Find the application's directory in Windows

[alexbnc]

Hi, I am using GetModuleFileName(NULL, application_path, length) in order to get the application directory but it returns the entire path, including the name of the executable. What I want is only the directory where the current executable is located. Is there any other way, I am doing something wrong? Thanks!

[1vRz3TCk]

// With STL string
#include <string>

char        szAppPath[MAX_PATH] = "";
std::string strAppDirectory;

::GetModuleFileName(0, szAppPath, sizeof(szAppPath) - 1);

// Extract directory
strAppDirectory = szAppPath;
strAppDirectory = strAppDirectory.substr(0, strAppDirectory.rfind("\\"));

[alexbnc]

Thanks! That worked (with some adaptations)

[kamilha]

::GetModuleFileName(0, szAppPath, sizeof(szAppPath));
::std::cout << "the full path is :" << szAppPath;

// use strrchr to set the executable ''
char * pc =strrchr(szAppPath,"\\");
if (pc) {
*pc = '\0';
}
::std::cout << "the needed path is :" << szAppPath;


the result is :

the full path is : *:*\*\*\*.exe

the needed path is : *:*\*\*

hope this is helpful for you.

[modoran]

Why don't you use PathRemoveFileSpec() ? It is exported from shlwapi.dll

[Lamblion]

Great example, kamillia. One small thing, though, I believe you need to use single quote in the char* pc, i.e.,

char * pc=strrchr(szAppPath,'\\');

I get an operator overload error if I use double quotes, but I tried the example only in my WinApp.

[Lamblion]

Even better, modoran. That's one I didn't know about. I've found myself more and more frequently using functions from shlwapi.h/.dll. I guess I ought to actually open up the .h file and take a look at what all is in it.

[modoran]

Don't need to open any windows header files, it is all documented in MSDN (I have an offline copy that came with Visual Studio 2010 though)

[kamilha]

To :Lamblion (609)

yeah, that's right! it should be single quote.