfo
            .GetType()
            .GetProperties()
            .ToDictionary(prop => prop.Name, prop => prop.GetValue(fileInfo));
    }
}

"Reading and writing file metadata in C#": Reading and writing file metadata using C#.

// Reading metadata
string author = File.GetAttributes(filePath).ToString();

// Writing metadata
File.SetAttributes(filePath, FileAttributes.Hidden);

"Working with extended file properties using System.IO in C#": Utilizing System.IO for working with extended file properties in C#.
```
using System.IO;

var fileInfo = new FileInfo(filePath);
Console.WriteLine($"File Size: {fileInfo.Length} bytes");
```
"Accessing file properties with FileInfo class in C#": Accessing file properties with the FileInfo class in C#.
```
var fileInfo = new FileInfo(filePath);
Console.WriteLine($"File Size: {fileInfo.Length} bytes");
```

"Getting extended file information in C#": Getting extended file information using FileInfo in C#.

var fileInfo = new FileInfo(filePath);
Console.WriteLine($"File Size: {fileInfo.Length} bytes");

"Setting and updating file metadata in C#": Setting and updating file metadata in C#.

// Setting metadata
File.SetAttributes(filePath, FileAttributes.Hidden);

// Updating metadata
File.SetLastWriteTime(filePath, DateTime.Now);

"Using Shell32 for extended file property manipulation in C#": Using Shell32 for extended file property manipulation in C#.

dynamic shellApp = Activator.CreateInstance(Type.GetTypeFromProgID("Shell.Application"));
var folder = shellApp.NameSpace(Path.GetDirectoryName(filePath));
var file = folder.ParseName(Path.GetFileName(filePath));
string propertyValue = folder.GetDetailsOf(file, 27); // 27 represents a specific property, adjust as needed

"Reading and writing custom file properties in C#": Reading and writing custom file properties in C#.

var dso = new DSOFile.OleDocumentProperties();
dso.Open(filePath, false, DSOFile.dsoFileOpenOptions.dsoOptionDefault);
string customPropertyValue = dso.CustomProperties["CustomProperty"].Value.ToString();

"Retrieving specific file properties in C#": Retrieving specific file properties using FileInfo in C#.

var fileInfo = new FileInfo(filePath);
Console.WriteLine($"Creation Time: {fileInfo.CreationTime}");

"Manipulating file metadata with Windows API in C#": Manipulating file metadata with Windows API in C#.
```
// Use P/Invoke to call Windows API functions
```

"File properties handling with ShellObject in C#": Handling file properties with ShellObject in C#.

using Shell32;

Shell shell = new Shell();
Folder folder = shell.NameSpace(Path.GetDirectoryName(filePath));
FolderItem folderItem = folder.ParseName(Path.GetFileName(filePath));

Console.WriteLine($"File Size: {folderItem.Size} bytes");

"Reading and updating file attributes in C#": Reading and updating file attributes in C#.

var attributes = File.GetAttributes(filePath);
attributes |= FileAttributes.ReadOnly;
File.SetAttributes(filePath, attributes);

"Customizing file properties dialog in C#": Customizing file properties dialog in C#.
```
// Use Windows API or third-party libraries for customization
```
"Using PropertyHandler to work with extended file properties in C#": Using PropertyHandler to work with extended file properties in C#.
```
// Implement PropertyHandler interfaces for custom property handling
```