How to open Explorer with a specific file selected?

Question

I would like to code a function to which you can pass a file path, for example:

C:\\FOLDER\\SUBFOLDER\\FILE.TXT

and it would open Windows E

Answer 1

The supported method since Windows XP (i.e. not supported on Windows 2000 or earlier) is SHOpenFolderAndSelectItems:

void OpenFolderAndSelectItem(String filename)
{
   // Parse the full filename into a pidl
   PIDLIST_ABSOLUTE pidl;
   SFGAO flags;
   SHParseDisplayName(filename, null, out pidl, 0, out flags);
   try 
   {
      // Open Explorer and select the thing
      SHOpenFolderAndSelectItems(pidl, 0, null, 0);
   }
   finally 
   {
      // Use the task allocator to free to returned pidl
      CoTaskMemFree(pidl);
   }
}