How to convert TCHAR to const char?

Question

The most similar thing I found is conversion to char. I'm trying to convert TCHAR "path" to const char. Btw I use character set: "Not Set".

#include <stdlib.h>
// ... your defines
#define MAX_LEN 100

TCHAR *systemDrive = getenv("systemDrive");
TCHAR path[_MAX_PATH];
_tcscpy(path, systemDrive);

TCHAR c_wPath[MAX_LEN] = _T("Hello world!");//this is original
//TCHAR c_wPath[MAX_LEN] = path; "path" shows error
char c_szPath[MAX_LEN];

wcstombs(c_szPath, c_wPath, wcslen(c_wPath) + 1);

`TCHAR` is not a type. It as a define to either `wchar_t`, or `char`, depending on whether `UNICODE` macro is defined. In the current age - it is leftover for backwards compatibility, you are better off with sticking with either `wchar_t`, or to `char`. — Algirdas Preidžius, Jul 28 '18 at 20:28
@Algirdas Preidžius Aišku, o gal žinote kaip konvertuoti į const char? — Pranciskus, Jul 28 '18 at 20:47
@Hurricane It could be very polite if you'd stick to English!! — Swordfish, Jul 28 '18 at 20:52
I try const char PATH[] = path and I get error C2440: 'initializing' : cannot convert from 'char [260]' to 'const char []' — Pranciskus, Jul 28 '18 at 20:52
Hmm, now I get error C2372: 'path' : redefinition; different types of indirection — Pranciskus, Jul 28 '18 at 20:58
@Hurricane Stop playing with WinAPI and rather get a book to learn the languate ... — Swordfish, Jul 28 '18 at 21:42

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 28 '18 at 22:27

TCHAR is alias for different types depending of platform, defined macros, etc. so, TCHAR can be alias for char(1 byte) or WCHAR(2 bytes). further, WCHAR can be alias for wchar_t or unsigned short. But, you made conversion using wcstombs which has signature like size_t wcstombs(char *, const wchar_t *, size_t), so you have

char* c_szPath

pointing to converted array of char, now, if you need const char*, it is probably enough to write simply const char * myPath = c_szPath, it is legal, and use myPath. But maybe, you even don't need this, because char* can bind on argument of type const char * if you need to pass it to function as argument. When you say,

"path" shows error

that is because array type is not assignable. I really hope this helps.

How to convert TCHAR to const char?

1 Answers1