The full path to the file is usually needed to pass it as a parameter to some handler program. Most often, this task arises when programming some processes, but sometimes you just need to check the location of the object with the path specified in the instructions. This parameter contains an enumeration of all directories, starting with the root directory, that must be opened sequentially to get to the desired file.
Necessary
Windows OS
Instructions
Step 1
Use Explorer if you need to find the full path to a file in the Windows operating system. Open the program using the "hot keys" Win + E or by selecting "Computer" in the main menu, invoked by clicking on the "Start" button. If you know anything about the location of the desired object, navigate the directory tree as close to it as possible - this will narrow the search range, and therefore the time for this procedure.
Step 2
In the field to the right of the address bar of the file manager, enter the name of the file and wait while the program looks through all subdirectories and finds objects whose names contain something similar. The full path will be placed in the "Path to folder" column of the table with search results. There is no need to rewrite it manually - right-click on this line, in the pop-up context menu, select the line "Properties" and copy the contents of the "Location" field of the window that opens.
Step 3
If for any reason you are forced to use the command line interface, use the DOS where command. It needs to be set to the R parameter to make the file search recursive, that is, to look at all subfolders. In addition to it, be sure to specify the name of the desired file, and an optional parameter can be the part of the path to it known to you. This command also performs a search, so specifying at least part of the path will reduce the time spent on it. For example, if you need to get the full path to a file called RM.csv, about which we only know that it is on the F drive, the command should be written like this: where / R f: RM.csv
Step 4
After typing the command and its parameters, press Enter and at the end of the search you will find the full path in the next line of the interface. Unfortunately, you cannot select and copy only this line here, so right-click anywhere in the window, select the "Select All" command from the menu, and then press Enter. In this way, you will place in the clipboard all the contents of the command line interface, which can be cleared of unnecessary lines in any text editor.
