ChooseFileSave

The ChooseFileSave function displays a Save As dialog box that lets the user choose the drive, directory, and filename for which to save a file. This function does not actually handle the saving of the file; it only allows the user to select the file. The application must then perform the save operation.

BOOL ChooseFileSave(
LPSAVEFILENAME lpofn
);

Parameters

Parameter	Description
`lpofn`	A pointer to a `SAVEFILENAME` structure that contains information used to initialize the dialog box. The system uses this structure to return information about the filename selected by the user.

Return Value

Value	Description
`TRUE`	The user selected a file and the `lStructSize` member of the `SAVEFILENAME` structure is valid. The `lpfnHook` member of the `SAVEFILENAME` structure can be used to specify a hook procedure that processes messages for the dialog box.
`FALSE`	The user canceled the dialog box or an error occurred. If the function fails, you can call `GetLastError` to get the extended error information.

Remarks

The ChooseFileSave function is a generic dialog function that creates the standard Windows Save As dialog box.
Before calling ChooseFileSave, you must initialize the SAVEFILENAME structure.
The dialog box provides functionality for users to create new folders.
If the user chooses a file that already exists, the dialog box prompts the user to confirm whether they want to overwrite the existing file.

Example


#include <windows.h>
#include <commdlg.h>

// ...

void SaveFileExample() {
    OPENFILENAME ofn;
    char szFileName[MAX_PATH] = "";

    ZeroMemory(&ofn, sizeof(ofn));
    ofn.lStructSize = sizeof(ofn);
    ofn.lpstrFilter = "Text Files (*.txt)\0*.txt\0All Files (*.*)\0*.*\0";
    ofn.lpstrFile = szFileName;
    ofn.nMaxFile = sizeof(szFileName);
    ofn.lpstrTitle = "Save As";
    ofn.Flags = OFN_OVERWRITEPROMPT; // Prompt user if file exists

    if (ChooseFileSave(&ofn)) {
        // User selected a file, 'szFileName' now contains the full path
        // Now you can proceed to open and write to the file
        HANDLE hFile = CreateFile(
            ofn.lpstrFile,
            GENERIC_WRITE,
            0,
            NULL,
            CREATE_ALWAYS,
            FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL,
            NULL
        );

        if (hFile != INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
            // Write your data to the file
            DWORD bytesWritten;
            const char* dataToSave = "This is the content to save.";
            WriteFile(hFile, dataToSave, strlen(dataToSave), &bytesWritten, NULL);
            CloseHandle(hFile);
            MessageBox(NULL, "File saved successfully!", "Success", MB_OK);
        } else {
            MessageBox(NULL, "Failed to create file.", "Error", MB_OK | MB_ICONERROR);
        }
    } else {
        // User canceled or an error occurred
        if (CommDlgExtendedError() != 0) {
            MessageBox(NULL, "Dialog box error occurred.", "Error", MB_OK | MB_ICONERROR);
        }
    }
}

Related Function	Description
ChooseFileOpen	Displays an Open dialog box.
SAVEFILENAME	Contains the information used to initialize a Save As dialog box.
CommDlgExtendedError	Retrieves the extended error value for the last common dialog-box error.

ChooseFileSave

Parameters

Return Value

Remarks

Example

See Also