Search code examples
c#dombrowsermshtml

c# webbrowser control displaying "special folder" contents : why are Document and DocumentDom always null?

In a C# WinForms, .NET Framework 3.5, project with a WebBrower control on the form :

... with a project reference set to MSHTMLdll and the WinForm code : "using mshtml;" ...

  1. you can load a "special folder," like the Favorites folder, into the browser easily.

  2. after you've loaded a "special folder" : what appears in the WebBrowser is essentially a kind of "explorer" view : you have the choice of typical "explorer" view-styles of 'Details, etc. in Details view you have a row-column matrix, with typical "Explorer" style column heads, etc.

Normally I would "get at" the DOM of the WebBrowser via casting the Document, or the DomDocument of the Document, to the IHTMLDocument2 interface exposed by mshtml.dll :

IHTMLDocument2 HTMLDocument = (IHTMLDocument2)webBrowser1.Document;

// also tried this

// IHTMLDocument2 HTMLDocument = (IHTMLDocument2)webBrowser1.Document.DomDocument;

// also tried this

// HTMLDocumentClass HTMLDocument = webBrowser1.Document.DomDocument as HTMLDocumentClass;

But in this case, viewing a "special folder" contents, I'm always getting the Document as null.

It is interesting that you can while viewing a special folder, like the Favorites, create a new folder and do other "file ops" : I wonder if I am "getting away with this" because I have protected mode turned off on IE8 ?

Appreciate any ideas about how to access the DOM while viewing special folder in the WebBrowser controls.

thanks ! Bill

Solution

  • The folder view isn't HTML document, so you can not use HTML interface to access the content. Use shell interfaces like IShellBrowser, IShellView and IFolderView if you are really interested in what's displayed in the window.