3.30.2013 How to get the EXEs path and load an Image

It is a common question. In your code, sometimes you need to define where your EXE is running from. Then you can load any file from the application's directory or subdirectories. Let's learn how to.


The easy way to put it is:
To get from where the EXE is running: Application.Location
To get the application path and EXE file name: Application.ExeName
To get only the EXE file name: ExtractFileName(Application.ExeName)

Now let's get a tutorial to use this code:

Tutorial

Create a new Application project. Project->New Project->Application->OK.

Switch to form view (F12). Place a TLabel and a TEdit on the form. Set the TEdit's text to blank. Now copy the both objects and paste twice.

Now place a TButton and a Timage. Set the Timage's autosize property to true.

Your form will look like this:

Double click on form and enter:

  Edit1.Text:=Application.Location;
  Edit2.Text:=Application.ExeName;
  Edit3.Text:=ExtractFileName(Application.ExeName);

Save the project in a directory (File->Save All). Copy an image to the project's directory, a jpg, gif or png would work. I have copied a png image and named it laz.png. We will load the image file in a TImage component, the path of which will be determined using Application.Location.

Swith to form view (F12). Double click on the TButton and write:

  Image1.Picture.LoadFromFile(Application.Location+'\laz.png');

Change the image filename according to what image you are using.

Run it

Now run it (F9). You will see the application path, exe file path and exe filename on the editboxes. Click the tButton and you will see your image loading in the timage.

Sample code download

Download it here: http://db.tt/CQSN7hcI
or here: http://bit.ly/10bEVCf
Size: 709kb
It includes a compiled executable (exe).