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We recommend that you use the OpenFileDialog and SaveFileDialog components to provide access to the file system; however, if you find it necessary to create your own file dialog boxes, Visual Basic 2008 provides DirListBox, DriveListBox, and FileListBox controls as part of the Microsoft Visual Basic Compatibility Runtime library.

Adding Controls to Your Project

To add a reference to the Compatibility library

On the Project menu, choose Add Reference.

In the Add Reference dialog box, click the .NET tab. Under the Component Name list, choose Microsoft.VisualBasic.Compatibility, and then click OK.

A reference will be added to your project.

To add the controls to the Toolbox

On the View menu, choose Toolbox.

Expand the All Windows Forms section. Right-click its title bar and then click Choose Items.

In the Choose Toolbox Items dialog box, check the DirListBox, DriveListBox, and FileListBox components, and then click OK.

The controls will be added to the Toolbox; they can be used like any other Windows Forms control.