Q192827: HOWTO: Get a Short File Name from a Long File Name

Article: Q192827
Product(s): Microsoft FoxPro
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0b,5.0,5.0a,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 11-DEC-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, versions 3.0b, 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

Occasionally, it is convenient to be able to convert a Win32 long file name to a
Win16-style (8.3 format) short file name. For example, file names may need to be
stored in a table that is shared by both Visual FoxPro and FoxPro for Windows.

This information is stored in the Win32 file system, and can be looked up using
the GetShortPathName function.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Enter and run the following program. It creates a file with a long name in the
FoxPro temporary drive and directory, converts it to a short file name, and
deletes the file:

     * create a long file name in the FoxPro temp drive and directory
     lcTempFileName = SYS(2023) + "\" + "this is a very long filename.txt"
     liHandle = FCREATE(lcTempFileName)
     = FCLOSE(liHandle)

     ? "Original long filename is: " + lcTempFileName
     ? "Short filename is: " + lfn2sfn(lcTempFileName)

     * delete when finished
     DELETE FILE (lcTempFileName)

     FUNCTION lfn2sfn
     *
     * Converts a Win32 long file name to its short file name equivalent
     *
     * passed: long file name, must already exist for this to work
     *
     * returns: fully qualified short file name, or empty string
     * if error is encountered
     *

     PARAMETERS lcInputString

     DECLARE INTEGER GetShortPathName IN Kernel32 STRING @lpszLongPath, ;
        STRING @lpszShortPath, INTEGER cchBuffer
     DECLARE INTEGER GetLastError IN Win32api

     #DEFINE MAX_PATH 255

     * buffer to receive converted file name
     lcOutputString = SPACE(MAX_PATH)

     * length of receiving buffer
     llcbOutputString = LEN(lcOutputString)

     * if successful, llretval will contain the length of the
     * output string
     llretval = GetShortPathName(@lcInputString, @lcOutputString,;
        llcbOutputString)
     IF llretval = 0
     * uncomment for error code
     * wait window "Error occurred, code is: " + ltrim(str(GetLastError()))
        RETURN ""
     ENDIF

     * truncate it at the length the return value indicates
     lcOutputString = LEFT(lcOutputString, llretval)

     RETURN lcOutputString

REFERENCES
==========

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q175512 HOWTO: Get a Short Filename from a Long Filename


Additional query words: kbDSupport GetShortPathName KBDSE kbAPI kbVFp300b kbVFp500a kbVFp500 kbVFp600

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbVFP300b kbVFP500 kbVFP600 kbVFP500a
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0b,5.0,5.0a,6.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

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