DOCUMENT:Q86477 25-APR-2001 [miscsdk] TITLE :How to Specify a Full Path in the ExecProgram Macro PRODUCT :Miscellaneous Software Development Kits PROD/VER::3.0,3.1,3.51,4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows versions 3.0, 3.1 - Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit (SDK), versions 3.51, 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= Windows help files (.HLP files) can be written such that selecting a designated topic executes a Windows-based application. This is done with the ExecProgram() macro. If the desired application does not reside in the same directory as the .HLP file, a full path to the .EXE must be specified. An invalid path produces an error. SYMPTOMS ======== Attempting to execute an application with a full path causes Windows to display the following Help message box: Unable to Run Specified File. CAUSE ===== A common mistake is to incorrectly specify the subdirectory delimiters in the path description. RESOLUTION ========== The Windows Help Compiler can recognize escape sequences expressed using the backslash (\) character. When using the ExecProgram() macro, four backslashes (\\\\) separate each directory in a full path description: ExecProgram( "c:\\\\winapps\\\\excel\\\\excel", 0 ) With HC31.EXE version 3.10.505, you would use only two backslashes: ExecProgram( "c:\\winapps\\excel\\excel", 0 ) Additional query words: 3.00 3.10 4.00 95 ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbWin32SDKSearch kbAudDeveloper kbWin3xSearch kbSDKSearch kbWin32sSearch kbWin32SDK400 kbWin32SDK351 kbWinSDKSearch kbWinSDK300 kbWinSDK310 Version : :3.0,3.1,3.51,4.0 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.