HOWTO: Get a Long Filename from a Short Filename

• Microsoft Visual Basic Professional and Enterprise Editions for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0
• Microsoft Visual Basic Standard, Professional, and Enterprise Editions, 32-bit only, for Windows, version 4.0

SUMMARY

The Dir() function can be used to return a long filename but it does not include path information. By parsing a given short path/filename into its constituent directories, you can use the Dir() function to build a long path/filename. This article demonstrates how to accomplish this behavior.

MORE INFORMATION

The following code example includes a function that converts short filenames into their long filename equivalents and also includes a simple demonstration of the function's use.

Step-by-Step Example

1. Start Visual Basic. Form1 is created by default.



2. Place a CommandButton on Form1.



3. From the Insert menu, select Module to add a single code module to the project.



4. Add the following code to Module1:




      Public Function GetLongFilename _
        (ByVal sShortName As String) _
        As String

        Dim sLongName As String
        Dim sTemp As String
        Dim iSlashPos As Integer

        'Add \ to short name to prevent Instr from failing
        sShortName = sShortName & "\"

        'Start from 4 to ignore the "[Drive Letter]:\" characters
        iSlashPos = InStr(4, sShortName, "\")

        'Pull out each string between \ character for conversion
        While iSlashPos
          sTemp = Dir(Left$(sShortName, iSlashPos - 1), _
            vbNormal + vbHidden +    vbSystem + vbDirectory)
          If sTemp = "" Then
            'Error 52 - Bad File Name or Number
            GetLongFilename = ""
            Exit Function
          End If
          sLongName = sLongName & "\" & sTemp
          iSlashPos = InStr(iSlashPos + 1, sShortName, "\")
        Wend

        'Prefix with the drive letter
        GetLongFilename = Left$(sShortName, 2) & sLongName

      End Function
 

5. Add the following to the Command1_Click event:




      Private Sub Command1_Click()

        'Assumes C:\Program Files\Common Files is a valid path
        Print GetLongFilename("C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1")

      End Sub
 

6. Choose Start from the Run menu, or press the F5 key to start.



7. Click the CommandButton.


If the path you have supplied is valid, the long equivalent will be printed on the form. If it is not valid, nothing will print, in which case you will need to supply a valid short filename in the Command1_Click event code.

REFERENCES

Microsoft Visual Basic Online Help

Additional query words:

Keywords : KbVBA kbVBp kbVBp500 kbVBp600 kbGrpVB kbDSupport kbVBA500
Version : WINDOWS:4.0,5.0,6.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto