Question

I am trying to create an open dialog (in Windows 7) where the user is confined to the initial directory. On the open dialog I have set the optionsEX to [ofExNoPlacesBar] and that removes the bar that would let them select folders and directories to go to quickly but the user can use the bread crumb address tool to go up a level and type a different directory into the filename text box to change directories.

Thank you

Answer 1

If you are using Delphi 2009+, there is a TFileOpenDialog. Use this, and set

procedure TForm3.FileOpenDialog1FolderChange(Sender: TObject);
begin
  FInitiated := true;
end;

procedure TForm3.FileOpenDialog1FolderChanging(Sender: TObject;
  var CanChange: Boolean);
begin
  CanChange := not FInitiated;
end;

procedure TForm3.btnOpenClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
  FInitiated := false;
  FileOpenDialog1.DefaultFolder := 'C:\MyFolder\';
  FileOpenDialog1.Execute;
end;

where

var
  FInitiated: boolean;

(Notice that there should be exactly one FInitiated per TFileOpenDialog. So, if FileOpenDialog is a private member of TForm3, let FInitiated be a private member of TForm3 as well.)

To improve the user experience, you will probably use

procedure TForm3.FileOpenDialog1FolderChanging(Sender: TObject;
  var CanChange: Boolean);
begin
  CanChange := not FInitiated;
  if not CanChange then beep;
end;

or

procedure TForm3.FileOpenDialog1FolderChanging(Sender: TObject;
  var CanChange: Boolean);
begin
  CanChange := not FInitiated;
  if not CanChange then
    MessageBox(Handle, PChar('Directory selection is not allowed.'), PChar(Caption), MB_ICONINFORMATION);
end;