topic Set path for file open command programmatically in ArcObjects SDK Questions

Set path for file open command programmatically

MarshallUdo — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 20:39:27 GMT

I am working on a python addin for ArcGIS 10.2.2 and I would like to set the default path for the "file open" command to a user-specified location after a script tool executes. One of the functions that my addin performs is to launch a script tool that copies some .mxd's to a user-specified location. I would like to use that location as the default path, so users can access the other mxd's that were copied by the tool without having to navigate to that folder. I have used the comtypes module to get a reference to the current document, and it seems I can wrap any of the ArcObjects interfaces I will need. Is there a way to access the property that the Open command uses to open the explorer window? Any suggestions about where to start digging into ArcObjects would be appreciated.

Re: Set path for file open command programmatically

OwainCatton — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 10:55:30 GMT

I believe that the file open dialog uses the registry value stores here;

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ESRI\ArcCatalog\Settings\LastBrowseLocation

Take a look at http://code.activestate.com/recipes/66011-reading-from-and-writing-to-the-windows-registry/ on how to read/set the registry value with python.

Owain

Re: Set path for file open command programmatically

MarshallUdo — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 16:26:10 GMT

Thank you for your reply Owain. I looked in the registry, and on my machine (Windows Server 2008 R2 with ArcGIS 10.2.2), the LastBrowseLocation entry is here:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ESRI\Desktop10.2\ArcCatalog\Settings\LastBrowseLocation

Unfortunately, the string doesn't match the path that opens in the open dialog. I tried manually changing the value, and the open file dialog didn't open to the path that I specified.

Re: Set path for file open command programmatically

MarshallUdo — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 23:23:47 GMT

The entry that controls the path is here:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ESRI\Desktop10.2\ArcMap\File Path

Thanks to Owain for providing the example on how to change the value for this key using python.

Re: Set path for file open command programmatically

OwainCatton — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 12:22:24 GMT

Glad you found it alright, my mistake giving you the Arc Catalog registry key location.

Owain