Where are positions of desktop shortcuts stored? - windows

Question

Where are the positions of Windows desktop shortcuts stored?
I am asking about the screen positions of the icons not the actual icons themselves. I know the icons themselves are stored in various DLLs, EXEs etc. The positions are clearly stored in some non-volatile store because they persists through re-boots.
My end goal is to write an app to display, and optionally re-arrange icons on my desktop.
I know this is possible because many available apps do this (e.g., "WinTidy").
I find much talk about "Windows Shell Bags". An interesting article about these are in http://williballethin.com.forensics/shellbags, but that only addresses directories not shortcuts. These are in the registry at various places including
`HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Shell/Bags/1/Desktop`
`HKEY_USERS/.DEFAULT/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Shell/Bags/1/Desktop`
I wrote a program to extract these but the format of the key values is incomprehensible.
Any body know where and how they are stored?

Answer 1

UPDATE 6/3/20
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I just switched over to a Win10 64-bit machine and find the solution below no longer works. I believe because of a change in the desktop internals. I figured out how to do this. See "WIN10 ADDENDUM" at the end of this answer.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I finally figured out how to do what I want (display and re-arrange desktop icons). My original question concerned locating, reading and writing to the file where the icon info is stored, but this is not a useful approach. Here is what I learned:
Explorer.exe displays desktop items in a giant ListView covering the whole desktop with ListView items corresponding to each visible icon. At startup, Explorer reads info from some arcane file and populates the ListView. On exit, it re-writes that file from the ListView. So modifying the file would not help because it would be overwritten on exit.
The right way to manipulate desktop items is to directly manipulate items in the ListView. Any changes are immediately visible on change, and are saved on exit. To access the items, we can use several Windows messages: LVM_GETITEM, LVM_GETITEMCOUNT, LVM_GETITEMPOSITION and LVM_SETITEMPOSITION. These messages are fairly simple to use with one complication: some require pointers to parameter structures. These structures must be in Explorer's address space not my app's, so some trickery is needed. Here's how to do it. I use LVM_GETITEMPOSITION as an example, which requires a pointer to a POINT structure.
Declare a POINT structure in your app.
Allocate a mirror structure in Explorer's address space using API VirtualAllocEx().
Send LVM_GETITEMPOSITION to Explorer specifying a pointer to this structure.
Read back the result into your app's POINT using API ReadProcessMemory(). This function can read memory across different address spaces.
I have prototyped these operations and they work as I wanted. My code is quite long but I will post excerpts as soon as I clean it up.
UPDATE 10/4/2019 ------------------------------------
CODE EXCERPTS
A set of commonly used utility functions was created to make code more compact and readable. These are named "exp*()" and are included at the end. A reference can be found at http://ramrodtechnology.com/explorer. Much of the basic technique herein was shamelessly stolen from https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/5570/Stealing-Program-s-Memory
Setup
// COMMONLY USED VARS
HANDLE hProcess; // explorer process handle
HWND hWndLV; // explorer main window
// SET UP CONVENIENCE VARS
hProcess = expGetProcessHandle(); // get explorer process handle
if( !hProcess ) exit( 1 );
hWndLV = expGetListView(); // get main ListView of Desktop
if( !hWndLV ) exit( 1 );
Function to Print All Item Names
//# Process a list view window and print item names
int
printAllNames()
{
int ok,icount,indx;
LVITEM item; // point in app space
LVITEM *_pitem; // point in exp space
char text[512];
char *_ptext;
int nr,nwrite; // count of bytes read/written
printf( "\n" );
