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General discussion

How do I determine the path and name of a file?

by grandpaw7 Sep 15, 2004 9:19AM PDT

For example, my Yankee Clipper program.

It is in my Startup Menu and msconfig shows this:
/c:\PROGRA~1\YCIII\YankClip.exe. Is the path the foregoing up to YankClip.exe, with YankClip.exe being the file name?

If I try to figure out the path by going to Explorer the C drive, I see: "C:\Documents and Settings\grandpaw\Start Menu\Programs\Startup and when I open the Startup folder I see YankClip shortcut. Could that string up to YankClip also be the path?

What is the best way to see the path and file name of a file displayed on the monitor?

Thanks, grandpaw

Discussion is locked

8 Posts
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Thread withdrawn
by grandpaw7 Sep 15, 2004 9:42AM PDT

I have so *$%# many other problems that I'm not interested in this one after all. If someone wants to explain something about the question of newbies in general, be my guest. grandpaw

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Re: so *$%# many other problems
by ChuckT Sep 15, 2004 6:51PM PDT

Gramps, why do I detect increasing frustration in your questions?

From what I have read in your other postings is that you seemed comfortable with Win98, and now you have WinXP and you seem totally frustrated.

Why is that? I wouldn't say there is THAT much different from the user point-of-view.
Sure some things are different, but so what? that is what is going to keep you young - you have to keep flexing the gray matter.

I find most of the things, that have changed, are just a re-thinking and a now more logical placement of the controls as the OS gets refined.

Just set your expectations a little lower, work one problem at a time, and keep your spirits up.

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Gramp seems to have a machine with a worm.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 15, 2004 11:26PM PDT

The worm or the damage it did prevents him from doing many things. Firefox for instance doesn't work. And many more issues.

It's sad that the machine was supplied without protection.

Bob

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Re: Gramp seems to have a machine with a worm.
by ChuckT Sep 16, 2004 4:08AM PDT

If that is true, Gramps, then maybe it is just time to trash it all.
If you have restore disks, use them.
If not, then reformat and install Windows again.

Then setup some good virus protection (and anti-spyware and anti-popup) software.
Install all the critical MS patches;
Install your applications, etc.

Why fight so many problems? You should be able to do it all in just a few hours.
The days wasted in killing bugs, would be better spent <fill in your favorite activity here>.

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My sentiments exactly, albeit belatedly
by grandpaw7 Sep 16, 2004 6:15AM PDT

Chuck, this morning I had the deep pleasure of getting out of jail, that is, I took my computer to exorcists to have it born again through a reformatting. I now weigh about 500 pounds less than when I left. I just hope the weight doesn't come back when my computer does. I'm not sure, but I think my family and others are planning a Return To Life celebration for me.

Someone a while back, maybe it was you, advised that I should not let my computer sidetrack my life and should turn it over to the experts; but I not only hear poorly, but also very slowly.

Thanks for the words of wisdom.

grandpaw

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Re: How do I determine the path and name of a file?
by Grif Thomas Forum moderator Sep 15, 2004 10:29AM PDT

The "path" to a file is the drive\folder\file progression as it would be taken in Windows Explorer. Using your example, if you open Windows Explorer ("My Computer" is basically the same), then drill down to your file from the C drive to the "Program Files" folder to the "YCIII" folder to the "YankClip.exe" FILE, the path will be listed in the "Address Bar" of Windows Explorer (if you have that particular view set) and the path will be "C:\Program Files\YCIII\YankClip.exe".

The Start Menu path you have mentioned is the true file path which creates the "Start-Programs" menu. They're both "paths", just to slightly different things.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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An easy way to capture the full path to a file
by ChuckT Sep 15, 2004 6:37PM PDT

If you ever need to capture (so you can copy/paste) the path somewhere, two things you need:
1) open up a Windows Explorer, so that you can select the file.
2) open up the Run window (press Win R) and clear it out (just press the Delete key)

Then just click and drag the desired file into the Open field of the Run window.
The complete path name to that file will appear in the window. Then you can cut/copy/paste to wherever.

(Don't worry, your actual file never gets moved or harmed in any way.)

What is interesting is that if the path has any spaces, in either the path or the filename, the entire thing will then be automatically, and correctly, enclosed in quote characters (").

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A belated thanks to Grif and Chuck
by grandpaw7 May 10, 2005 6:33AM PDT

for the info on how to determine the path to a file. I have finally copied the info to a memo because I have spent too much time looking for your posts once again when I needed the info and forgot what it was. grandpaw

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