I tried to compile some code with #include <shellapi.h> . I am
linking shell32.lib. I am not trying to use ShellExecute() but right
now just getting the code to compile with the header file an issue. I
am using Visual Basic 2005 (express). I got shellapi.h from the
platform sdk.
Thanks for any .

here is my error log
1>------ Build started: Project: openFile, Configuration: Debug Win32
------
1>Compiling...
1>openFile.c
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(57) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'DECLSPEC_IMPORT'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(57) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(57) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'STDAPICALLTYPE'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(57) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(58) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'DECLSPEC_IMPORT'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(58) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(58) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'STDAPICALLTYPE'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(58) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(64) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'DECLSPEC_IMPORT'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(64) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(64) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'STDAPICALLTYPE'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(64) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(65) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'DECLSPEC_IMPORT'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(65) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(65) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier 'DragFinish'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(65) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(65) : error C2182: 'HDROP' : illegal use of type 'void'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(66) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'DECLSPEC_IMPORT'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(66) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(66) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'DragAcceptFiles'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(66) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(66) : error C2143: syntax error : missing ')' before ','
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(66) : error C2182: 'HWND' : illegal use of type 'void'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(66) : error C2059: syntax error : ')'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(66) : error C2182: 'BOOL' : illegal use of type 'void'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(68) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'DECLSPEC_IMPORT'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(68) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(68) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'STDAPICALLTYPE'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(68) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(68) : error C2146: syntax error : missing ')' before
identifier 'hwnd'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(68) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier 'hwnd'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(68) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(68) : error C2059: syntax error : ','
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(68) : error C2059: syntax error : ')'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(69) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'DECLSPEC_IMPORT'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(69) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(69) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'STDAPICALLTYPE'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(69) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(69) : error C2146: syntax error : missing ')' before
identifier 'hwnd'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(69) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier 'hwnd'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(69) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(69) : error C2059: syntax error : ','
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(69) : error C2059: syntax error : ')'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(75) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'DECLSPEC_IMPORT'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(75) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(75) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'STDAPICALLTYPE'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(75) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(75) : error C2146: syntax error : missing ')' before
identifier 'lpFile'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(75) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier 'lpFile'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(75) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(75) : error C2059: syntax error : ','
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(75) : error C2059: syntax error : ')'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(76) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'DECLSPEC_IMPORT'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(76) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(76) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'STDAPICALLTYPE'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(76) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(76) : error C2146: syntax error : missing ')' before
identifier 'lpFile'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(76) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier 'lpFile'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(76) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(76) : error C2059: syntax error : ','
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(76) : error C2059: syntax error : ')'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(82) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'DECLSPEC_IMPORT'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(82) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(82) : error C2143: syntax error : missing '{' before '*'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(82) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'CommandLineToArgvW'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(82) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(82) : error C2146: syntax error : missing ')' before
identifier 'lpCmdLine'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(82) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier 'lpCmdLine'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(82) : error C2059: syntax error : ','
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(82) : error C2059: syntax error : ')'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(84) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'DECLSPEC_IMPORT'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(84) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(84) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'STDAPICALLTYPE'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(84) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(84) : error C2146: syntax error : missing ')' before
identifier 'hWnd'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(84) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier 'hWnd'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(84) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(84) : error C2059: syntax error : ','
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(84) : error C2059: syntax error : ')'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(85) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'DECLSPEC_IMPORT'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(85) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(85) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'STDAPICALLTYPE'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(85) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(85) : error C2146: syntax error : missing ')' before
identifier 'hWnd'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(85) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier 'hWnd'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(85) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(85) : error C2059: syntax error : ','
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(85) : error C2059: syntax error : ')'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(91) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'DECLSPEC_IMPORT'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(91) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(91) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'STDAPICALLTYPE'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(91) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(91) : error C2146: syntax error : missing ')' before
identifier 'hInst'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(91) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier 'hInst'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(91) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(91) : error C2059: syntax error : ','
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(91) : error C2059: syntax error : ')'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(92) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'DECLSPEC_IMPORT'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(92) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(92) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
'STDAPICALLTYPE'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(92) : error C2059: syntax error : ';'
1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
\shellapi.h(92) : fatal error C1003: error count exceeds 100; stopping
compilation
1>Build log was saved at "file://c:\Visual Studio 2005\Projects
\openFile\Debug\BuildLog.htm"
1>openFile - 102 error(s), 0 warning(s)
========== Build: 0 succeeded, 1 failed, 0 up-to-date, 0 skipped
==========

jon2211 wrote:
>
> I tried to compile some code with #include <shellapi.h> . I am
[...]
> 1>Compiling...
> 1>openFile.c
> 1>C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\include
> \shellapi.h(57) : error C2061: syntax error : identifier
> 'DECLSPEC_IMPORT'
[... snip lots of similar errors ...]

You'll need to ask in a group that knows about Windows-specific
things like this. However, my guess would be that you need to
include another Windows-specific header prior to <shellapi.h>.
Check your documentation, and if you can't figure out which one(s)
you need, ask in one of the Windows-specific newsgroups. (Perhaps
somewhere in the comp.os.ms-windows.* tree?)

--
+-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+
| Kenneth J. Brody | www.hvcomputer.com | #include |
| kenbrody/at\spamcop.net | www.fptech.com | <std_disclaimer.h> |
+-------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------+
Don't e-mail me at: <mailto:ThisIsASpamTrap@gmail.com>

Thanks!!!

I had the windows.h header file listed after shellapi.h. Put it
before and compilation worked perfectly.