API call GetShortPathName problem

[MHengst]

I'm trying to get a short path name using the api call. This is a Win2k machine, either Datacenter or Advanced Server, is there a different API i could use?

Private Declare Function GetShortPathName Lib "kernel32" Alias _
"GetShortPathNameA" (ByVal lpszLongPath As String, ByVal _
lpszShortPath As String, ByVal lBuffer As Long) As Long


Public Function GetShortPath(strFileName As String) As String

Dim lngRes As Long
Dim strPath As String

strPath = String$(165, 0)
lngRes = GetShortPathName(strFileName, strPath, 164)
GetShortPath = Left$(strPath, lngRes)

End Function

It's in a module, then i just call
MsgBox GetShortPath("C:\Program Files\TPlatC\")
When i step through the program the api call just doesn't return anything. Can anyone help?

[MHengst]

Actually, it looks like the problem I'm having is that I'm trying to convert a path that does not exist on this machine.

[HeSaidJoe]

'the filepath must exist

'bas module code

Option Explicit

Public Declare Function GetShortPathName Lib _
"kernel32.dll" Alias "GetShortPathNameA" _
(ByVal lpszLongPath As String, ByVal lpszShortPath As String, _
ByVal cchBuffer As Long) As Long

'Form Code
Option Explicit

' Find the short filename equivalent of "C:\My Documents\ReadMeFirst.txt"
Private Sub Command1_Click()
    Dim shortname As String  ' receives short-filename equivalent
    Dim slength As Long  ' receives length of short-filename equivalent
    
    ' Make room in the buffer to receive the 8.3 form of the filename.
    shortname = Space(256)
    ' Get the 8.3 form of the filename specified.
    'the file must exist for the api to do it's stuff
    slength = GetShortPathName("C:\ab\needtodosomework.txt", shortname, 256)
    ' Remove the trailing null and display the result.
    shortname = Left(shortname, slength)
    MsgBox shortname
End Sub