Move/Copy file using DLL kernel32

[Enrique Dangeroux]

I am trying to rename a file using kernel32 with following code:

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//|                                               JavascriptTest.mq5 |
//|                        Copyright 2019, MetaQuotes Software Corp. |
//|                                             https://www.mql5.com |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
#property copyright "Copyright 2019, MetaQuotes Software Corp."
#property link      "https://www.mql5.com"
#property version   "1.00"

#import "kernel32.dll"
   int MoveFileA(string ExistingFilename, string NewFilename);
   int CopyFileA(string strExistingFile, string strCopyOfFile, int OverwriteIfCopyAlreadyExists);
   int GetLastError();
#import

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Script program start function                                    |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnStart()
  {
//---
    const int handle2 = ::FileOpen("JavascriptFile.jsX", FILE_WRITE | FILE_TXT );

    if (handle2 != INVALID_HANDLE)
    {
      FileWrite(handle2, "var data = 123; ");
      FileClose(handle2);
    } else {
      Print ("Write Error ", GetLastError());
    }
    
    string FileFrom = "JavascriptFile.jsX";
    
    if (FileIsExist(FileFrom))
      Print (FileFrom, " Found!");
    else
      Print (FileFrom, " not Found");

    string PathFileFrom = TerminalInfoString(TERMINAL_DATA_PATH) + "\\MQL5\\Files\\" + FileFrom;
    string PathFileTo   = TerminalInfoString(TERMINAL_DATA_PATH) + "\\MQL5\\Files\\" + "JavascriptFile.jsY";

    Print (PathFileFrom);
    
    MoveFileA(PathFileFrom, PathFileTo);
    Print("MoveFileA error ",kernel32::GetLastError());

    CopyFileA(PathFileFrom, PathFileTo,0);
    Print("CopyFileA error ",kernel32::GetLastError());    
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

In my case the script returns the file being found, but both copy and move function return error code 2 (File not found), even though the file exists. If i copy the PathFileFrom path from the Experts Log and paste into Explorer, the file prompts. What could be the issue?

[Alain Verleyen]

mql5 is using Unicode string, you would need to use the W version of the functions : MoveFileW, CopyFileW

[Enrique Dangeroux]

Alain Verleyen:
mql5 is using Unicode string, you would need to use the W version of the functions : MoveFileW, CopyFileW

Thanks Alain,

Here's the working version:

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//|                                               JavascriptTest.mq5 |
//|                        Copyright 2019, MetaQuotes Software Corp. |
//|                                             https://www.mql5.com |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
#property copyright "Copyright 2019, MetaQuotes Software Corp."
#property link      "https://www.mql5.com"
#property version   "1.00"

#import "kernel32.dll"
   int MoveFileW(string ExistingFilename, string NewFilename);
   int CopyFileW(string strExistingFile, string strCopyOfFile, int OverwriteIfCopyAlreadyExists);
   int GetLastError();
#import

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Script program start function                                    |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnStart()
  {
//---
    const int handle2 = ::FileOpen("JavascriptFile.jsX", FILE_WRITE | FILE_TXT );

    if (handle2 != INVALID_HANDLE)
    {
      FileWrite(handle2, "var data = 123; ");
      FileClose(handle2);
    } else {
      Print ("Write Error ", GetLastError());
    }
    
    string FileFrom = "JavascriptFile.jsX";
    
    if (FileIsExist(FileFrom))
      Print (FileFrom, " Found!");
    else
      Print (FileFrom, " not Found");

    string PathFileFrom = TerminalInfoString(TERMINAL_DATA_PATH) + "\\MQL5\\Files\\" + FileFrom;
    string PathFileTo   = TerminalInfoString(TERMINAL_DATA_PATH) + "\\MQL5\\Files\\" + "JavascriptFile.js";

    Print (PathFileFrom);
    
    //MoveFileW(PathFileFrom, PathFileTo);
    //Print("MoveFileW error ",kernel32::GetLastError());

    CopyFileW(PathFileFrom, PathFileTo,0);
    Print("CopyFileW error ",kernel32::GetLastError());    
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+