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I've recently been experimenting with saving data in file types created by me ( .bear .awesome etc), and it seems to work fine. I've found a installation program that can associate file types with your program, which would be cool (like, click on a .doc and it opens Macrohard Word, then loads the document).

Here's my question: How do you make DB tell what file was used to open it? Like, if someone opens "myfile.awesome" with your executable, how do you get the executable to automatically open myfile.awesome?

Hello,

You make the file associations just like you would for any windows program, but in your compiled exe, you need to tell your exe what to do with the file that is being associated with it.

In your source, include something like


at the top.

The cl$() is a command line string input variable. If you have associated a particular extension with your exe, the filename of the file (not the exe) will be returned in cl$(). It's your job to program what your application is supposed to do with that filename. Most likely, a load routine that pulls the information out of the file to use in your app.

Thanks! How do I find the directory that the file is in?

Edit: Does the CL$() return the file extension? If not, how would you manually apply the extension in the app?

I don't know what you mean. Aren't you using an installation program that would store the files where you specifiy?



In the case I'm suggesting, cl$() will return the entire path of the myfile.awesome file (ex. d:\game\data\myfile.awesome) if you double click on myfile.awesome. If you have associated the extension .awesome to the exe (let's say the exe is called game.exe) , then game.exe will open, cl$() will have the path and filename because .awesome has been associated to it, then if you have programed your app or game to do something with the filename returned in cl$(), it will do so.

Now, if your installer hasn't associated game.exe with the extension .awesome, then you need to do that manually. If it is a game or app that you are distributing, then you would handle the association through registry keys. But this can be dangerous to the operating system if you don't know what you are doing. Do a search on the internet for Registry keys and file associations and you'll find the relavent information and the proper keys to change. Look up HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT. That should get you started.

Your app can use the built in DBC registry commands or you can create a batch or registry file that you can launch using the EXECUTE FILE command.

Again, a word of caution, messing with the registry can be very bad if you make a mistake!