OpenTextFile on a remote computer

Question

Hello

I'm trying to read remote text files using this code:

function defdate(ipaddress)
  deffilePath = chr(34) & "\\" & ipaddress & "\c$\" & deffileName & chr(34)
  wscript.echo deffilePath
  set deffile = objFSO.OpenTextFile(deffilePath)
  do while not deffile.endofstream
    s=deffile.readline    
    wscript.echo s
  loop
deffile.close
end function

My deffilePath below expands into strings like this:

"\\10.211.19.207\c$\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\VirusDefs\definfo.dat"

However, I get "Microsoft VBScript runtime error: Bad file name or number".
What could be the problem?

Answer 1

I think you need two backslashes at the start of an UNC pathname. Try adding another one!

My guess would be that it works with "\\10.211.19.207\c$\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\VirusDefs\definfo.dat".

Answer 2

Is c$ not the problem?

Answer 3

Have you tried removing the chr(34) at the end?

Answer 4

You don't need to (read: "must not") enclose your path in quotes.

deffilePath = "\\" & ipaddress & "\c$\" & deffileName

Answer 5

You only need to include the quotes -- the CHR(34) -- when using the command-line, or for similar APIs. If a method takes just a filename, leave them out.

Answer 6

The problem is the "chr(34)" at the beginning and the end. When typing a path in the Windows run menu you need those quotes, but when passing a path to a function call like this you don't want them.

Answer 7

Thanks everyone, the extra enclosing quotes was the problem.