Cmd String to PAnsiChar in delphi

Question

I am relatively new to Delphi and I want to make a quick application the uses the ShellExecute command.

I want to use string values in edit boxes to add to the command line for doing the processing job outside of the application.

Everything works fine, but I get the error :

"Incompatible types: String and PAnsiChar"

I have tried to convert it using: Variable := PAnsiChar(AnsiString(editbox.Text), but to no avail.

Can anyone assist me with this problem please.

Answer 1

In Delphi 7, it's a simple typecast to PChar, which is already a PAnsiChar:

PChar(YourStringVariable);

or

PChar('Some text here');  // Cast not needed; demonstration only
PChar('C:\' + AFileName); // Cast needed because of variable use

Using it with ShellExecute:

AFile := 'C:\MyDir\Readme.txt';
Res :=   ShellExecute(0, 'open', PChar(AFile),
                      nil, nil, SW_NORMAL )