Reading File Tags in VB.Net

Hi All,

There are times when we add the tags to our files. We can use the Shell32 folder to read the tags. I found a little problematic for the first timer, so adding the code to read the tags here :

Sub TestTags()
Dim fInfo As New FileInfo("Path of your File goes here")
Dim tags As String = ReadFileAttributes(fInfo)
End Sub

Public Function ReadFileAttributes(fInfo As FileInfo) As String

Dim shell As New Shell32.Shell
Dim objFolder As Shell32.Folder
Dim items As Shell32.FolderItems
Try
objFolder = shell.NameSpace(fInfo.Directory.FullName)
items = objFolder.Items
Return objFolder.GetDetailsOf(items.Item(fInfo.Name), 18)
Catch ex As Exception
Return "Caught Exception in Tags" 'exception..cannot find the tags
End Try

End Function

.

You have to add a reference to Microsoft Shell Controls and Automation from the COM tab of the Refences dialog.

HTH,
Vikas