Using QuickBasic 7.1 on WinXP. My program will OPEN <filename.dat> just fine if the file is in the same directory as QBX.exe, but not if it is in another directory. For example:

OPEN "<filename.dat>" FOR BINARY AS #1

works just fine. But:

OPEN "C:\<directory>\<sub-directory>\<filename.dat>" FOR BINARY AS #1

(or other variations, such as omitting drive letter, putting only <filename.dat> in quotes, etc.) gives path errors.

Is there a way to do this?

: Using QuickBasic 7.1 on WinXP. My program will OPEN <filename.dat> just fine if the file is in the same directory as QBX.exe, but not if it is in another directory. For example:
:
: OPEN "<filename.dat>" FOR BINARY AS #1
:
: works just fine. But:
:
: OPEN "C:\<directory>\<sub-directory>\<filename.dat>" FOR BINARY AS #1
:
: (or other variations, such as omitting drive letter, putting only <filename.dat> in quotes, etc.) gives path errors.
:
: Is there a way to do this?
:

Probably, the problem is, that your filename or directories have names longer than 13 characters. Ovbiously, DOS doesnt support long filenames, so the solution is to make short filenames:

For example:
OPEN "C:\Myfoldernumber1\importantstuff\Iwantfilehere\Filename.dat" FOR BINARY AS #1
Should be:
OPEN "C:\Myfold~1\import~1\Iwantm~1\Filename.dat" FOR BINARY AS #1

If you have spaces in your filenames or if the above doesnt work, then Im clueless.

This message was edited by DrMarten at 2005-8-19 18:44:41

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: : Using QuickBasic 7.1 on WinXP. My program will OPEN <filename.dat> just fine if the file is in the same directory as QBX.exe, but not if it is in another directory. For example:
: :
: : OPEN "<filename.dat>" FOR BINARY AS #1
: :
: : works just fine. But:
: :
: : OPEN "C:\<directory>\<sub-directory>\<filename.dat>" FOR BINARY AS #1
: :
: : (or other variations, such as omitting drive letter, putting only <filename.dat> in quotes, etc.) gives path errors.
: :
: : Is there a way to do this?
: :
:
: Probably, the problem is, that your filename or directories have names longer than 13 characters. Ovbiously, DOS doesnt support long filenames, so the solution is to make short filenames:
:
: For example:
: OPEN "C:\Myfoldernumber1\importantstuff\Iwantfilehere\Filename.dat" FOR BINARY AS #1
: Should be:
: OPEN "C:\Myfold~1\import~1\Iwantm~1\Filename.dat" FOR BINARY AS #1
:
: If you have spaces in your filenames or if the above doesnt work, then Im clueless.
:



=================

I have not looked at QBasic for ages but is there a SETPATH or a PATH= command?

You might be able to use a string in the OPEN command like

OPEN A$

and set A$ to one of the strings you typed.

To find out how your PC stores a filename in the 8.3 mode of DOS go to>
START then RUN
type in CMD to open a DOS window
Look at the appropriate directories using CD and DIR as usual

If a filename you know is longer (within Windows) it will appear with the "~" character in it which is SHIFT with the # key (next to BACKSPACE) on a UK keyboard.

Hope this helps?

Regards,

DrM

: : Probably, the problem is, that your filename or directories have names longer than 13 characters. : :

That was it. Also, some of the sub-directories in my path had spaces and you have to close those up. For example, <THIS PLACE> has to changed to <THISPL~1>. Many thanks for your help.

This message was edited by DrMarten at 2005-8-20 14:31:57

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: : : Probably, the problem is, that your filename or directories have names longer than 13 characters. : :
:
: That was it. Also, some of the sub-directories in my path had spaces and you have to close those up. For example, <THIS PLACE> has to changed to <THISPL~1>. Many thanks for your help.
:
==================================================

Any paths that have a space in them also need to be in quotes.

Eg C:\My file.text is really reffered to as "C:\My file.text"
as DOS tries to decipher what you type by looking at the spaces ( except when the spaces are between the quote marks> " " <


Regards,

DrM

: This message was edited by DrMarten at 2005-8-20 14:31:57

---

: : : : Probably, the problem is, that your filename or directories have names longer than 13 characters. : :
: :
: : That was it. Also, some of the sub-directories in my path had spaces and you have to close those up. For example, <THIS PLACE> has to changed to <THISPL~1>. Many thanks for your help.
: :
: ==================================================
:
: Any paths that have a space in them also need to be in quotes.
:
: Eg C:\My file.text is really reffered to as "C:\My file.text"
: as DOS tries to decipher what you type by looking at the spaces ( except when the spaces are between the quote marks> " " <
:
:
: Regards,
:
: DrM
:
:
:
:
Im not sure i fully understand you.
Are you tying to say:
"
This doesnt work:
OPEN C:\My file.text FOR BINAY AS #1
but this does:
OPEN "C:\My file.text" FOR BINAY AS #1
"?
If so then Ill have you know that you have to put the paths into quotes either way in QB.
Btw, DOS doesnt support 4 letter extensions, QBASIC just assumes "file.tex" instead of "file.text"

About spaces, the spaces can exist with short filenames like this:
"My file.txt"
But the long filenames need to be closed up like Tommy Tyler said:
"Myfile~1.txt"