How to reference the C:\Users\Public directory programmatically in C#

Question

Is it safe to programmatically reference the public folder through:

Directory = System.Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(\"public\")+\"MyCompanyName\" // et         


        

Answer 1

Notice that the Environment.SpecialFolder.CommonDesktopDirectory is only available in .NET 4.0. For my .NET 3.5 systems (Windows 7 or XP) I used the registry key for the Shell Folders. My code snippet is in VB.NET.

Private mRegShellPath="Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders"
Private mCommonDesktop = Nothing

' dgp rev 3/8/2012
Private ReadOnly Property CommonDesktop As String
    Get
        If mCommonDesktop Is Nothing Then
            Dim RegKey As RegistryKey
            Try
                RegKey = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(mRegShellPath, False)
                mCommonDesktop = RegKey.GetValue("Common Desktop")
            Catch ex As Exception
                mCommonDesktop = ""
            End Try
        End If

        Return mCommonDesktop
    End Get

End Property