Example of Finding a File's Type in Macintosh QuickBASIC (50468)

SUMMARY

To find the file type of a Macintosh file, you can make a call to GetFileInfo, an MBLC routine built into Microsoft QuickBASIC Version 1.00 for the Apple Macintosh system. GetFileInfo will tell you if a file is of type "APPL", "TEXT", etc.

MORE INFORMATION

The GetFileInfo routine returns an array with information about a file. The 32nd through 35th bytes contain the filename. Each byte contains one character of the 4-byte name. The explanation of the contents of the entire array can be found on Page 116 of "Inside Macintosh" Volume II (by Apple Computer, Inc., published by Addison-Wesley, 1985). The GetFileInfo MBLC routine in QuickBASIC calls the GetFileInfo routine built into the Macintosh ROM toolbox.

The following sample program uses the FILES$() function to let you choose a file of type "APPL" or "TEXT". It then prints out the file type.

DEFINT A-Z
DIM fileinfo(40)
  REM  Prompt user for the name of the file for which to get the type:
filename$ = FILES$(1,"APPLTEXT")
  REM  Make call to GetFileInfo (an MBLC routine in QuickBASIC):
GetFileInfo filename$,fileinfo(0)
  REM  Parse the ARRAY to get the TYPE:
NameString$ = ""
FOR i = 16 TO 17
   NameString$ = NameString$ + CHR$(fileinfo(i) \ 256)
   NameString$ = NameString$ + CHR$(fileinfo(i) AND 255)
NEXT
  REM  Print the TYPE:
PRINT NameString$