$PROGRAMFILES, $PROGRAMFILES32, $PROGRAMFILES64
The program files directory (usually C:\Program Files but detected at runtime). On Windows x64, $PROGRAMFILES and $PROGRAMFILES32 point to C:\Program Files (x86) while $PROGRAMFILES64 points to C:\Program Files. Use $PROGRAMFILES64 when installing x64 applications.
$COMMONFILES, $COMMONFILES32, $COMMONFILES64
The common files directory. This is a directory for components that are shared across applications (usually C:\Program Files\Common Files but detected at runtime). On Windows x64, $COMMONFILES and $COMMONFILES32 point to C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files while $COMMONFILES64 points to C:\Program Files\Common Files. Use $COMMONFILES64 when installing x64 applications.
$DESKTOP
The Windows desktop directory (usually C:\Windows\Desktop but detected at runtime). The context of this constant (All Users or Current user) depends on the SetShellVarContext setting. The default is the current user.
$WINDIR
The Windows directory (usually C:\Windows or C:\WinNT but detected at runtime).
$SYSDIR
The Windows system directory (usually C:\Windows\System or C:\WinNT\System32 but detected at runtime).
$TEMP
The system temporary directory (usually C:\Windows\Temp but detected at runtime).
$STARTMENU
The start menu folder (useful in adding start menu items using CreateShortCut). The context of this constant (All Users or Current user) depends on the SetShellVarContext setting. The default is the current user.
$SMPROGRAMS
The start menu programs folder (use this whenever you want $STARTMENU\Programs). The context of this constant (All Users or Current user) depends on the SetShellVarContext setting. The default is the current user.
$SMSTARTUP
The start menu programs / startup folder. The context of this constant (All Users or Current user) depends on the SetShellVarContext setting. The default is the current user.
$QUICKLAUNCH
The quick launch folder for IE4 active desktop and above. If quick launch is not available, simply returns the same as $TEMP.
$DOCUMENTS
The documents directory. A typical path for the current user is C:\Documents and Settings\Foo\My Documents. The context of this constant (All Users or Current user) depends on the SetShellVarContext setting. The default is the current user.
This constant is not available on Windows 95 with Internet Explorer 4 not installed.
$SENDTO
The directory that contains Send To menu shortcut items.
$RECENT
The directory that contains shortcuts to the user's recently used documents.
$FAVORITES
The directory that contains shortcuts to the user's favorite websites, documents, etc. The context of this constant (All Users or Current user) depends on the SetShellVarContext setting. The default is the current user.
This constant is not available on Windows 95 with Internet Explorer 4 not installed.
$MUSIC
The user's music files directory. The context of this constant (All Users or Current user) depends on the SetShellVarContext setting. The default is the current user.
This constant is available on Windows XP, ME and above.
$PICTURES
The user's picture files directory. The context of this constant (All Users or Current user) depends on the SetShellVarContext setting. The default is the current user.
This constant is available on Windows 2000, XP, ME and above.
$VIDEOS
The user's video files directory. The context of this constant (All Users or Current user) depends on the SetShellVarContext setting. The default is the current user.
This constant is available on Windows XP, ME and above.
$NETHOOD
The directory that contains link objects that may exist in the My Network Places/Network Neighborhood folder.
This constant is not available on Windows 95 with Internet Explorer 4 and Active Desktop not installed.
$FONTS
The system's fonts directory.
$TEMPLATES
The document templates directory. The context of this constant (All Users or Current user) depends on the SetShellVarContext setting. The default is the current user.
$APPDATA
The application data directory. Detection of the current user path requires Internet Explorer 4 and above. Detection of the all users path requires Internet Explorer 5 and above. The context of this constant (All Users or Current user) depends on the SetShellVarContext setting. The default is the current user.
This constant is not available on Windows 95 with Internet Explorer 4 and Active Desktop not installed.
$LOCALAPPDATA
The local (nonroaming) application data directory.
This constant is available on Windows 2000 and above.
$PRINTHOOD
The directory that contains link objects that may exist in the Printers folder.
This constant is not available on Windows 95 and Windows 98.
$INTERNET_CACHE
Internet Explorer's temporary internet files directory.
This constant is not available on Windows 95 and Windows NT with Internet Explorer 4 and Active Desktop not installed.
$COOKIES
Internet Explorer's cookies directory.
This constant is not available on Windows 95 and Windows NT with Internet Explorer 4 and Active Desktop not installed.
$HISTORY
Internet Explorer's history directory.
This constant is not available on Windows 95 and Windows NT with Internet Explorer 4 and Active Desktop not installed.
$PROFILE
The user's profile directory. A typical path is C:\Documents and Settings\Foo.
This constant is available on Windows 2000 and above.
$ADMINTOOLS
A directory where administrative tools are kept. The context of this constant (All Users or Current user) depends on the SetShellVarContext setting. The default is the current user.
This constant is available on Windows 2000, ME and above.
$RESOURCES
The resources directory that stores themes and other Windows resources (usually C:\Windows\Resources but detected at runtime).
This constant is available on Windows XP and above.
$RESOURCES_LOCALIZED
The localized resources directory that stores themes and other Windows resources (usually C:\Windows\Resources\1033 but detected at runtime).
This constant is available on Windows XP and above.
$CDBURN_AREA
A directory where files awaiting to be burned to CD are stored.
This constant is available on Windows XP and above.
$HWNDPARENT
The decimal HWND of the parent window.
HKCR = HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
HKLM = HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
HKCU = HKEY_CURRENT_USER
HKU = HKEY_USERS
HKCC = HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG
HKDD = HKEY_DYN_DATA
HKPD = HKEY_PERF=MANCE_DATA
SHCTX = SHELL_CONTEXT
SetShellVarContext (current|all)
Sets the context of $SMPROGRAMS and other shell folders. If set to 'current' (the default), the current user's shell folders are used. If set to 'all', the 'all users' shell folder is used. The all users folder may not be supported on all OSes. If the all users folder is not found, the current user folder will be used.
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