File Path and Identifier Functions

See also: Expression Language and Function Index

The functions in this section provide specific file-related information such as a file's name, path, volume, and other Media Center internal information.

DBLocation(…)

Identifies a file's databases.

Description	DBLocation() DBLocation() behaves exactly as FileDBLocation(0), and takes no parameters, returning only a semicolon-separated list of formatted database names.
Examples	See FileDBLocation()

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Enviro(…)

Returns a specified host system variable

Description	Enviro(System_Variable) Enviro() will lookup a given system variable and return its full path or contents. Note that the function only requires the variable name, bookended % signs are not necessary.
Examples	Enviro(SystemRoot) Returns the system folder, typically C:\Windows Enviro(SystemDrive) Returns the drive the system is installed on, typically, C:

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FileDBLocation(…)

Identifies a file's databases.

Description

filedblocation(format) The FileDBLocation() function returns identifiers in the specified format that indicate to which internal database(s) a file belongs. Media Center maintains several internal databases to track a file's disposition. This function is primarily for technical use only, and will have little utility for most users. Available format values: 0 Semicolon-separated list of formatted database names 1 Numeric value of OR'd database bit flags The table below provides common values output from FileDBLocation(): Database name Bit position Main 0 Playing Now 1 CD 2 Explorer 3 Other (16) 5 Other (6) 6 Grouping 7 Removed 8 Podcast 10 Other (4096) 12 Stacks 14 Category Images 18 Bad 19 Argument format is optional (defaults to 0).

Examples

filedblocation() For a file in the Main and Other (4096) databases, the result would be Main; Other (4096). filedblocation(1) The result from the same file would be 4096 (bit 0 and bit 12 set). Additional Examples Sample expression that uses FileDBLocation() to show a file's databases.

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FileFolder(…)

Returns the name of a file's parent.

Description

filefolder(filepath, level) The FileFolder() function returns parent sub-folder name for filepath. The level argument specifies which parent sub-folder name to return, working the filepath from right-to-left (i.e. bottom of the folder tree upwards to the top). A value of 0 specifies a file's immediate parent, 1 its grandparent, etc., up to the root of the filepath. A value of Unassigned will be returned when the specified level exceeds the root of the filepath. Argument filepath is optional (defaults to [filename]). Argument level is optional (defaults to 0).

Examples

filefolder() Returns the name of the file's parent folder. filefolder([filename,0], 0) Same as the previous example. filefolder(c:\some\folder\for\a\file.ape, 2) Returns the great grandparent sub-folder named folder. filefolder(c:\some\other\folder\a\, 2) Returns the folder named other. Notice the file name is not required in the filepath. FileFolder() works by looking from the end of the filepath until it finds a backslash \.

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FileKey(…)

Returns a file's unique internal identifier.

Description	filekey() The FileKey() function returns the unique identifier associated with a file. Media Center assigns a unique identifier to each file in the Library. It is useful in expressions when referring to individual files is necessary. Services such as MCWS use this value to reference a file.
Examples	filekey() Returns a integer value, such as 22029495, unique for each file in the Library.

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FileLookup(…)

Looks up a file from its filename

Description	FileLookup(Filename) FileLookup() will lookup a file from a given filename, returning its assigned #FileKey
Examples	FileLookup([filename]) Returns the filekey of each file run against it. FileLookup(C:\Track /(Test/)) Returns the filekey of the specified file. Note that when entering the filename directly, any special characters must be escaped otherwise, the expression will break.

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FileName(…)

Returns a file's name component.

Description	filename(filepath, include suffix) The FileName() function returns the file name part of filepath. Inclusion of the file's suffix depends on the include suffix argument. 0 Suppress file suffix 1 Include file suffix Argument filepath is optional (defaults to [filename]). Argument include suffix is optional (defaults to 1).
Examples	filename(C:\Music\File.mp3) The output is File.mp3. filename(C:\Music\File 2.wav, 0) The output does not include the file suffix, and is File 2. filename() Returns the value contained in the field [filename (name)].

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FilePath(…)

Returns a file's path component.

Description

filepath(filepath) The FilePath() function will return the path portion of the specified file path. The filepath should be a rooted path. For Windows, this includes the drive letter or leading \\ for UNC paths. For *nix-based systems, this includes the root /. The field [filename (path)] is equivalent to FilePath(), and is generally preferred. Argument filepath is optional (defaults to [filename]).

Examples

filepath(C:\Music\File.mp3) Returns C:\Music. filepath() Returns the value contained in the field [filename (path)].

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FileVolume(…)

Returns a file's volume name component.

Description	filevolume(filepath) The FileVolume() function returns the volume name component of the specified file path. The path should be a rooted path (see the same comment above for FilePath(). For *nix-based systems, the output is empty. The field [volume name] is equivalent to FileVolume(), and is generally preferred. Argument filepath is optional (defaults to [filename]).
Examples	filevolume(C:\Music\File.mp3) Outputs C:. filevolume() Returns the value contained in the field [volume name].

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