Making a Relative File Path Issue

Question

So I'm creating a program that will save a text file to the desktop. In Visual Basic the code would be like this for the file path:

"C:\Users\" + Environment.UserName() + "\Desktop\" + TextBox1.Text + ".txt"

 

However, I need to convert this to Visual C++ coding.

WHat I have so far is:

"C:\\Users\\" /* I need a function to find the users' name here */ "\\Desktop\\" /*Not sure how to put textbox string into file path*/ ".txt"

 

I'm new to Visual C++.

 

Answer 1

It depends on whether you are using Win32 API programming, or MFC, or .NET/WinForms. 

Answer 2

On 7/27/2011 12:12 PM, Intense Tactics wrote:

So I'm creating a program that will save a text file to the desktop. In Visual Basic the code would be like this for the file path:
"C:\Users\" + Environment.UserName() + "\Desktop\" + TextBox1.Text + ".txt"

Don't do it this way. The exact path differs with the operating system version and language. Use SHGetSpecialFolderPath:

TCHAR path[MAX_PATH];
SHGetSpecialFolderPath(NULL, path, CSIDL_DESKTOPDIRECTORY, FALSE);
PathAppend(path, _T("filename.txt"));

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Igor Tandetnik

Answer 3

FYI, it is a very bad thing to try to build the user profile's path yourself like that.  For example, I have several folders redirected, including my desktop, and that means my desktop is actually in a shared folder in my home server.  Your logic will completely fail in my PC and other PC's with similar setups.  Instead ask the Operating System for special folders ALWAYS.  Never try to guess it yourself.

Use SHGetKnownFolderPath() with the FOLDERID_Desktop folder ID to determine the user's desktop path.  See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762188(VS.85).aspx.

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MCP

Answer 4

On 7/27/2011 12:12 PM, Intense Tactics wrote:

So I'm creating a program that will save a text file to the desktop. In Visual Basic the code would be like this for the file path:
"C:\Users\" + Environment.UserName() + "\Desktop\" + TextBox1.Text + ".txt"

Don't do it this way. The exact path differs with the operating system version and language. Use SHGetSpecialFolderPath:

TCHAR path[MAX_PATH];
SHGetSpecialFolderPath(NULL, path, CSIDL_DESKTOPDIRECTORY, FALSE);
PathAppend(path, _T("filename.txt"));

---

Igor Tandetnik

I'm using a StreamWriter, and when I tried this I got over 15 errors...

I'm using a windows application if that helps any? With a Form1.cpp... Sorry I'm not sure if that's what you mean

 

Answer 5

FYI, the functions SHGetFolderPath() and SHGetSpecialFolderPath() (which is a subset of the former), seem to be deprecated because now Microsoft likes the use of folder ID's better than CSIDL's.  As of Windows Vista, SHGetFolderPath(), which superseded SHGetSpecialFolderPath() since Windows 2000, is now a wrapper caller for SHGetKnownFolderPath().

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MCP

Answer 6

On 7/27/2011 12:29 PM, Intense Tactics wrote:

I'm using a windows application if that helps any? With a Form1.cpp... Sorry I'm not sure if that's what you mean

You seem to be using C++/CLI. In this case, you are probably looking for Environment::GetFolderPath

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.environment.getfolderpath.aspx

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Igor Tandetnik

Answer 7

On 7/27/2011 12:29 PM, Intense Tactics wrote:

I'm using a windows application if that helps any? With a Form1.cpp... Sorry I'm not sure if that's what you mean

You seem to be using C++/CLI. In this case, you are probably looking for Environment::GetFolderPath

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.environment.getfolderpath.aspx

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Igor Tandetnik

This was the most helpful...but I still don't understand how to make this work with a StreamWriter. The issue I'm having now is that I have the path, but I can't add a file extension to it like "test.txt".

Answer 8

Use what you get from Environment::GetFolderPath with System::IO::Path::Combine().

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MCP

Answer 9

On 7/27/2011 1:03 PM, Intense Tactics wrote:

This was the most helpful...but I still don't understand how to make
this work with a StreamWriter. The issue I'm having now is that I
have the path, but I can't add a file extension to it like
"test.txt".

What's stopping you? Something as simple as path += "test.txt";  should work.

---

Igor Tandetnik

Answer 10

I get this error:

syntax error : missing ';' before '+='

 

When i do

 

static String^ path = Environment::GetFolderPath( Environment::SpecialFolder::Desktop );

path += "\\test.txt";

Answer 11

On 7/27/2011 1:25 PM, Intense Tactics wrote:

I get this error:

syntax error : missing ';' before '+='

When i do

static String^ path = Environment::GetFolderPath( Environment::SpecialFolder::Desktop );

path += "\\test.txt";

Where are you doing this? Is it outside of any function body, by any chance?

---

Igor Tandetnik

Answer 12

I would do:

static String^ path = System::IO::Path::Combine(
  Environment::GetFolderPath(Environment::SpecialFolder::Desktop)
  , "test.txt"
  );

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MCP