Macro to Open File Dialog Box to a Specific Location

[Brenda Tanner]

I have created a new menu item which will allow a user to bring up the Open File Dialog window. But I need to request that it open up to a specific default location each time it's run rather than the last opened folder.

Right now the macro for this new command is ^C^C_open.

Is there a method which will allow us to specify the folder location to open?

[Brenda Tanner]

I was pointed in the right direction by another co-worker on this. She suggested

^C^C^P(startapp "explorer.exe T:")

and she was right. It worked fine. Still I was hoping to get the real "Open" window in autocad, not just the generic explorer window.

[ReMark]

Thank you for sharing that solution with us Brenda. Now if everyone who came here could be as efficient as you (ask and answer your own question) we could all take the day off and go to the beach and enjoy a frosty cold beer too. LoL

[MSasu]

So, you were looking to access a network drive mapped as T:? This is equivalent with:

^C^C^C(startapp "explorer.exe” “T:\\") ^P

Your first post let me the impression that you were looking to have the drawing selection dialog of OPEN command pointing to a predefined path, rather than default, current folder.

[Brenda Tanner]

Thanks again to all of you. I would prefer to have the OPEN command pointing to a pre-defined path. This macro uses Windows Explorer, which is ok, but it doesn't bring up the typical File Open window in Autocad, instead it brings up an instance of Windows Explorer. Which if it works is ok.

I am still having some troubles with this macro, for instance this morning I can type this at the command line:

(startapp "explorer.exe" "T:\\Checker")

and it opens up Windows Explorer at this folder location on the T: drive. But I copy and paste the same thing in the CUI for this particular menu command and nothing happens.

^C^C(startapp "explorer.exe" "T:/Checker")

This macro, however, works just fine from the menu item or from the command line.

^C^C^P(startapp "explorer.exe "T:")

[Brenda Tanner]

MSasu,

Thanks again for your replies, but I tried the syntax you offered and all it did was dump the contents of that syntax on the command line. What's so difficult about this is that I can do this on the command line:

(startapp "explorer.exe" "T:\\Checker")

and it works fine. Yet the macro in the CUI for this menu item like this:

^C^C^P(startapp "explorer.exe" "T:\\Checker")

produces nothing...no message or error indications at all and mostly no Windows Explorer opened up to the T:\Checker folder. I'm really perplexed on this one.

[MSasu]

When create the macro for toolbar button, you should pay attention to end it with a space character - it act like an <Enter> to run the statement.

[Brenda Tanner]

Yes, that you are correct on...and I should say that I've been cognizant of that. I have tried it using a space, a semi-colon, two semi-colons...etc. Just about anything to get it to work. What I can also say is that if I leave off the folder name and just use the drive name "T:" it works fine from the cui menu macro. I can make this work also from the command line in addition to adding the folder name. It all seems to work well from the command line but not when it's inserted as the syntax for the menu macro. I don't get it.

[MSasu]

Brenda, if no one offers to test this until tomorrow, I will do some tests for you in AutoCAD's menu (don't have access to it right now).

[BlackBox]

I would prefer to have the OPEN command pointing to a pre-defined path. This macro uses Windows Explorer, which is ok, but it doesn't bring up the typical File Open window in Autocad, instead it brings up an instance of Windows Explorer.

There are multiple ways to accomplish this, using GETFILED function for example, but just for fun:

Here's a sample Macro for a predefined location:

** Note - The use of a single forward-slash "/" in the macro, as double back-slash "\\" will result in a PAUSE for user input.

^C^C^P(_OpenHere "T:/Checker");._open;^P

... And the supporting "_OpenHere" LISP sub-function:

This sub-function accepts a single argument, a file path as String, and verifies that the file path is a valid location prior to updating the aptly named "InitialDirectory" registry key which defines the starting point for the OPEN dialog. This code also accounts for both pre, and post 2013 LISP functions for product key.

(vl-load-com)

(defun _OpenHere (filePath / key)

  (if vlax-user-product-key                                             ; If using 2013
    (setq key (vlax-user-product-key))                                  ; Then, use new lisp function
    (setq key (vlax-product-key))                                       ; Else, use legacy function
  )
  ;; More info here:
  ;; http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?70845-AutoLISP-API-Changes-for-AutoCAD-2013-Updated

  (if (setq
        filePath (vl-string-translate
                   "\\"
                   "/"
                   (findfile (vl-string-right-trim
                               "/"
                               (vl-string-right-trim "\\" filePath)
                             )
                   )
                 )
      )
    (vl-registry-write
      (strcat
        "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\"
        key
        "\\Profiles\\"
        (vla-get-activeprofile
          (vla-get-profiles
            (vla-get-preferences (vlax-get-acad-object))
          )
        )
        "\\Dialogs\\OpenSaveAnavDialogs"
      )
      "InitialDirectory"
      filePath
    )
  )
  (princ)
)

HTH