VerFindFileA function (winver.h)

Determines where to install a file based on whether it locates another version of the file in the system. The values VerFindFile returns in the specified buffers are used in a subsequent call to the VerInstallFile function.

Syntax

DWORD VerFindFileA(
  [in]           DWORD  uFlags,
  [in]           LPCSTR szFileName,
  [in, optional] LPCSTR szWinDir,
  [in]           LPCSTR szAppDir,
  [out]          LPSTR  szCurDir,
  [in, out]      PUINT  puCurDirLen,
  [out]          LPSTR  szDestDir,
  [in, out]      PUINT  puDestDirLen
);

Parameters

[in] uFlags

Type: DWORD

This parameter can be the following value. All other bits are reserved.

[in] szFileName

Type: LPCTSTR

The name of the file to be installed. Include only the file name and extension, not a path.

[in, optional] szWinDir

Type: LPCTSTR

The directory in which Windows is running or will be run. This string is returned by the GetWindowsDirectory function.

[in] szAppDir

Type: LPCTSTR

The directory where the installation program is installing a set of related files. If the installation program is installing an application, this is the directory where the application will reside. This parameter also points to the application's current directory unless otherwise specified.

[out] szCurDir

Type: LPWSTR

A buffer that receives the path to a current version of the file being installed. The path is a zero-terminated string. If a current version is not installed, the buffer will contain a zero-length string. The buffer should be at least _MAX_PATH characters long, although this is not required.

[in, out] puCurDirLen

Type: PUINT

The length of the szCurDir buffer. This pointer must not be NULL.

When the function returns, lpuCurDirLen contains the size, in characters, of the data returned in szCurDir, including the terminating null character. If the buffer is too small to contain all the data, lpuCurDirLen will be the size of the buffer required to hold the path.

[out] szDestDir

Type: LPTSTR

A buffer that receives the path to the installation location recommended by VerFindFile. The path is a zero-terminated string. The buffer should be at least _MAX_PATH characters long, although this is not required.

[in, out] puDestDirLen

Type: PUINT

A pointer to a variable that specifies the length of the szDestDir buffer. This pointer must not be NULL.

When the function returns, lpuDestDirLen contains the size, in characters, of the data returned in szDestDir, including the terminating null character. If the buffer is too small to contain all the data, lpuDestDirLen will be the size of the buffer needed to hold the path.

Return value

Type: DWORD

The return value is a bitmask that indicates the status of the file. It can be one or more of the following values. All other values are reserved.

Remarks

This function works on 16-, 32-, and 64-bit file images.

VerFindFile searches for a copy of the specified file by using the OpenFile function. However, it determines the system directory from the specified Windows directory, or searches the path.

If the dwFlags parameter indicates that the file is private to this application (not VFFF_ISSHAREDFILE), VerFindFile recommends installing the file in the application's directory. Otherwise, if the system is running a shared copy of the system, the function recommends installing the file in the Windows directory. If the system is running a private copy of the system, the function recommends installing the file in the system directory.

Requirements

See also

Conceptual

GetWindowsDirectory

OpenFile

Other Resources

Reference

VerInstallFile

Version Information