How do I set the working directory to the "solution directory" in c++?

Question

I want to set the current directory to the solution directory/configuration name. How do I do that? Can I use the global variables somehow?

I am trying to read a file and the current directory changes in the middle of the code. I want to change it back.

Answer 1

In Visual Studio 2010:

1. Go to the project properties (rigth click on the project name in the Solution Explorer, then Properties on the pop up menu).
2. Then, under Configuration Properties / Debugging, set Working Directory to $(SolutionDir)$(Configuration)\.

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Full list of available macros (on docs.microsoft.com) : Common macros for MSBuild commands and properties

Answer 2

You can use the posix subsystem ( <direct.h> ) and access the functions

_getcwd()/_wgetcwd() Gets the current working directory
_chdir()/_wchdir() Sets the current working directory

If you need your code to be cross platform, you can do the following:

#ifdef _WIN32
#  include <direct.h>
#  define getcwd _getcwd
#  define chdir _chrdir
#else
#  include <unistd.h>
#endif

and use getcwd and chdir (w/o the leading underscore).

Answer 3

Have you tried using the environment variable $(SolutionDir)?

With reference to this thread here.

Also, hopefully, the version of VS does not matter, but this answer is furnished based on the assumption that the platform is VS2005.