VB Snippet - Map a Drive

[James Stanich]

Private Declare Function WNetAddConnection Lib "mpr.dll" Alias "WNetAddConnectionA" (ByVal lpszNetPath As String, ByVal lpszstrPassword As String, ByVal lpszLocalName As String) As Long
 
Dim strLocalDriveLetter As String
 
Dim strPassword As String
 
Dim strNetworkPathName As String
 
    strLocalDriveLetter = "Z:"                  'Local drive letter to be mapped
 
    strPassword = ""                            'specify network password if required
 
    strNetworkPathName = "\\NEWPATH\NEWPATH"   'path to network drive
    
    If WNetAddConnection(strNetworkPathName, strPassword, strLocalDriveLetter) > 0 Then
 
        MsgBox ("An Error occurred mapping the drive")
 
    Else
 
        MsgBox ("Drive successfully mapped!")
 
    End If

[twilly]

nice! How would you modify this to prompt for a network drive to map? Like another server or share. If you hard code it, looks like you need to have all the servers the same name or create several instances

[siyan]

Use a bunch of inputboxes or a custom form.

[twilly]

sometimes I wonder about myself

[Flip]

another possible way (without api's) is through SHELL command 'subst'. Here is the help from the terminal:

H:\>help subst
Associates a path with a drive letter.

SUBST [drive1: [drive2:]path]
SUBST drive1: /D

  drive1:        Specifies a virtual drive to which you want to assign a path.
  [drive2:]path  Specifies a physical drive and path you want to assign to
                 a virtual drive.
  /D             Deletes a substituted (virtual) drive.

Type SUBST with no parameters to display a list of current virtual drives.

And here is how you can use it:

' map the windows folder to the S drive
Shell("subst c:\windows s:"
' remove the map
Shell("subst s: \D")

This might be easier if you want to do it on one line...

[RobDog888]

Even another way - no vb.

Create a bat file to map a drive.

You could always shell out the .bat file in vb if you wanted.

@echo off
echo Mapping Drive.......
NET USE R: \\ServerName\ShareName /PERSISTENT:YES

[nbmprivat]

Question: When I use the "NET USE" code if doesn't remove the drive icon. What can I do about? An yes, I hit F5 several times. When I click the icon a error message shows.

[Hack]

Question: When I use the "NET USE" code if doesn't remove the drive icon. What can I do about? An yes, I hit F5 several times. When I click the icon a error message shows.

So, it disconnects the drive but leaves the icon in place?

[nbmprivat]

So, it disconnects the drive but leaves the icon in place?

Yes...

[Hack]

Have you tried using the API instead of NET USE?

[nbmprivat]

Nope... but I dropped the drivemapping solution. I just use the direct network path to start batch files.

[Shuja Ali]

Even another way - no vb.

Create a bat file to map a drive.

You could always shell out the .bat file in vb if you wanted.

@echo off
echo Mapping Drive.......
NET USE R: \\ServerName\ShareName /PERSISTENT:YES

Hey I saw that today because of a new post.

If you again don't want to Hardcode the values here is an extension of RD's code

@echo off
echo Mapping Drive.......
NET USE %1 %2 /PERSISTENT:YES

If you save this file as MAPDRIVE.BAt then you can execute it by passing the drive and path like this

MAPDRIVE P: \\ServerName\ShareName

[Robbo]

strNetworkPathName = "\\NEWPATH\NEWPATH" 'path to network drive


the PC is on the network however its is under a different domain so doesnt pick it up, how do i modify strNetworkPathName = "\\NEWPATH\NEWPATH" if under different domain

cheers

[Robbo]

Private Declare Function WNetAddConnection Lib "mpr.dll" Alias "WNetAddConnectionA" (ByVal lpszNetPath As String, ByVal lpszstrPassword As String, ByVal lpszLocalName As String) As Long
 
Dim strLocalDriveLetter As String
 
Dim strPassword As String
 
Dim strNetworkPathName As String
 
    strLocalDriveLetter = "Z:"                  'Local drive letter to be mapped
 
    strPassword = ""                            'specify network password if required
 
    strNetworkPathName = "\\NEWPATH\NEWPATH"   'path to network drive
    
    If WNetAddConnection(strNetworkPathName, strPassword, strLocalDriveLetter) > 0 Then
 
        MsgBox ("An Error occurred mapping the drive")
 
    Else
 
        MsgBox ("Drive successfully mapped!")
 
    End If

oh also how do u disconnect afterwards?

