🚀 go-pugleaf

> I know for a FACT that the Win3.1 components alter the current directory,
> because they all use the chdir() function internally, which alters the
> current working directory for the calling process.  I know this because I
> looked at the source code for them.  As for TOpenDialog, I also know it
can
> potentially change the current directory because it has an explicit
> "ofNoChangeDir" option specifically for the purpose of disabling that
> behavior.

That's OK.

This is your same example in which I added the following modifications:

1- CurrentDirectoryTest.cpp
----------------------------------
#include <vcl.h>
#pragma hdrstop
USERES("CurrentDirectoryTest.res");
USEFORM("CurrentDirectoryForm.cpp", Form1);
USEUNIT("CurrentDirectoryTest.cpp");
AnsiString ApplicationDirectory;

AnsiString GetApplicationDirectory()
{
   const DWORD BUFF_SIZE = 256;
   char Buffer[BUFF_SIZE+1];
   GetCurrentDirectory(BUFF_SIZE, Buffer); //Win 32 API
   return AnsiString(Buffer);
}

void Initialize()
{
    ApplicationDirectory = GetApplicationDirectory();
    ShowMessage(ApplicationDirectory);  //Test line
    Application->Initialize();
}

//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE, HINSTANCE, LPSTR, int)
{
        try
        {
                 Initialize();  // See above function
                 Application->CreateForm(__classid(TForm1), &Form1);
                 Application->Run();
        }
        catch (Exception &exception)
        {
                 Application->ShowException(&exception);
        }
        return 0;
}
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-



2. CurrentDirectoryForm.cpp
---------------------------------
#include <vcl.h>
#pragma hdrstop

#include "CurrentDirectoryForm.h"
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
#pragma package(smart_init)
#pragma resource "*.dfm"
TForm1 *Form1;
extern AnsiString ApplicationDirectory;    // Modification

//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
AnsiString __fastcall CurrentDir()
{
 char buffer[MAX_PATH+1] = {0};
 ::GetCurrentDirectory(MAX_PATH+1, buffer);
 return AnsiString(buffer);
}
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
__fastcall TForm1::TForm1(TComponent* Owner)
 : TForm(Owner)
{
 ShowMessage("Initial directory: " + CurrentDir());
}
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
void __fastcall TForm1::DirectoryListBox1Change(TObject *Sender)
{
 ShowMessage("New directory: " + CurrentDir());
}
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
void __fastcall TForm1::Button1Click(TObject *Sender)
{
    if (OpenDialog1->Execute())
       ShowMessage("New directory: " + CurrentDir());

   // Modification
   ShowMessage(ApplicationDirectory);
}
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-


The global variable ApplicationDirectory will get you the applications
directory,
even if you use TOpenDialog or any other Win3.1 component from the
component palette.

However, if, as Early mentioned, if Windows Explorer changes the
Current Directory internally when it launches the application (assuming we
use WE)
, the thing could be different. I'll have to investigate further :-)

Rodolfo