Simple program for testing known folder paths on windows, e.g. for storing savegames.

pathtest.c

// This is a small program to print a number of known paths in Windows.
// Savegame files should be in FOLDERID_SavedGames!
// SHGetKnownFolderPath should probably be used only for compatibility.
//
// Compile with `cl pathtest.c`
//
// Day created: 02.08.2023
// Version: Windows 10 pro 22H2
//
// Output on my machine:
//
// SHGetFolderPathW:        CSIDL_APPDATA:   C:\Users\jakub\AppData\Roaming
// SHGetKnownFolderPath:   RoamingAppData:   C:\Users\jakub\AppData\Roaming
// SHGetKnownFolderPath:     LocalAppData:   C:\Users\jakub\AppData\Local
// SHGetKnownFolderPath:  LocalAppDataLow:   C:\Users\jakub\AppData\LocalLow
// SHGetKnownFolderPath:       SavedGames:   C:\Users\jakub\Saved Games


#include <stdio.h>
#include <Shlobj_core.h>
#include <Windows.h>

#pragma comment(lib, "shell32.lib")

void known_folder_path(const char* name, KNOWNFOLDERID folderid) {
    printf("SHGetKnownFolderPath: %16s:   ", name);

    PWSTR path;
    HRESULT result = SHGetKnownFolderPath(&folderid, KF_FLAG_CREATE, NULL, &path);
    if(result == S_OK) {
        wprintf(path);
    } else {
        printf("ERROR");
    }
    printf("\n");
}

int main() {
    printf("\nPATHTEST\n\n");

    // SHGetFolderPathW is the method SDL uses.
    // CSIDL_APPDATA should be equal to FOLDERID_RoamingAppData
    printf("SHGetFolderPathW:        CSIDL_APPDATA:   ");
    WCHAR path[MAX_PATH];
    HRESULT result = SHGetFolderPathW(NULL, CSIDL_APPDATA | CSIDL_FLAG_CREATE, NULL, 0, path);
    if(result == S_OK) {
        wprintf(path);
    } else {
        printf("ERROR");
    }
    printf("\n");

    // SHGetKnownFolderPath is supported since Vista

    known_folder_path("RoamingAppData", FOLDERID_RoamingAppData);
    known_folder_path("LocalAppData", FOLDERID_LocalAppData);
    known_folder_path("LocalAppDataLow", FOLDERID_LocalAppDataLow);
    known_folder_path("SavedGames", FOLDERID_SavedGames);

    return 0;
}