Version 2.6 Approx 2.4 MB First Published 2 July 2017 Last Updated 16 May 2024
NEW VERSION with additional features
A forum thread from 2017 Windows 10 Retrieving Extended File Properties raised issues about using the GetDetailsOf method to retrieve extended file properties.
GetDetailsOf is a member of the VBA library: Microsoft Shell Controls and Automation based on Shell32.dll.
All files include several extended properties which can be retrieved as needed using this method.
For example:
• Date created / date modified / date last accessed
• File size / file type / author / location
Certain types of file will also contain additional extended properties including:
• Height / width / horizontal resolution / vertical resolution / bit size (image files)
• Contributing artist / album / year / genre / tile / track # / length / bit rate (audio files)
There are currently over 320 extended file properties, though no files will ever contain all of those.
I decided to investigate this method further and created an Access app which provides an easy way of obtaining and storing all the extended properties for:
• an individual file
• all files of a specified type in a selected folder
• all files in a selected folder and (optionally) its subfolders
The Access app includes the VBA reference library: Microsoft Shell Controls and Automation
NOTE:
The app also includes an example of a dynamic crosstab query where the column headers are automatically updated to match the underlying data
Example Screenshots
List of Extended File Properties (320 in total)
Main Form with Progress Bar and Estimated Time Remaining
Analyzing all Files in a Folder and its subfolders
All PDF files in folder
Extended Properties for a file
Extended Properties by File Type (Dynamic crosstab report)
Saved list for a group of files
Extended properties for a group of files
Download
The zip file contains the following items:
a) the example database ExtendedFileProperties_v2.6.accdb
b) a PDF Help file with full details and screenshots
c) several text files with examples of the extended properties obtained for different types of file
Click to download:
Extended File Properties v2.6
Approx 1.2 MB (zipped)
Version History
v2.0 18/03/2019 Initial release
v2.1 19/10/2019 Bug fixes mainly related to handling apostrophes
v2.2 02/09/2021 Updated to handle over 320 extended file properties
v2.5 15/05/2024 Added properties of all files in a folder and its subfolders; estimated time remaining & delete saved lists
v2.6 16/05/2024 Minor code update to simplify selecting a folder
Further Info / Videos
1. Crystal Long (Access MVP) and I ran a joint session for the US Pacific Access User Group on 2 Sept 2021 comparing these two different methods of
obtaining extended file properties.
The video is available on the Access User Groups YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/fwQnhKWo1Ks or you can click below:
2. I also have a separate video on this topic which is available on my Isladogs YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/7jK_qRXetNs or you can click below:
3. I will be giving an updated presentation on this topic to the online Access Europe User Group on 5 June 2024.
For further details, see Access Europe - June 2024
The session will be recorded and the YouTube video will be posted here later that month.
4. Wayne Phillips from
EverythingAccess.com uses a different approach to obtain extended file properties.
Wayne's utility can be found at:
Accessing detailed file info provided by the operating system
Feedback
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Colin Riddington Mendip Data Systems Last Updated 16 May 2024
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