Is it possible to set/edit a file extended properties with Windows API Code Pack?

Question

I'd like to know if it's possible to set/edit a file extended properties (Explorer: Right-click > Properties > Details) using the Windows API Code Pack.

var shellFile = Microsoft.WindowsAPICodePack.Shell.ShellObject.FromParsingName(filePath);
var artistName = shellFile.Properties.GetProperty(SystemProperties.System.Music.DisplayArtist).ValueAsObject.ToString();
var duration = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(Convert.ToDouble(shellFile.Properties.GetProperty(SystemProperties.System.Media.Duration).ValueAsObject) * 0.0001);

I use these few lines to get the properties I want, but I don't know how to edit one of them (the artist name for example). I know I can use taglib-sharp, but I'll use it only if there is no solution without external code.

Thanks you all for taking the time to help me.

Hagi

Writing file metadata is ridiculously painful, you have to support all the bugs in every program that reads it back again. There are a lot of those bugs, standardization is poor or grossly outdated. Windows doesn't attempt the feat, you have to use a library. – Mingo

I understand what you mean, but editing an existing property should be easy. I think I finally found a way using the WinAPI. I'll post an answer later if it's conclusive. – Hagi

Windows Property System}(https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ff728898(v=vs.85).aspx) is the top level of a series of articles in Windows Dev Center. The article [Property System Overview describes the Windows Property system. It looks like it is not well supported in Windows XP however has been improved beginning with Windows Vista. It appears to use a COM interface. Probably easier to do in Managed code than using COM directly. – Gorham

Answer 1

I found a way to edit some properties with ShellPropertyWriter but some properties are read-only.

var shellFile = ShellFile.FromParsingName(filePath);
ShellPropertyWriter w = shellFile.Properties.GetPropertyWriter();
try
{
    w.WriteProperty(SystemProperties.System.Author, new string[] { "MyTest", "Test" });
    w.WriteProperty(SystemProperties.System.Music.Artist, new string[] { "MyTest", "Test" });
    w.WriteProperty(SystemProperties.System.Music.DisplayArtist, "Test");
}
catch (Exception ex)
{

}
w.Close();

In this sample, the 2 first occurences of ShellPropertyWriter.WriteProperty() will do exactly the same, edit the "Contributing artists" field of the file (Explorer: Right-click > Properties > Details). The third call will throw an "Access denied" exception. Some are editable, others are not. Just need to try.

Hagi

Would you happen to know if you can add tags like this? – Epigraphic

Answer 2

You can write to the ShellFile directly by setting the value of the properties without ShellPropertyWriter:

var shellFile = ShellFile.FromFilePath(filePath);

shellFile.Properties.System.Author.Value = new string[] { "MyTest", "Test" };
shellFile.Properties.System.Music.Artist.Value = new string[] { "MyTest", "Test" };
shellFile.Properties.System.Music.DisplayArtist.Value = "Test";

Just be aware, that to be able to edit codec-specific fields of a file, it's necessary to have the codec installed on the computer.

Kesler