Long filenames converting to short ones (with ~1)

[Vag]

Hello.
I'm making a frontend program that uses emulators to play games.
I have to use one that doesn't accept long filenames though...
How can I convert the whole path of a file to the same path written the short way?
(for example C:\Program files\test.txt --> C:\Progra~1\test.txt)
I don't want to use the first 6 characters of the filename and then add ~1 because it can be ~2 if you have 2 files with the same 6 first characters. And it doesn't have to do with sorting...

I think I should first check if there's a ??????~2.??? file. If not, then I know that the filename is ??????~1.???
What can I do when there are many?

[WizBang]

There is the GetShortPathName API for that.

[Vag]

Thanks WizBang :-)

[urs]

hi wizbang
can u give me an example to use this function

i need to get short file name for
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Connection Wizard\Readme.txt

what parameter should i pass

thanx

[WizBang]

You can get all the info for tons of API's at allapi.net. Get both the guide and viewer. They are a MUST HAVE!!

[Cimperiali]

(Api guide is a free tool you can download at www.allapi.net)

Private Declare Function GetShortPathName Lib "kernel32" Alias "GetShortPathNameA" (ByVal lpszLongPath As String, ByVal lpszShortPath As String, ByVal lBuffer As Long) As Long
Public Function GetShortPath(strFileName As String) As String
   'KPD-Team 1999
 'URL: http://www.allapi.net/
 'E-Mail: [email protected]
 Dim lngRes As Long, strPath As String
 'Create a buffer
 strPath = String$(165, 0)
 'retrieve the short pathname
 lngRes = GetShortPathName(strFileName, strPath, 164)
 'remove all unnecessary chr$(0)'s
 GetShortPath = Left$(strPath, lngRes)
End Function
Private Sub Form_Load()
 MsgBox GetShortPath("c:\Program Files\")
End Sub

Related function: getFullPathName:

Private Declare Function GetFullPathName Lib "kernel32" Alias "GetFullPathNameA" (ByVal lpFileName As String, ByVal nBufferLength As Long, ByVal lpBuffer As String, ByVal lpFilePart As String) As Long
Private Sub Form_Load()
   'KPD-Team 2000
 'URL: http://www.allapi.net/
 'E-Mail: [email protected]
 Dim Buffer As String, Ret As Long
 'create a buffer
 Buffer = Space(255)
 'copy the current directory to the buffer and append 'myfile.ext'
 Ret = GetFullPathName("myfile.ext", 255, Buffer, "")
 'remove the unnecessary chr$(0)'s
 Buffer = Left(Buffer, Ret)
 'show the result
 MsgBox Buffer
End Sub