The _CWD$ function returns the current working directory path as a string value without a trailing path separator.

Syntax

workingDirectory$ = _CWD$

Description

• By default, the initial working directory path is usually the same as the directory of the executable file run.
• The current working directory can be changed with the CHDIR or SHELL command; CHDIR sets it, _CWD$ returns it.
• Path returns will change only when the working path has changed. When in C:\ and run QB64\cwd.exe, it will still return C:\
• The current working directory string can be used in OPEN statements and SHELL commands that deal with files.
• Works in Windows, macOS and Linux. _OS$ can be used by a program to predict the proper slash separations in different OS’s.

Error(s)

• If an error occurs while obtaining the working directory from the operating system, ERROR Codes 51 (Internal Error) will be generated.

Example(s)

Get the current working directory, and move around the file system:

startdir$ = _CWD$
PRINT "We started at "; startdir$
MKDIR "a_temporary_dir"
CHDIR "a_temporary_dir"
PRINT "We are now in "; _CWD$
CHDIR startdir$
PRINT "And now we're back in "; _CWD$
RMDIR "a_temporary_dir"

We started at C:\QB64
We are now in C:\QB64\a_temporary_dir
And now we're back in C:\QB64

See Also

• CHDIR (Change the current working directory)
• RMDIR (Remove a directory in the file system)
• KILL (Delete a file in the file system)
• MKDIR (Create a directory in the file system)
• _OS$ (returns current OS to program)
• _STARTDIR$ (returns path the user called program from)