Shell using long file name in DOS program

[Michael Mattias]

"AS ASCIIZ [* number]" parameters are always passed as the address of the variable used in the call, unless a literal null ("") is passed in which case zero is passed by value.

The " * number" is used by the compiler to limit the number of bytes it will read or write to that parameter (and also is checked against the size of the passed variable).

If you use an ambiguous-length parameter ( no "* number") the compiler will read until the first null - or until you no longer own the memory, at which point a protection fault will ensue - and will attempt write as many bytes as you tell it to and append a trailing zero, assuming you have passed a variable with sufficient size to hold the assigned bytes. If your passed variable is not long enough, the compiler will write anyway until a protection fault ensues. If that write overwrites other memory you own it will just keep on writing and will corrupt that memory.

Using fixed-length or ambiguous-length ASCIIZ parameters is "programmer's option."

MCM

[Mike Doty]

I have the current 8.04.0042 and 4.04.0042.
Is leaving the length out okay since passing an ASCIIZ is a pointer?

[Michael Mattias]

>Should ASCIIZ parameter receiving a passed value have a length?

That depends on which version of the compiler you are using. Ambiguous length (no "* number" ) ASCIIZ parameters were not supported until 7x.

[Mike Doty]

Does ASCIIZ string need a length if accepting value?

Should ASCIIZ parameter receiving a passed value have a length?

FUNCTION ShortPath(LongPath AS ASCIIZ) AS STRING
FUNCTION ShortPath(LongPath AS ASCIIZ * 260) AS STRING

DECLARE FUNCTION GetShortPathName LIB "KERNEL32.DLL" ALIAS "GetShortPathNameA" _
         (lpszLongPath AS ASCIIZ, _
         lpszShortPath AS ASCIIZ, _
         BYVAL cchBuffer AS LONG) AS LONG
DECLARE FUNCTION ShortPath(LongPath AS ASCIIZ) AS STRING
%MAX_PATH = 260
FUNCTION PBMAIN AS LONG
  LOCAL z AS ASCIIZ * %MAX_PATH
  z = "c:\program files\"
  ? ShortPath(z)
  SLEEP 1000
END FUNCTION
FUNCTION ShortPath(LongPath AS ASCIIZ) AS STRING
  'Is LongPath a pointer to the value passed since it doesn't need a length?
 
  LOCAL zResult AS ASCIIZ  * %MAX_PATH
  GetShortPathName LongPath, zResult, BYVAL SIZEOF(zResult)
  FUNCTION = zResult
END FUNCTION

[Edwin Knoppert]

Afaik there is an interupt for that.
I also believe you can get the filename by using some dos command like dir(filename) ot similar.

[Mike Doty]

Are these always the same?
If not, can DOS program only get short name using Windows API function?
org$ = "c:\program files\something\something.exe"
org$ = "c:\progra~1\something\something.exe"