Find what directory the running process EXE is stored in

Question

Possible Duplicate:
How to get the application executable name in Windows (C++ Win32 or C++/CLI)?

I can find what directory the process is running in using GetCurrentDirectory(), but what about finding the directory the executabke resides in?

This question is distinct from [How to get the application executable name in Windows (C++ Win32 or C++/CLI)?](http://stackoverflow.com/q/124886/145173) This question asks how to get the path to the directory. The other question asks how to get the path to the file. — Edward Brey, Jun 17 '14 at 01:01
It's not meaningfully different (note how the *accepted* answer to this references the same function as those in the linked dupe, just with less detail). Splitting the result into directory and filename after is trivial. — nobody, Jun 17 '14 at 01:36

score 14 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 29 '10 at 16:09

14

answered Jul 29 '10 at 16:09

Jerry Coffin

1

Can you give an example? It's not clear to me where I get the HMODULE handle. – Mr. Boy Jul 29 '10 at 16:12
2

@John: `GetModuleHandle(NULL)` – Billy ONeal Jul 29 '10 at 16:14
If you want the main executable file, `GetModuleHandle(NULL)`. If you want a DLL, the handle to that DLL is (among other things) passed when `DllMain` is called. – Jerry Coffin Jul 29 '10 at 16:19
OK, cool. So this gets me a pull path including the file-name. Is there a handy function to get me the full directory path, without the file-name? e.g takes c:\temp\app.exe and returns c:\temp? – Mr. Boy Jul 29 '10 at 16:28
2

@John: Yes, it's PathRemoveFileSpec -> http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb773748(v=VS.85).aspx – Billy ONeal Jul 29 '10 at 16:31
Thanks very much Jerry & Billy. – Mr. Boy Jul 30 '10 at 07:58

score -2 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 29 '10 at 16:18

-2

In visual C++, we use

CString m_sAppFolder =  __targv[0] ;

which returns a string like "C:\blah\blah\executable_name.exe"

answered Jul 29 '10 at 16:18

PSUnderwood

4

-1 for: 1. Unneeded dependence on MFC. 2. Having the same problem as Neil Moss's answer. 3. Using nonstandard `__targv`. – Billy ONeal Jul 29 '10 at 16:19
2

This technique should not be used. Callers of `CreateProcess` can make up whatever value they want for `argv[0]` - it doesn't even have to exist. – nobody Jun 17 '14 at 01:38

2 Answers2