How to Determine the Path to the Macintosh Desktop

ID: Q114806

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft FoxPro for Macintosh, versions 2.5b and 2.5c
• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Macintosh, version 3.0b

SUMMARY

The Macintosh desktop is the background area displayed on a Macintosh. It contains icons for folders, applications, disks, and the Trash.

In FoxPro, the desktop is referenced as a subfolder (subdirectory), called "Desktop Folder," in the main volume (hard disk).

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Determine the Volume's Name

Type the following in the Command window:

   SET VOLUME C: TO  && Clears VOLUME setting, if any
   SET DEFAULT TO    && Makes the volume's root the current directory
   ?SYS(5)           && Returns the current volume (disk) name

Steps to Set the Default to a Folder in the Desktop

These steps assume that the volume (disk) name is "Macintosh HD:". If needed, use the steps listed above to determine your volume's name.

1. Close all open windows. The only thing in view should be the desktop.

2. From the File menu, choose New Folder.

3. A folder named "untitled folder" (without the quotation marks) is

   created on the desktop. Change the name of the folder to "TEST" (without
   the quotation marks).

5. To set the default to the TEST folder in the desktop, type one of the

   following code snippets in the Command window:

      SET VOLUME C: TO "Macintosh HD:"
      SET DEFAULT TO "C:\Desktop Folder\TEST"

      -or-

      SET DEFAULT TO "Macintosh HD:\Desktop Folder\TEST"

Example of Code That's Independent of Folder or Volume Name

   CLEAR
   CLEAR ALL
   DEFINE WINDOW GetInfo FROM 0,0 to 20,70
   ACTIVATE WINDOW GetInfo
   MOVE WINDOW GetInfo Center
   @ 0,0 SAY "This example will set the default directory to"
   @ 1,0 SAY "<volume name>:\<FoxPro folder> and then use the "
   @ 2,0 SAY "CUSTOMER.DBF table in area #1. This will demonstrate"
   @ 3,0 SAY "how to make your code independent of any specific"
   @ 4,0 SAY "folder or volume name..."
   FPFOLDER = "          "
   @ 6,0 SAY "Enter the folder name where FoxPro is installed"
   @ 7,0 GET FPFolder PICTURE "XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX" DEFAULT "MyFolder"
   READ
   FPFOLDER = ALLTRIM(FPFolder)
   @ 8,0 SAY "------------"
   @ 9,0 SAY "Volume name is: "+SYS(5)
   @ 10,0 SAY "Currently located in: "+SYS(2003)
   CURLOC = SYS(5)+ FPFOLDER
   @ 11,0 SAY "Setting default directory/folder to: "+CURLOC
   SET DEFAULT TO (Curloc)
   @ 12,0 SAY "Using "+CURLOC+":Tutorial:CUSTOMER.DBF in area # 1"
   SELECT 1
   USE "TUTORIAL\CUSTOMER" IN 1