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# How to Determine the Path to the Macintosh Desktop

Article ID: 114806

Article Last Modified on 11/17/2003

APPLIES TO

- Microsoft FoxPro 2.5b for Macintosh
- Microsoft Visual FoxPro 2.5c for Macintosh
- Microsoft Visual FoxPro 3.0b for Macintosh

This article was previously published under Q114806

## SUMMARY

The Macintosh desktop is the background area displayed on a Macintosh. It contains icons for folders, applications, disks, and the Trash.
In FoxPro, the desktop is referenced as a subfolder (subdirectory), called "Desktop Folder," in the main volume (hard disk).

## MORE INFORMATION

### Steps to Determine the Volume's Name

Type the following in the Command window:

       SET VOLUME C: TO  && Clears VOLUME setting, if any
       SET DEFAULT TO    && Makes the volume's root the current directory
       ?SYS(5)           && Returns the current volume (disk) name

### Steps to Set the Default to a Folder in the Desktop

These steps assume that the volume (disk) name is "Macintosh HD:". If needed, use the steps listed above to determine your volume's name.

1. Close all open windows. The only thing in view should be the desktop.
2. From the File menu, choose New Folder.
3. A folder named untitled folder is created on the desktop. Change the name of the folder to `TEST`.
4. Start FoxPro.
5. To set the default to the TEST folder in the desktop, type one of the following code snippets in the Command window:

             SET VOLUME C: TO "Macintosh HD:"
             SET DEFAULT TO "C:\Desktop Folder\TEST"

   -or-

             SET DEFAULT TO "Macintosh HD:\Desktop Folder\TEST"

### Example of Code That's Independent of Folder or Volume Name

       CLEAR
       CLEAR ALL
       DEFINE WINDOW GetInfo FROM 0,0 to 20,70
       ACTIVATE WINDOW GetInfo
       MOVE WINDOW GetInfo Center
       @ 0,0 SAY "This example will set the default directory to"
       @ 1,0 SAY "<volume name>:\<FoxPro folder> and then use the "
       @ 2,0 SAY "CUSTOMER.DBF table in area #1. This will demonstrate"
       @ 3,0 SAY "how to make your code independent of any specific"
       @ 4,0 SAY "folder or volume name..."
       FPFOLDER = "          "
       @ 6,0 SAY "Enter the folder name where FoxPro is installed"
       @ 7,0 GET FPFolder PICTURE "XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX" DEFAULT "MyFolder"
       READ
       FPFOLDER = ALLTRIM(FPFolder)
       @ 8,0 SAY "------------"
       @ 9,0 SAY "Volume name is: "+SYS(5)
       @ 10,0 SAY "Currently located in: "+SYS(2003)
       CURLOC = SYS(5)+ FPFOLDER
       @ 11,0 SAY "Setting default directory/folder to: "+CURLOC
       SET DEFAULT TO (Curloc)
       @ 12,0 SAY "Using "+CURLOC+":Tutorial:CUSTOMER.DBF in area # 1"
       SELECT 1
       USE "TUTORIAL\CUSTOMER" IN 1

(c) Microsoft Corporation 2000, All Rights Reserved. Contributions by Kevin Zollman, Microsoft Corporation.

Additional query words: VFoxMac FoxMac desk top akz

Keywords: KB114806