[RobDog888]

Disconnection API - http://windowssdk.msdn.microsoft.com...nectdialog.asp

[Robbo]

Disconnection API - http://windowssdk.msdn.microsoft.com...nectdialog.asp

that using this method??

Private Declare Function WNetAddConnection Lib "mpr.dll" Alias "WNetAddConnectionA" (ByVal lpszNetPath As String, ByVal lpszstrPassword As String, ByVal lpszLocalName As String) As Long

Dim strLocalDriveLetter As String

Dim strPassword As String

Dim strNetworkPathName As String

strLocalDriveLetter = "Z:" 'Local drive letter to be mapped

strPassword = "" 'specify network password if required

strNetworkPathName = "\\NEWPATH\NEWPATH" 'path to network drive

If WNetAddConnection(strNetworkPathName, strPassword, strLocalDriveLetter) > 0 Then

MsgBox ("An Error occurred mapping the drive")

Else

MsgBox ("Drive successfully mapped!")

End If

??

[RobDog888]

No, the menu didnt sync so when I copied the url it was on another api I had lloked at. This one is the one - http://windowssdk.msdn.microsoft.com...asp?frame=true

[Robbo]

No, the menu didnt sync so when I copied the url it was on another api I had lloked at. This one is the one - http://windowssdk.msdn.microsoft.com...asp?frame=true

still not sure what string is? just copy and paste if you like?

[RobDog888]

I think this is the correct conversion from C++ to VB6.

Private Declare Function WNetCancelConnection2 Lib "mpr.dll" Alias "WNetCancelConnection2A" (ByVal lpName As String, _
ByVal dwFlags As Long, ByVal lpszLocalName As Boolean) As Long

Here is the C++ code example of its use.

http://windowssdk.msdn.microsoft.com...connection.asp

[Robbo]

I think this is the correct conversion from C++ to VB6.

Private Declare Function WNetCancelConnection2 Lib "mpr.dll" Alias "WNetCancelConnection2A" (ByVal lpName As String, _
ByVal dwFlags As Long, ByVal lpszLocalName As Boolean) As Long

Here is the C++ code example of its use.

http://windowssdk.msdn.microsoft.com...connection.asp

ok

well have theses two

Private Declare Function WNetAddConnection Lib "mpr.dll" Alias "WNetAddConnectionA" (ByVal lpszNetPath As String, ByVal lpszstrPassword As String, ByVal lpszLocalName As String) As Long
Private Declare Function WNetCancelConnection Lib "mpr.dll" Alias "WNetCancelConnectionA" (ByVal lpszNetPath As String, ByVal lpszstrPassword As String, ByVal lpszLocalName As String) As Long

so should i replace second with this?

Private Declare Function WNetCancelConnection2 Lib "mpr.dll" Alias "WNetCancelConnection2A" (ByVal lpName As String, ByVal dwFlags As Long, ByVal lpszLocalName As Boolean) As Long

[RobDog888]

Did you look at the example in the link I posted?

[Robbo]

Did you look at the example in the link I posted?

ok thats in C++, will have a try see if can get it working if not will post the code cheers

[Robbo]

ok

Private Sub UNMAP_DRIVE()
If WNetCancelConnection2(strNetworkPathName, strPassword, strLocalDriveLetter) = 0 Then
MsgBox ("Mapped drive removed")
End
Else
MsgBox (" not successfully unmapped!")
End If
End Sub

not picking it up, what does WNetCancelConnection2 have to equal or should be?

[RobDog888]

Check the "Return Values" section of the api definition.

http://windowssdk.msdn.microsoft.com...onnection2.asp

I also think you have your paramaters wrong.

Should be - "Drive letter", CONNECT_UPDATE_PROFILE, False

[Robbo]

will have another mess see if i can get it to work, never used this command so like looking for a drawing pin in the dark, not sure as theres no help on it in VB

[RobDog888]

There shouldnt be that much to it...

If WNetCancelConnection2("Drive letter", CONNECT_UPDATE_PROFILE, False) = NO_ERROR Then

[Robbo]

yippy

this worked

Private Sub UNMAP_DRIVE()
If WNetCancelConnection2(strLocalDriveLetter, CONNECT_UPDATE_PROFILE, False) = 0 Then
'MsgBox ("Mapped drive removed")
End
Else
MsgBox ("Not successfully unmapped!")
End If
End Sub

[RobDog888]

Therre you go See isnt it more saisifying when you only get guidence and not everything handed to you on a silver platter. Now you will not forget this each time you need to map/unmap a drive.

Note the False argument is not to force a disconnection if there is an open job or process using the resource.