Java api to get Microsoft Windows Special folders

Question

I once found a nifty little library that used JNI to allow java applications on Windows to get the locations of various "special" directories on windows. I can't for the life of me find it again...

In particular, I need to get the location of the "All Users" (shared) "Application Data" directory.

So, anyone have a bullet proof way in Java to locate the "All Users" "Application Data" folder?

It needs to be bullet proof.

The bulletproof way to do this the Windows API SHGetKnownFolderPath http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762188%28v=VS.85%29.aspx but I don't know an easy way to call that from Java. — Rup, Jul 29 '10 at 08:49
JNA comes with a fairly complete set of standard API bindings, maybe that's what you mean? https://github.com/twall/jna — millimoose, Sep 01 '13 at 22:30

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 29 '10 at 08:29

You might want to research Environment Variables:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environment_variable#DOS_and_Windows http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environment_variable#System_path_variables

The System.getenv() method offers a list of the system's environment variables and it's included in the core library. Doesn't get much more bullet-proof than that.

Romain Hippeau · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-23T01:42:58.027

-2

You could use the following property in the environment:
ALLUSERSPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users

Edit: This no longer works as of Windows Vista and newer.

edited Sep 23 '16 at 01:42

answered May 29 '10 at 16:56

Romain Hippeau

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This is broken. On Windows Vista and newer, it refers to the `C:\ProgramData` folder by default. (cc @SvrGuy) – Bob Aug 04 '14 at 01:53
That's exactly the kind of non-future-proof solution the OP was trying to avoid. – Vince Bowdren Jun 12 '15 at 11:07

Java api to get Microsoft Windows Special folders

2 Answers2