// ALLOC ITEMS IN EXP SPACE
_pitem = expAlloc( sizeof(LVITEM) );
_ptext = expAlloc( sizeof(text ) );
printf( " NAME\n" );
printf( " ==================================\n" );
icount = expGetItemCount();
for( indx=0; indx<icount; indx++ ) { // for each item in LV
// SETUP ITEM IN EXP SPACE
memset( &item, 0, sizeof(LVITEM) ); // preclear
item.iItem = indx; // index of item to read
item.iSubItem = 0; // sub index (always 0)
item.mask = LVIF_TEXT; // component to read
item.pszText = _ptext; // buffer to recv text
item.cchTextMax = sizeof(text); // size of buffer
// WRITE ITEM REQ TO EXP SPACE
ok = WriteProcessMemory( hProcess, _pitem, &item, sizeof(LVITEM), &nwrite );
// SEND MESSAGE TO GET ITEM INTO EXP SPACE
ok = SendMessage( hWndLV, LVM_GETITEM, indx, (LPARAM)_pitem );
// READ EXP TEXT INTO APP SPACE
memset( &item, 0, sizeof(LVITEM) );
ok = ReadProcessMemory( hProcess, _pitem, &item, sizeof(POINT), &nr );
ok = ReadProcessMemory( hProcess, _ptext, &text, sizeof(text), &nr );
// PRINT RESULT
printf( " %s\n", text );
}
ok = expFree( _pitem );
ok = expFree( _ptext );
return( TRUE );
//r Returns TRUE on success, FALSE on error
}
Function To Print All Item Positions
//# Process a list view window and print position
int
printAllPositions()
{
int ok,icount,indx,nr;
POINT pt; // point in app space
POINT *_ppt; // point in exp space
icount = expGetItemCount();
_ppt = expAlloc( sizeof(POINT) );
if( !_ppt ) return( FALSE );
printf( " X Y\n" );
printf( "---- ----\n" );
for( indx=0; indx<icount; indx++ ) { // for each item in LV
ok = SendMessage( hWndLV, LVM_GETITEMPOSITION, indx, (LPARAM)_ppt );
ok = ReadProcessMemory( hProcess, _ppt, &pt, sizeof(POINT), &nr );
printf( "%4d %4d\n", pt.x, pt.y );
}
ok = expFree( _ppt );
return( TRUE );
//r Returns TRUE on success
}
Function To Move Item
See 'expSetItemPosition' below. UPDATED 10/6/19
Explorer Utility Functions
// EXPLORER UTILITY FUNCTIONS
//# Allocate a block of memory in explorer space
void *
expAlloc(
int size) // size of block
{
void *p;
p = VirtualAllocEx(
hProcess,
NULL,
size,
MEM_COMMIT,
PAGE_READWRITE );
return( p );
//r Returns addr of memory in EXPLORER space or NULL on error
}
//# Free virtual memory in EXPLORER space
int
expFree(
void *p) // pointer to free
{
int ok;
ok = VirtualFreeEx( hProcess, p, 0, MEM_RELEASE );
return( ok );
//r Returns TRUE on success, else FALSE
}
static int aBiggest; // biggest area so far
static HWND hWndBiggest; // hWnd with biggest area
//# Find main list view of explorer
HWND
expGetListView()
{
//n Approach: Enumerate all child windows of desktop and find largest.
//n This will be the main explorer window.
HWND hWndDesktop;
hWndDesktop = GetDesktopWindow();
if( !hWndDesktop ) return( NULL );
aBiggest = -1; // init
hWndBiggest = NULL; // init
EnumChildWindows( hWndDesktop, CallbackDesktopChild, 0 );
return( hWndBiggest );
//r Returns hWnd of largest explorer list view
}
//# Callback for EnumChildWindows
BOOL CALLBACK CallbackDesktopChild(
HWND hWnd,
LPARAM dwUser)
{
//n Get size of child. If biggest, save hWnd.
int i,w,h,a;
char classname[MAXPATH+1];
RECT rect;
i = GetClassName( hWnd, classname, MAXPATH ); // get class
if( stricmp( classname, "SysListView32" ) ) { // not a list view?
return( TRUE ); // skip it
}
// CALC SIZE
i = GetWindowRect( hWnd, &rect );
w = rect.right - rect.left;
h = rect.bottom - rect.top;
// CHECK IF BIGGEST
a = w * h;
if( a > aBiggest ) { // is biggest?
aBiggest = a;
hWndBiggest = hWnd;
}
return( TRUE ); // TRUE to continue enumeration
}
//# Get process handle of explorer.exe
HANDLE
expGetProcessHandle()
{
//n Approach: take process snapshot and loop through to find "explorer.exe"
//n Needs tlhelp32.h and comctl32.lib
int i,stat;
PROCESSENTRY32 pe;
HANDLE hSnapshot;
char *name;
HANDLE h;
// TAKE A SNAPSHOT
hSnapshot = CreateToolhelp32Snapshot( TH32CS_SNAPPROCESS, 0 );
if( !hSnapshot ) return( NULL );
// LOOP THROUGH PROCESSES AND FIND "explorer.exe"
for( i=0;;i++ ) {
pe.dwSize = sizeof( PROCESSENTRY32 );
if( i == 0 ) stat = Process32First( hSnapshot, &pe );
else stat = Process32Next ( hSnapshot, &pe );
if( !stat ) break; // done or error?
name = pe.szExeFile;
if( !stricmp( name, "explorer.exe" ) ) { // matches?
