Re: Getting the path of a file

[cld@xxxxxxxx (Carl Distefano)]

Reply to note from "Martin J. Osborne" 
Mon, 20 Jan 2003 13:11:40 -0500

> Suppose I have the file \xxx\yyy\zzz\file.ext open and my
> default directory is something other than \xxx\yyy\zzz. I'd
> like to put the path to the file, namely \xxx\yyy\zzz in a
> variable. Is there an easy way to get that path?

Yes, Martin, there is. Put the fully-qualified filename into
Save/Get 50, then execute U2 frame GETPATH. The path portion of the
filename is output to Save/Get 50. For example, suppose the
filename is G:\DATA\2002\FAX\HERR.F8. You'd code as follows:

JM 2.GetPathQ2 ;*;

where "<" and ">" are real guillemets and "JM " and "Q2 " are 3-byte
functions.

After executing the above code, S/G 50 contains the string
"G:\DATA\2002\FAX" (note that the final backslash is omitted).

The real power of GetPath becomes evident when the input is a
variable, for example, , the path and filename of the
currently-displayed file. To put that path string into S/G 50:

>JM 2.GetPathQ2 ;*; S/G 50 now has the path

Command HELP GETPATH for further information.

Needless to say, after executing GetPath, Save/Get 50 can be further
manipulated. For example, to open a new file, named NEWFILE, in the
S/G 50 directory:

BX ne \newfileQ2 ;*; Note the backslash before the filename

Two other frames should be mentioned here. GFD sets the
path to the d:\path of the currently-displayed file. GXD
sets the path to the d:\path of EDITOR.EXE (or its equivalent in
XyWin and NBWin). I use these two frames so often, I've assigned
them to keys:

nn=NOXHJM(,2,.,g,f,d,)
nn=NOXHJM(,2,.,g,x,d,)

--
Carl Distefano
cld@xxxxxxxx
http://users.datarealm.com/xywwweb/