CODEWITHSUNDEEP
windowsformspowershell
Kam0106
Kam0106

Reputation: 137

powershell windows form browes dialogue

Im trying to create a windows form that has a button when clicked will display a folder/file browes window, then the user selects the file/folder and clicks OK and i can then use the selected path as a string for another script.

the problem is that when i run it through PowerGUI (powershell scripting app) it works fine, but when i run through windows powershell it hangs when loading the browse dialog, anyone seen this before or see what ive done wrong or got an alternative, any help would be appreciated.

cls
$button = $browse = $form = 0
[void][reflection.assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("System.Windows.Forms")
$browse = new-object system.windows.Forms.FolderBrowserDialog
$browse.RootFolder = [System.Environment+SpecialFolder]'MyComputer'
$browse.ShowNewFolderButton = $false
$browse.selectedPath = "C:\"
$browse.Description = "Choose a directory"

$button1 = New-Object system.Windows.Forms.Button
$button1.Text = "Choose Directory"
$button1.Add_Click({$browse.ShowDialog()})
$button1.left = 20
$button1.top = 20

$form = New-Object system.windows.forms.Form
$form.controls.add($button1)
$form.ShowDialog()
$form.Dispose()

$browse.SelectedPath

Upvotes: 2

Views: 15951

Answers (4)

jowst
jowst

Reputation: 11

If you make the following changes to the function provided by Frode. F, the dialog will always come to the top.

$topform = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.Form
$topform.Topmost = $true
$topform.MinimizeBox = $true

$loop = $true
while($loop)
{
    if ($browse.ShowDialog($topform) -eq "OK")

Upvotes: 1

deadlydog
deadlydog

Reputation: 24384

I was having a similar problem when running my script through PowerShellPlus (anther powershell editor). Luckily I found this post that shows how to prompt for a folder without using the FolderBrowserDialog. Here's the code that I'm using in a set of powershell functions I've written for prompting the user for many different kinds of input via a GUI.

# Show an Open Folder Dialog and return the directory selected by the user.
function Read-FolderBrowserDialog([string]$Message, [string]$InitialDirectory)
{
    $app = New-Object -ComObject Shell.Application
    $folder = $app.BrowseForFolder(0, $Message, 0, $InitialDirectory)
    if ($folder) { return $folder.Self.Path } else { return '' }
}

Upvotes: 2

SpellingD
SpellingD

Reputation: 2621

I think you're experiencing the issue I've faced, which is addressed in this question

The answer suggests setting .ShowHelp to $true, like this:

$openFileDialog = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.openFileDialog
$openFileDialog.ShowHelp = $true
$openFileDialog.ShowDialog() | Out-Null

Upvotes: 0

Frode F.
Frode F.

Reputation: 54871

Your code works when I try it. However I have noticed that sometimes(especially the 2nd time in a session) I use a browsewindow, it is hidden behind the PowerShell console and it seems like it's stuck. So can you try moving your powershell console to the side when it "hangs"?

Also, as a suggestion: if you're only using the form to select a folder location, I would skip it. You won't recieve the browser value until you close the form anyways, so try something like this instead:

function Get-BrowseLocation
{
    [Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("System.Windows.Forms") | Out-Null
    [System.Windows.Forms.Application]::EnableVisualStyles()
    $browse = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.FolderBrowserDialog
    $browse.RootFolder = [System.Environment+SpecialFolder]'MyComputer'
    $browse.ShowNewFolderButton = $false
    $browse.Description = "Choose a directory"

    $loop = $true
    while($loop)
    {
        if ($browse.ShowDialog() -eq "OK")
        {
            $loop = $false
        } else
        {
            $res = [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox]::Show("You clicked Cancel. Try again or exit script?", "Choose a directory", [System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxButtons]::RetryCancel)
            if($res -eq "Cancel")
            {
                #End script
                return
            }
        }
    }
    $browse.SelectedPath
    $browse.Dispose()
}

PS > Get-BrowseLocation
D:\

Upvotes: 1

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