There are several ways to create a recent file list. I did not found an official way, so i made my own:
1) I will save recent files in a separate file RecentFiles_Filename inside user app data. During software i will use the files inside a string array named as RecentFiles_List. I will work with 5 recent files.
Public Const RecentFiles_MaxConst = 5
Private RecentFiles_List(RecentFiles_MaxConst) As String
Private RecentFiles_Filename As String = Application.UserAppDataPath & "\Recent_Files_List.txt"
2) During startup inside Private Sub Form_Open_Shown
'Read recent files from file. save it to array
Try
Me.RecentFiles_List = IO.File.ReadAllLines(Me.RecentFiles_Filename)
Catch ex As Exception
If Form1.DebugMode Then
MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, "Read Recent File List:", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Asterisk)
End If
End Try
'It does not matter how much inside file, we cut the list at 5 entrys!
If Me.RecentFiles_List.Length > Form_Open.RecentFiles_MaxConst Then
Array.Resize(Me.RecentFiles_List, Form_Open.RecentFiles_MaxConst)
End If
'Recent Files. Show Array
Me.Show_RecentFiles()
3) During closing Form_Open_FormClosing
'Close: Save Recent File Array to list
Try
IO.File.WriteAllLines(Me.RecentFiles_Filename, Me.RecentFiles_List)
Catch ex As Exception
MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, "Write Recent File List:", MessageBoxButtons.OK)
End Try
4) During opening a file i need this:
Me.Update_RecentFiles(myFile)
5) And this are the main subs:
Private Sub Show_RecentFiles()
'....................................................
'Show Recent Files. from array into listbox
'....................................................
Me.ListBox1.Items.Clear()
For i As Integer = 0 To RecentFiles_MaxConst - 1
If String.IsNullOrEmpty(Me.RecentFiles_List(i)) = False Then
Me.ListBox1.Items.Add(Me.RecentFiles_List(i))
End If
Next
End Sub
Private Sub Update_RecentFiles(ByVal myFile As String)
'....................................................
'Update Recent File List. Parameter1: Dateiname akt Datei
'....................................................
'Check ob File bereits in Recent List. Falls JA: Exit!
For i As Integer = 0 To RecentFiles_MaxConst - 1
If myFile = RecentFiles_List(i) Then
Exit Sub
End If
Next
'Recent List um 1 verschieben. Neue Datei einfügen
RecentFiles_List(4) = RecentFiles_List(3)
RecentFiles_List(3) = RecentFiles_List(2)
RecentFiles_List(2) = RecentFiles_List(1)
RecentFiles_List(1) = RecentFiles_List(0)
RecentFiles_List(0) = myFile
End Sub
We use this inside our stock and management software:
http://www.terminal-systems.de/wws-lite-win.htm
