rename external file

[bobsk]

Is it possible to rename a file from A5? I have a report that I print to file. The file lands on the desktop for email purposes. I would like to change the name of the file before I print another report. Can this be done?
Thanks for any suggestions.
bob

[Stephen Williams]

RE: rename external file

Bob - taken from the PDF xbasic reference file/book that ships with A5

'This script will rename any file.
'---------------------------------
filename = ui_get_file("Rename Which File?","All Files
(*.*)","","X")
IF filename = "" THEN
END
END IF
newfile = ui_get_file("New Filename","All Files (*.*)","","N")
IF newfile = "" THEN
END
END IF
file.rename(filename,newfile)

[bobsk]

RE: rename external file

Thanks Stephen,
I don't know xbasic except by tial and error. Could you fill in the blanks? The file name generated by the report is c:windowsdesktoptest.pdf
I would like to rename it c:windowsdesktoptest2.pdf
actually i would like to get the text of the baseball players lastname and use that for the file name but i might be able to figure that out if you could just get me started.
Thank you,
Bob

[Stephen Williams]

RE: rename external file

The line you need is

file.rename("c:\windowsdesktop\test.pdf","c:\windowsdesktop\test2.pdf")

[bobsk]

RE: rename external file

Thanks Stephen, Works perfect. Is there a way to put a variable where test2 is?
Bob

[Stephen Williams]

RE: rename external file

Test2 = "c:\windowsdesktop\test2.pdf" '

[bobsk]

RE: rename external file

Thanks a million for your time. I will give it a try tonight.
Bob

[bobsk]

RE: rename external file

Here is the script I am trying. I want the new file name (statname) to be the value of the lastname field on the form.
ross_stats is the name of the file generated by the report
dim value as c
tbl=table.current()
statname = tbl.lastname
statname="c:windowsdesktopstatname.pdf"
ross = "c:windowsdesktopross_stats.pdf"
file.rename(ross,statname)
thankls again,
Bob

[Stephen Williams]

RE: rename external file

Bob -
I am very confused by this code, but it is obviously only a piece...so I numbered it to comment

1.ross_stats is the name of the file generated by the report
2.dim value as c
3.tbl=table.current()
4.statname = tbl.lastname
5.statname="c:windowsdesktopstatname.pdf"
6.ross = "c:windowsdesktopross_stats.pdf"
7.file.rename(ross,statname)

1. I assume the report has been generated elsewhere.
2. the variable value is created and never used (maybe later...)
3. tbl = table.current() suggests this is put on a button on a form, else you would use tbl = table.open("put-your-table-name-here")
4. a variable, statname, is set as a variable with the value of the lastname field of the current table.
5. The variable, statname, is then reset, now to the character value "c:windowsdesktopstatname.pdf" (what was the lastname field value for?)
6 A variable, ross , is set to the character value "c:windowsdesktopross_stats.pdf"
7. the file c:windowsdesktopross_stats.pdf is renamed c:windowsdesktopstatname.pdf

Is this what you meant?
Ultimately it renames the ross_stats file to stat_name, but it doesn't make use of the value in the lastname field of the current table.

If this works, great! But there is obviously more to it. Tell me what you want from the current table...

Steve

[bobsk]

RE: rename external file

Yes, ultimatly i want the file name ross_stats.pdf to be renamed to lastname.pdf
It doesn't work the way i have it. The new file name on the desktop now ends up statname.pdf
I would like the value of lastname field to be the name of the file. In other words the new file name would be smith.pdf, then the next one would be jones.pdf, atc. Yes I am taking the value of lastname off form. If there is another way it would be ok. Action scripting as you can see it probably more my speed.
Thank you,
Bob

[Stephen Williams]

RE: rename external file

Bob-
Create a button to run a custom action, on the form that has the customers last name in it.
Right click on it and open the code editor, either xbasic or action scripting.
If Action scripting, create a new inline xbasic object.

Put this bit of code in it, and see if that is what you need

tbl=table.current()
newname = tbl.lastname
if new name = ""
ui_msg_box("Cannot rename file","The customer last name cannot be blank",UI_OK)
end
end if
oldname = "c:\windowsdesktop\ross_stats.pdf"
if File.Exists(oldname)
file.rename(oldname,newname)
else
ui_msg_box("Cannot rename file","Could not find the file "+oldname,UI_OK)
end if

[bobsk]

RE: rename external file

Thanks Stephen,
That's pretty cool. Here is what happens. Let'say the lastname is "Smith". Ross_stats has a pdf file extension. The file is renamed to Smith but without pdf ext. It also places it in the A5v4 directory which I can live with. I would like to maintain the pdf ext. Also if I click on Smith and tell windows to open it with Adobe it opens ok.
Thank for all the help,
Bob