C# How do I use Directory.GetFiles() to get files that have the same order as in Windows explorer?

Question

Is is possible to get files that is ordered same as in Windows Explorer

I know "natural sort", but it's not what I need, I need to get the file list ordered by the same attribute in Windows Explorer, for example:

If I ordered a directory by the attribute "create date", then I will get a file list as below:

name                    create date    file size
1.txt                   2012/1/1        125Kb
2.tab                   2012/3/2        15Kb
3.bmp                   2013/5/5        26Kb

If my windows explorer order file list with the attribute "file size", the the file list would be:

name                     create date    file size
2.tab                    2012/3/2        15Kb
3.bmp                    2013/5/5        26Kb
1.txt                    2012/1/1        125Kb

Could anyone help?

Answer 1

I think this is going to be a lot more complex than you expect. Folder settings are stored in the registry in two places:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags

The first path contains a structure which reflects the structure of the file system, and the second path contains details about those items, including a REG_BINARY value called "Sort" which records the sort order used for that folder.

See Willi Balenthin's website for details on the structure, including sample code (in Python)