text1|value1|text2|value2...

The text parts are displayed to the user. The values are used as the file filters. Consider this example (all one line):

Text Files (*.txt)|*.txt|Graphic Files (*.bmp;*.gif;*.jpg)|*.bmp;*.gif;*.jpg|All Files (*.*)|*.*

This makes the control use these values:

This is a bit confusing.

This example uses the AddFilter routine to make adding new filters to the property easy.

' Add a filter to the dialog in an easy way.
Private Sub AddFilter(ByVal dlg As CommonDialog, ByVal _
    filter_title As String, ByVal filter_value As String)
Dim txt As String

    txt = dlg.Filter
    If Len(txt) > 0 Then txt = txt & "|"
    txt = txt & filter_title & " (" & filter_value & ")|" & _
        filter_value
    dlg.Filter = txt
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Load()
    ' Load filters.
    CommonDialog1.Filter = ""
    AddFilter CommonDialog1, "Text Files", "*.txt"
    AddFilter CommonDialog1, "Graphic Files", _
        "*.bmp;*.gif;*.jpg"
    AddFilter CommonDialog1, "All Files", "*.*"
End Sub