How to Specify a Full Path in the ExecProgram Macro

 Last reviewed: November 2, 1995
Article ID: Q86477
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows versions 3.1 and 3.0
  • Microsoft Win32 SDK, versions 3.51 and 4.0

SUMMARY

Windows help files (.HLP files) can be written such that selecting a designated topic executes a Windows-based application. This is done with the ExecProgram() macro. If the desired application does not reside in the same directory as the .HLP file, a full path to the .EXE must be specified. An invalid path produces an error.

SYMPTOMS

Attempting to execute an application with a full path causes Windows to display the following Help message box: 

   Unable to Run Specified File.

CAUSE

A common mistake is to incorrectly specify the subdirectory delimiters in the path description.

RESOLUTION

The Windows Help Compiler can recognize escape sequences expressed using the backslash (\) character. When using the ExecProgram() macro, four backslashes (\\\\) separate each directory in a full path description: 

   ExecProgram( "c:\\\\winapps\\\\excel\\\\excel", 0 )
With HC31.EXE version 3.10.505 and HCW.EXE version 4.0, you would use only two backslashes: 

   ExecProgram( "c:\\winapps\\excel\\excel", 0 )

Additional reference words: 3.00 3.10 4.00 95
KBCategory: kbtool
KBSubcategory: TlsHlp

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Last reviewed: November 2, 1995
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