Thread: best way to get filename

Here's my question. Not really a problem, because I know an alternative, but I don't really like it. This program is going to need to get a filename (directory also for fopen) from the user. The thing is, the program (obviously) has to be run from it's directory, do how would I get the filename from the user without making them type:

C:\dir1\dir2\dir3\file.txt

That is too sloppy. Is there a way I can run the program while in the chosen directory without being in the directory of the executable file? Thanks.

--Garfield

Try the system command if you are using MSVC++

system("cd c:\path\name");

The system command allows you to use the command shell within your program.

I don't understand, Troll_King. Where would I put this code, and what would it do? Would it allow me to run the program anywhere, not just the program's directory? Thanks.

--Garfield

Not sure what the question meant, but anyway if you go to the command prompt and type the word: path

It will show you the execuable path. Someone asked this yesterday. I think the command to reset the path is something like: path=$path:c:\path\to\add\you\decide

This gets reset every time your comp is turned off unless you change this in the appropriate batch file.

> A better way is to put \foo\bar in your environment variable

How would you do that? And wouldn't that restrict the user to just use that directory to retreive the files? What would the code be for this? Thanks.

--Garfield

What damn OS are you using? This is system dependant. Okay I looked it up for MS OS's.

say this is the path that you want to add to the executable path:
C:\dir1\dir2\dir3\file.txt

Go to the command prompt. Type 'path' to see the current path. Than type:
path C:\DIR1\DIR2\DIR3\;%PATH%

Than hit enter. Than type path again and see the change. Than type:
file.txt

It will execute.

Okay, if I go to path and set the path of the exe file (prog.exe) and then I don't have to be in the folder of the exe to run it. Well, that's good and all...but for just me. What if I don't want to run this just on my computer? Thanks.

--Garfield

I'm using Windows.

Not sure what you mean again. You want the path added to any computer that runs your program so that any computer can execute the program without having to be in the directory? If this is the case than you will likely have to write an insallation module.

> If this is the case than you will likely have to write an insallation module.

Yeh, you answered my question. Thanks.

--Garfield

> or you could add system("pathjunkhere"); to your program.

What??? How would this work? What does this system function do? And, I want to run the program outside of its directory. Thanks.

Stoned_Coder, I'm not sure if I understand what you suggest. What do you mean by
>you can get the filename input

I'm not sure if you guys are understanding my question. This is what I want to do:

path for txt file:
C:\This\Is\The\Path\For\letter.txt

path for prog.exe file:
C:\This\Is\The\prog.exe

I want the user to be able to do this:

C:\This\Is\The\Path\For > prog letter.txt

So, I want to run the exe outside of its own dir. Thanks.

--Garfield

Any suggestions fellas'? Thanks.

--Garfield