h = OpenProcess( PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS, FALSE, pe.th32ProcessID );
return( h );
}
}
return( NULL );
//r Returns explorer process handle or NULL on error
}
//# Get count of items in explorer list view
int
expGetItemCount()
{
int count;
count = SendMessage( hWndLV, LVM_GETITEMCOUNT, 0, 0 );
return( count );
//r Returns count of item
}
//# Get position of list view icon by index
int
expGetItemPosition(
int indx, // index of item
int *x, // ptr to int to recv x
int *y) // ptr to int to recv y
{
int i,ok,icount;
char classname[MAXPATH+1];
POINT pt; // point in app space
POINT *_ppt; // point in exp space
int nr; // count of bytes read
//int w,h;
i = GetClassName( hWndLV, classname, MAXPATH );
// GET COUNT OF ITEMS IN LIST VIEW
icount = expGetItemCount();
if( indx < 0 || indx >= icount ) return( FALSE );
// ALLOC POINT IN EXP SPACE
_ppt = expAlloc( sizeof(POINT) );
if( !_ppt ) return( FALSE );
// SEND MESSAGE TO GET POS INTO EXP SPACE POINT
ok = SendMessage( hWndLV, LVM_GETITEMPOSITION, indx, (LPARAM)_ppt );
if( !ok ) return( FALSE );
// READ EXP SPACE POINT INTO APP SPACE POINT
ok = ReadProcessMemory( hProcess, _ppt, &pt, sizeof(POINT), &nr );
if( !ok ) return( FALSE );
ok = expFree( _ppt );
if( !ok ) return( FALSE );
if( x ) *x = pt.x;
if( y ) *y = pt.y;
//r Returns TRUE on success
return( TRUE );
}
//# Move item
int
expSetItemPosition(
char *name, // icon name
int x, // new x coord
int y) // new y coord
{
int ok,indx;
LPARAM lParam;
indx = expGetItemIndex( name );
if( indx < 0 ) return( FALSE );
lParam = MAKELPARAM( x, y );
ok = SendMessage( hWndLV, LVM_SETITEMPOSITION, indx, lParam );
if( !ok ) return( FALSE );
return( TRUE );
//r Returns TRUE on success
}
WIN10 ADDENDUM
6/19/20
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Under Win10, the solution is much more complicated. You must use various COM objects and interfaces, e.g. IShellWindows, etc. (God, I hate COM). I did not create a library but rather offer a complete working program below. I compiled this using MSVC 2019. Error checking has been omitted for clarity (but you should do it).
// icons.cpp - Display (and optionally move) desktop icons
#include <windows.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <conio.h>
#include <ShlObj.h>
#include <atlbase.h>
int
main(int argc,char** argv)
{
CComPtr<IShellWindows> spShellWindows;
CComPtr<IShellBrowser> spBrowser;
CComPtr<IDispatch> spDispatch;
CComPtr<IShellView> spShellView;
CComPtr<IFolderView> spView;
CComPtr<IShellFolder> spFolder;
CComPtr<IEnumIDList> spEnum;
CComHeapPtr<ITEMID_CHILD> spidl;
CComVariant vtLoc(CLSID_ShellWindows);
CComVariant vtEmpty;
STRRET str;
int count=0;
HRESULT hr;
long lhWnd;
// INITIALIZE COM
CoInitialize(NULL);
// GET ShellWindows INTERFACE
hr = spShellWindows.CoCreateInstance(CLSID_ShellWindows);
// FIND WINDOW
hr = spShellWindows->FindWindowSW(
&vtLoc, &vtEmpty, SWC_DESKTOP, &lhWnd, SWFO_NEEDDISPATCH, &spDispatch);
// GET DISPATCH INTERFACE
CComQIPtr<IServiceProvider>(spDispatch)->
QueryService(SID_STopLevelBrowser, IID_PPV_ARGS(&spBrowser));
spBrowser->QueryActiveShellView(&spShellView);
spShellView->QueryInterface(IID_PPV_ARGS(&spView) );
hr = spView->GetFolder(IID_PPV_ARGS(&spFolder));
// GET ENUMERATOR
spView->Items(SVGIO_ALLVIEW, IID_PPV_ARGS(&spEnum)); // get enumerator
// ENUMERATE ALL DESKTOP ITEMS
for (; spEnum->Next(1, &spidl, nullptr) == S_OK; spidl.Free()) {
// GET/PRINT ICON NAME AND POSITION
char* name;
POINT pt;
spFolder->GetDisplayNameOf(spidl, SHGDN_NORMAL, &str);
StrRetToStr(&str, spidl, &name);
spView->GetItemPosition(spidl, &pt);
printf("%5d %5d \"%s\"\n", pt.x, pt.y, name);
#define MOVE_ICON
#ifdef MOVE_ICON
// OPTIONAL: MOVE *SINGLE* SELECTED ITEM
{
if( !_stricmp(name, "ICON_NAME_TO_MOVE") ) {
PCITEMID_CHILD apidl[1] = { spidl };
int numitems = 1;
// SET pt TO NEW POSITION HERE
hr = spView->SelectAndPositionItems(numitems, apidl, &pt, 0);
}
}
#endif
count++;
}
CoUninitialize(); // release COM
fprintf(stderr, "enumerated %d desktop icons\n", count);
fprintf(stderr, "Press any key to exit...\n");
_getch();
exit(0 );
}