MapBasic FileSaveAsDlg() Function

Like the FileOpenDlg() function the FileSaveAsDlg() has four string arguments: the default path, default name, file type and a dialogue prompt. Just as the FileOpenDlg() function does not open files in the same way the FileSaveAsDlg() function does not save files. The FileSaveAsDlg() function returns a string representing a file path. The user can either choose a new name for the file or choose to overwrite an existing file.

Here is some sample code using the FileSaveAsDlg() function to save a file with a new name and then opening a map and browser for this new file

' Program: File Save As Dialog Program.mb
' Purpose: Demonstrate the FileSaveAsDlg() function
'Includes
Include "mapbasic.def"
'Declares
Declare Sub Main()
Declare Sub WorkWithCopyOfTable(ByVal sTarget As String)
Define DEF_TABLE_TO_COPY  "STATES"
Define DEF_NEW_TABLE_NAME  "STATES_NEW"

' Procedure: Main()
' Purpose: Main Control

Sub Main ()
     Dim sNewTable As String
    ' Make sure the table to be copied exists.
    If (FileExists(DEF_TABLE_TO_COPY + ".tab")) Then
    ' Use FileOpenDlg() to get file path.
    ' You will use this path to save a copy of the table later.
    sNewTable = FileSaveAsDlg(ApplicationDirectory$(),
                            DEF_NEW_TABLE_NAME + ".tab",
                            "TAB",
                            "Make copy of " + DEF_TABLE_TO_COPY + ":")
     ' Verify that user did not click CANCEL.
          If (sNewTable <> "" ) Then
               Open Table DEF_TABLE_TO_COPY
                ' Save old table under a new name and path.
               Commit Table DEF_TABLE_TO_COPY As sNewTable
               Close Table DEF_TABLE_TO_COPY
                ' Call routine to process only the copy.
               Call WorkWithCopyOfTable(sNewTable)
           Else
              ' User clicked Cancel.
               Note "No name chosen for copy.  Exiting program."
           End If
    Else
        ' The call to FileExists() returned False.
        Note "Table to be copied does not exist."
    End If
End Sub

' Procedure: WorkWithCopyOfTable()
' Purpose: Carry out tasks on table
Sub WorkWithCopyOfTable(ByVal sTargetTable As String)
' Work with copied table here.
    If (sTargetTable <> "") Then
        Open Table sTargetTable
       ' Use the TableInfo() function to obtain the tablename
       sTargetTable = TableInfo(0, TAB_INFO_NAME)
       Map From sTargetTable ' Open a map window
       Browse * From sTargetTable ' Open a browser
    Else
        Note "No Table Found"
        End Program
    End If
End Sub

 When this code is run in MapInfo a dialogue box opens similar to the following:-

 If the user decides to save the file then MapInfo will open the new table and then produce a map and browser for this table.

 As previously mentioned FileSaveAsDlg() function does not actually save files, instead it offers the user a choice of file name to save via a dialogue box. The user can choose this file name or choose another file with a different path when using this option. In order to save the data under this file name chosen by the user we need to issue a Commit Table statement. You can obtain more information about FileSaveAsDlg() and the Commit Table statement in MapBasic Help.