Thread: Drag n' Drop 'any file'

.... and have the prog. open it. My question is, is there method of doing that and if so,
using what library?

I don't want any user input for this particular utility, just drag n' drop any file onto the console window.

http://www.codeproject.com/shell/explorerdragdrop.asp
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/aa969382.aspx
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms631148.aspx

Thanks, though I was referring to something much simpler; a console program. ie:

Code:

ifstream fin(getFile, ios::in | ios::beg );

// whereas 'getFile' is a wildcard; any file dropped onto window

I know that it can be done (but I don't know how) and I hope that it doesn't turn out to be some convoluted mess of code.

Well, just dragging shell objects onto the console window effectively pastes their filename, which can be read by standard means. And then you can just use the ifstream on what you have read. Very simple really.

Originally Posted by Tonto

Well, just dragging shell objects onto the console window effectively pastes their filename, which can be read by standard means. And then you can just use the ifstream on what you have read. Very simple really.

I'm must be dumber than I thought since either I'm failing to get my point across or I'm misunderstanding the answers to my question.

if;

Code:

char FileName[256];

ifstream fin(FileName, ios::in | ios::beg );
   std::cout << FileName;

... simply dropping any file onto the console window would effectively paste the fileName, then wouldn't the cout << FileName; spit out that file's name...?

Code:

char FileName[256];

// Now drop fiole onto window, opeartor >> will pick it up
std::cin >> FileName;

ifstream fin(FileName, ios::in | ios::beg );
   std::cout << FileName;

Thanks, but it doesn't seem to work.

Code:

int main ()
{
char FileName[256];

// Now drop file onto window, operator >> will pick it up
std::cin >> FileName;

ifstream fin(FileName, ios::in | ios::beg );
   std::cout << FileName;  // does not print filename
// safe to assume file isn't being id'd.
   cin.get();
   fin.close();

     return 0;
  }

Originally Posted by ChaosEngine

try it like this

Code:

#include <iostream>
#include <string>

int main ()
{
	std::string FileName;

	std::getline(std::cin, FileName);
	// NOW drop the file into the console window

	std::cout << FileName; // prints filename


	std::cin.get();
	std::cin.ignore();

	return 0;
}

Thanks, Chaos. That somewhat works, still have to actually open console window and then drop the file. I'll go with that until I can discover just how to drop file onto the exe. window and have the file registered. Meanwhile, I'll continue on with the code that I do know how to write.

Originally Posted by Salem

What are you trying to do - drop the files onto an executable in explorer, then explorer launches that program with the files as parameters?

If so, look at argc and argv in main()

I've looked at argc/argv main, but can't really figure out how that can be used to automatically pick up and open any file simply by the drop on an unopened exe. window. My last computer was a tandy1000 and coding back then was mostly limited to Dos so bear with me if I seem a little behind the times. I'm mostly doing this (coding stuff) to keep the old grey matter; use it or lose it as they say (whoever the hell they are). Anyways, if you have an example, that'd be appreciated since what I've read thru on the net doesn't seem to supply the answer. Thanks for the input.

automatically pick up and open any file

By this do you mean automatically pickup any type of file such as a bitmap, text, MS Doc file etc. AND open it? In other words, have the console executable properly open the file regardless of the file type that is dropped on it?

Originally Posted by BobS0327

By this do you mean automatically pickup any type of file such as a bitmap, text, MS Doc file etc. AND open it? In other words, have the console executable properly open the file regardless of the file type that is dropped on it?

Yes, exactly. Regardless of name or type, have that file opened on drop and allow following code to run (no user input at all).

so, instead of f.open ("thisfile.txt", ios::in) needing to be written out as code, a wildcard entry such as (anyfile, ios::in).

Thank you, gentlemen (for your patience, in particular). With your help, I think I've got it all straight in my head now. For a change, the remainder of my code seems to be going rather smoothly.