How to Record User-Selected Folder Paths for Subsequent Data Access

Question

How can I implement saving the user-defined folder path so that the script can directly read data from this default folder path during the next run?
I want to read data from a folder, but I cannot predict where the user will set this folder. Therefore, during the first run, I need to be able to record the user-defined folder path. I know that using 'pick file' allows the user to select data, but I don't know how to store this record so that it can be directly read from that folder when this script is run again in the future.

txnelson · Answer

You can use one of the JMP Path Variables to point to a location to store and retrieve data.  From you description of what you want to do, it sounds like the functionality you want is not a critical function so placing the file into a folder in the TEMP path might be a way to handle this.  If at the beginning of your script, you have something like

Names Default To Here( 1 );

If( Is Directory( "$TEMP" || "/myfolder" ) == 0,
	rc = Create Directory( "$TEMP" || "/myFolder" )
);
If( Is File( "$TEMP" || "/myFolder/myfile.txt" ) == 1,
	thePath = Load Text File( "$TEMP" || "/myFolder/myfile.txt" )
);

You will be able to create a place to store myfile.txt if it does not exist, and if the file was placed there in a previous run, then it can be retrieved for use in the current running of the script.

You may want to explore other Path Variables rather than TEMP to see what location is best for your needs.

Look in

Help=>JMP Online Help

for documentation on the Path Variables

and in

Help=>Scripting Index

for examples of IsDirectory() and IsFile()

BabyDoragon · Answer

Your meaning likely refers to saving the path that the user wants to ":c/users/jim/myfile.txt." But the same issue arises: how can I confirm that the user currently has this txt file at that path? If the location of this file is still unknown, the user will need to specify the path for myfile.txt. How can I read the location of myfile.txt the next time it is opened?

txnelson · Answer

The easiest way to do this is to save the path to a text file at a given location on the computer.  Use

Save Text File()

If you add in your script something like

path = try(load text file(":c/users/jim/myfile.txt"),"");

If a previous execution of the script has saved a path to the text file location, the Path variable will be populated.