Finding a program's directory at runtime

[Jay]

Hello,
I am writing a c++ program that stores some values in a config located
in it's directory.
is there a way in c++ to get the full path of the running program so I
can open the file not relative to where I run it from but where it is
located?

Thanks
Jay

[Artie Gold]

Re: Finding a program's directory at runtime

Jay wrote:[color=blue]
> Hello,
> I am writing a c++ program that stores some values in a config located
> in it's directory.
> is there a way in c++ to get the full path of the running program so I
> can open the file not relative to where I run it from but where it is
> located?
>
> Thanks
> Jay
>[/color]
The C++ language knows nothing of such things; it's inherently platform
specific -- and sometimes not even (reliably) possible.

Your best bet is to try a platform specific forum or find another way to
solve the problem.

Sorry, but HTH,
--ag

--
Artie Gold -- Austin, Texas
http://goldsays.blogspot.com (new post 8/5)

http://www.cafepress.com/goldsays

"If you have nothing to hide, you're not trying!"

[mlimber]

Re: Finding a program's directory at runtime

Jay wrote:[color=blue]
> Hello,
> I am writing a c++ program that stores some values in a config located
> in it's directory.
> is there a way in c++ to get the full path of the running program so I
> can open the file not relative to where I run it from but where it is
> located?
>
> Thanks
> Jay[/color]

You might be able to use the Boost Filesystem library:

http://boost.org/libs/filesystem/doc/index.htm

Cheers! --M

[Mike Wahler]

Re: Finding a program's directory at runtime


"Jay" <Costellj@gmail .com> wrote in message
news:1135197771 .131709.78160@o 13g2000cwo.goog legroups.com...[color=blue]
> Hello,
> I am writing a c++ program that stores some values in a config located
> in it's directory.
> is there a way in c++ to get the full path of the running program so I
> can open the file not relative to where I run it from but where it is
> located?[/color]

Some implementations , e.g. for Windows, provide the full
path of the executable as main()'s argv[0]. But this is
not guaranteed by the language.

-Mike

[Marcus Kwok]

Re: Finding a program's directory at runtime

Mike Wahler <mkwahler@mkwah ler.net> wrote:[color=blue]
>
> "Jay" <Costellj@gmail .com> wrote in message
> news:1135197771 .131709.78160@o 13g2000cwo.goog legroups.com...[color=green]
>> Hello,
>> I am writing a c++ program that stores some values in a config located
>> in it's directory.
>> is there a way in c++ to get the full path of the running program so I
>> can open the file not relative to where I run it from but where it is
>> located?[/color]
>
> Some implementations , e.g. for Windows, provide the full
> path of the executable as main()'s argv[0]. But this is
> not guaranteed by the language.[/color]

True that it is not guaranteed by the language. However, I think your
wording may be a little misleading: when I first read it, I interpreted
your statement as meaning that all implementations on Windows will
provide the full executable path. For example,


#include <iostream>

int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
std::cout << "I am: " << argv[0] << '\n';

return 0;
}


only prints whatever I used to invoke the program. If I am in the same
directory as the program, I get:

I am: test

and if I move one directory down in the hierarchy but invoke the program
in the parent directory, I get:

I am: ..\test

--
Marcus Kwok

[Mike Wahler]

Re: Finding a program's directory at runtime


"Marcus Kwok" <ricecake@gehen nom.net> wrote in message
news:dochd1$ki3 $4@news-int2.gatech.edu ...[color=blue]
> Mike Wahler <mkwahler@mkwah ler.net> wrote:[color=green]
>>
>> "Jay" <Costellj@gmail .com> wrote in message
>> news:1135197771 .131709.78160@o 13g2000cwo.goog legroups.com...[color=darkred]
>>> Hello,
>>> I am writing a c++ program that stores some values in a config located
>>> in it's directory.
>>> is there a way in c++ to get the full path of the running program so I
>>> can open the file not relative to where I run it from but where it is
>>> located?[/color]
>>
>> Some implementations , e.g. for Windows, provide the full
>> path of the executable as main()'s argv[0]. But this is
>> not guaranteed by the language.[/color]
>
> True that it is not guaranteed by the language. However, I think your
> wording may be a little misleading: when I first read it, I interpreted
> your statement as meaning that all implementations on Windows[/color]

See above, "Some implementations "
[color=blue]
>will
> provide the full executable path. For example,
>
>
> #include <iostream>
>
> int main(int argc, char* argv[])
> {
> std::cout << "I am: " << argv[0] << '\n';
>
> return 0;
> }
>
>
> only prints whatever I used to invoke the program. If I am in the same
> directory as the program, I get:
>
> I am: test
>
> and if I move one directory down in the hierarchy but invoke the program
> in the parent directory, I get:
>
> I am: ..\test[/color]

This all depends upon the compiler and platform. Sorry if I wasn't
clear.


-Mike