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API-call questions

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    #1

    API-call questions

    Hi,

    I'm trying to get an API call FindFirstFileA() working. This API-function needs a structure. Not to pass information to the API-function but the API-function fills this structure, in this case WIN32_FIND_DATA, with file information, which you can use. The members of this structure have information about the First File Found. I build this structure with the 'declarestruct' command and pass this as a parameter. This parameter is the pointer to the structure.

    This structure has nested structures and I declared them as follows:

    declarestruct mystruct E1,E2,E3,(E4a,E4b),(E5a,E5b),E6, etc.

    Can someone confirm the syntax I used here? At least the program doesn't complain about this construction at compile time, I think this is positive ;-)

    The FindFirstFileA() function returns a HANDLE to a FileFind object and the only variable type that doesn't complain is the "A" type. All other types deliver a variable type mismatch message. Where does this A-type variable stand for? Is that: one of all the other known Alphas var-types or can this also be a type unknown the Alpha types. This handle is passed to the FindNextFile() API-function. But that's for the future.

    I discovered that I could write:

    declarestruct flname C255text
    declarestruct WIN32_FIND_DATA L1dwFileAttrib,(L1ftCreationTimeLow, L1ftCreationTimeHigh), etc. its very long.
    declare FindFirstFileA L(flname)(WIN32_FIND_DATA)

    dim result as A
    dim fn as P 'pointer
    dim fd as P 'pointer
    fn.filename = c:\*.txt
    result = FindFirstFileA(fn,fd)
    findclose(result)

    I can't get access to the members of fd.dwFileAttrib, fd.ftCreationTimeLow etc. Actually I need the pointer address of WIN32_FIND_DATA. I see that you can pass information to the function, get something returned from the function such as "result" but if you pass a structure in the hope the calling function fills it, it doesn't work. Or at least it works but I can't access it. I know that it is a very delicate chain of things that you have to do in the right way. At this moment I'm trying to get clear what I'm doing is right/wrong and even it maybe just impossible in A5v5. The manual(s) and the examples I found on sites show only straightforward examples, I didn't see constructions like I need. Maybe someone has an example for these constructions.

    Thanks for your time reading this,

    Marcel
    Marcel

    I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
    ---- Confusius ----
    Tags: None
    #2
    RE: API-call questions

    Without attempting to answer the specifics of your question, have you realized that Alpha Five already has functions to get the attributes of a file, the date and time last updated, etc? Do you need the function you are laboring so hard to construct?

    Comment

      #3
      RE: API-call questions

      Marcel,

      Our engineers recommend that you use TYPE ... END TYPE instead of DECLARESTRUCT.

      http://support.alphasoftware.com/xbasic_reference/language/type___end_type.htm

      Comment

        #4
        RE: API-call questions

        Hi Peter,

        I'm aware of this. This has to do with the possibility to find files with the archive attributes set off. The Alpha functions filefind.get() and filefind.get_recurse() doesn't collect these files. These functions are a kind of "blind".

        On the other hand I dive into a part of Alpha I find very interesting.

        Marcel
        Marcel

        I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
        ---- Confusius ----

        Comment

          #5
          RE: API-call questions

          Peter - There are bugs in the file find and similar functions in A5 depending upon
          the file attributes, it doesn't find cetain file attribute combinations

          Marcel - I have been struggling with my own API call issues. There are definite problems in creating an equivalent construct. Many work fine, many I've not been able to get working.

          Ed - All of the current documentation is woefully inadequate.

          In the type-End-type declaration, how do you specify the structure size?

          How about some real world examples of byval aand byref calls of numerics (longs, integers, short integers, dwords etc), characters, logicals, Anytypes etc) showing some Visual Basic or C calls and the A5 equivalent?

          Where is the object length specified for Type-end type (probably not required, but there are no explanations)?

          Real examples and the comparitive code might be the best way.

          Regards,

          Ira
          Regards,

          Ira J. Perlow
          Computer Systems Design


          CSDA A5 Products
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          Comment

            #6
            RE: API-call questions

            Hi Edward,

            Yes, you told me already before, and I'm glad you changed the documentation, it helped me a lot to understand the construction of such structures.

            But when I comment the declarestruct and change it to a TYPE ... END TYPE the call of that particular piece of code still doesn't work. I'm am realistic enough to admit that my knowledge of XBasic is only a 30 day's old. So please have patience with me.

            Maybe that an example of API call where the declarestruct is changed into such construction with TYPE ... END TYPE might help.

            Marcel
            Marcel

            I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
            ---- Confusius ----

            Comment

              #7
              RE: API-call questions

              Hi Ira,

              Thanks Ira, I was struggling how to make it clear, couldn't find the right translations. You did a right job.

              Marcel - I have been struggling with my own API call issues. There are definite problems in creating an equivalent construct. Many work fine, many I've not been able to get working.

              Yes, that was also my experience, it's like walking on a high wire.

              Thanks,

              Marcel
              Marcel

              I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
              ---- Confusius ----

              Comment

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