Runing exe Script Issue

[lgodfrey]

I've run into a problem accessing exe compiled script relatied to long pathname....

I am running script exe files from Excel VBA using Shell.

If I put the exe in my document files, such as:

"C:\Documents and Settings\Lawrence Godfrey\My Docuements\1-TESTing\TRY_ONLY.exe"

I get an invalid path error.

If I move it to the root directory, it runs.

"C:\TRY_ONLY.exe"

If I start replacing the path with 8.3 format, it works until I try putting the exe in "My Documents" Directory. It probably has to do with the fact that there is a space in the first six character.

GetShortPathName in KERNEL32 returns a null for the full path name, so it can't handle this long path either.

I could not find any WWW links to something that talks about VBA Shell pathname limitations.

Any one know where I can find this info???????? Obviously I would like to get a work around to allow me to keep the AutoIT.exe files in My Documents sub-directory.

Best Regards

Larry

[CyberSlug]

Here are three wokarounds, starting with the "best":

1) Use the program VSubst which lets you assign a virtual drive letter to that long path. For example, "C:\Documents and Settings\Lawrence Godfrey\My Docuements\1-TESTing\TRY_ONLY.exe" could become "Z:\TRY_ONLY.exe"

2) Partition your hard drive and make "My Documents" be that new partition

3) Or--assuming Windows NT/200/XP with an NTFS-formatted drive--you could create a hard link to that file.

For problems not strictly regarding AutoIt, you can use the chat forum.

Edited June 26, 2004 by CyberSlug

[lgodfrey]

I'm impressed with this forum, too, besides AutoIT.

Two postings today from me, good reponses for both.

THanks, CyberSlug for the detailed workarounds, much appreciated.

And thanks for the "hint" about where to post the last question, I'll figure it out eventually

:iamstupid:

Regards

Larry

[tutor2000]

You may need to INCLUDE the quotes...

Run('"C:\Documents and Settings\Lawrence Godfrey\My Docuements\1-TESTing\TRY_ONLY.exe"')

or

Run("""C:\Documents and Settings\Lawrence Godfrey\My Docuements\1-TESTing\TRY_ONLY.exe""")

because of the space in the path

Lar.

I seem to recall a dos command to subst a drive letter for a path

Rick

[lgodfrey]

Thanks, all you members.

Got it to work with the dirctory mapping/Vsubt in about 10 minutes, so I've stopped pulling my hair out trying to find a fix in VBA.

I had tried """ and "' quote marks B4 posting for help, but they didn't seem to work with my quick tests.

I am happy as a clam right now (new smilie needed??? )

Thanks for the help.

[therks]

I seem to recall a dos command to subst a drive letter for a path

Rick

I know it's been solved already, but...

C:\WINDOWS>subst /?
Associates a path with a drive letter.

SUBST [drive1: [drive2:]path]
SUBST drive1: /D

  drive1:        Specifies a virtual drive to which you want to assign a path.
  [drive2:]path  Specifies a physical drive and path you want to assign to
                 a virtual drive.
  /D             Deletes a substituted (virtual) drive.

Type SUBST with no parameters to display a list of current virtual drives.