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Resolved How can I rename a directory?

  1. How-to
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  1. Tracy Lamb
    Tracy Lamb
  2. PowerBuilder
  3. Saturday, 19 August 2023 13:18 PM UTC

Hi all,

I want to rename a directory if the directory exists.  How can I do that?  I know how to use DirectoryExists() and RemoveDirectory(), but not seeing a function to rename a directory.

Say the initial directory is 'd:\mydocs\manuals\tektronix' , and I want to rename it to 'd:\mydocs\manuals\tektronix-scopes'.

~~~Tracy

  1. PowerBuilder (Appeon)
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Accepted Answer
Mark Goldsmith
Mark Goldsmith Accepted Answer Pending Moderation
  1. Wednesday, 23 August 2023 16:31 PM UTC
  2. PowerBuilder
  3. # Permalink

Hi Tracy,

Try prepending cmd /c in front of your rename string with it's own quotes around the entire string. So it would look something like:

ls_RunCommand = "cmd /c 'rename "' + ls_full_path + '" "' + ls_description + '"'"

Lots of single and double quotes already in your string so don't forget to add the closing double-quote.

HTH...regards,

Mark

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Tracy Lamb
  1. Tracy Lamb
  2. Wednesday, 23 August 2023 17:52 PM UTC
Thank you Mark, that worked!

ls_RunCommand = 'cmd /c rename "' + ls_full_path + '" "' + ls_description + '"'



~~~Tracy
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Tracy Lamb
  1. Tracy Lamb
  2. Wednesday, 23 August 2023 17:55 PM UTC
Crazy mix of quotes and double-quotes! Lol!
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Mark Goldsmith
  1. Mark Goldsmith
  2. Wednesday, 23 August 2023 18:17 PM UTC
LOL, yes lots of quotes. Great to hear that worked for you Tracy and thanks for the update!
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Responses (3)
John Fauss
John Fauss Accepted Answer Pending Moderation
  1. Saturday, 19 August 2023 14:52 PM UTC
  2. PowerBuilder
  3. # 1

Hi, Tracy - 

A "rename" operation is, in essence, the same as a "move" operation. You can utilize the MoveFileW Windows API function:

// External Function Declaration to move a file or directory
FUNCTION Boolean MoveFile ( &
   String lpExistingFileName, &
   String lpNewFileName &
   ) LIBRARY "kernel32.dll" ALIAS FOR "MoveFileW"

Online documentation here:

    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/winbase/nf-winbase-movefilew

Depending on your needs, there is also a MoveFileExW API function:

    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/winbase/nf-winbase-movefileexw

It utilizes a third argument value that specifies bit flags. In C/C++, it is declared as a DWORD. In PB, this is equivalent to an UnsignedLong.

Best regards, John

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Mark Goldsmith
  1. Mark Goldsmith
  2. Wednesday, 23 August 2023 22:37 PM UTC
Lol...true, unless you use the Minimized! windowstate, then you only have a brief icon flash on the taskbar ;)
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Chris Pollach @Appeon
  1. Chris Pollach @Appeon
  2. Thursday, 24 August 2023 00:05 AM UTC
If you use Roland's "run & wait" - it can suppress the external dialogue.
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Miguel Leeuwe
  1. Miguel Leeuwe
  2. Thursday, 24 August 2023 12:21 PM UTC
Hi Chris,

Have to try that out! Many times running a batch / cmd file would do wonders, but I've always been reserved about the black cmd shell showing.

Thanks!
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Chris Pollach @Appeon
Chris Pollach @Appeon Accepted Answer Pending Moderation
  1. Saturday, 19 August 2023 14:34 PM UTC
  2. PowerBuilder
  3. # 2

Hi Tracy;

  I use the PB Run() command calling the DOS "Rename" command to perform that action. HTH 

Regards ... Chris 

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Tracy Lamb
  1. Tracy Lamb
  2. Wednesday, 23 August 2023 12:10 PM UTC
HI Chris,

I tried this. From the cmd prompt, any directory, I can enter:

rename "E:\BT_Docs\Manuals\Fluke" "Fluke-Calibrators"

But when I run this exact command in my app, I keep getting a -1 error code. The command I'm sending from PB is exactly the same. Here's the code:

if DirectoryExists( ls_server_path) then

ls_full_path = ls_server_path + '\Manuals\' + is_original_description

if DirectoryExists ( ls_full_path ) then

ls_RunCommand = 'rename "' + ls_full_path + '" "' + ls_description + '"'

li_rc = RUN(ls_RunCommand)

if li_rc = -1 then

MessageBox("Change directory name", "Run command failed. ~r~n"+ ls_RunCommand)

end if

end if

end if

Any thoughts?

~~~Tracy

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Chris Pollach @Appeon
  1. Chris Pollach @Appeon
  2. Wednesday, 23 August 2023 12:38 PM UTC
Hi Tracy;

This could because of your App's execution privileges.

Also, you might need to use the Run & Wait approach to get the proper return code from the Rename command.

FYI: https://www.topwizprogramming.com/freecode_runandwait.html

Regards ... Chris
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