User Name Extraction

[angelo2449]

Hi guys,

I have to extract the PC User Name, has anyone solved this problem yet?

Thank you very much!

[xxgeek]

One way is to use cmd with the windows env var %username%
Save this to file before executing.
A list of other environment variables you may need in future
 www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3234-environment-variables-windows-10-a.html

call getUserName
end

sub getUserName
   run "cmd.exe /c echo %USERNAME% >username.txt", HIDE
   do
   scan
   loop until fileExists(DefaultDir$, "username.txt")
   open "username.txt" for input as #1
   username$ = input$(#1, lof(#1))
   close #1
   if username$ = "" then notice "Sorry, can't find username " : end
   print username$
   kill DefaultDir$;"\username.txt"
end sub

'function for checking file existence
function fileExists(path$, filename$)
 dim info$(0, 0)
 files path$, filename$, info$()
 fileExists = val(info$(0, 0)) 'non zero is true
  end function



[metro]

This may be of use
'Demo of API call to get Environment Variable
'Placed into the Public domain on 10/15/04
'Original author: Brad Moore
'Created using Liberty Basic Workshop - thanks Alyce!
'Check out Liberty Basic at http://www.libertybasic.com
'create the array that will contain the values for the combobox
DIM Combo1$(10)
a$ = "UserName UserProfile ProgramFiles windir OS ALLUSERSPROFILE COMPUTERNAME"
for x = 1 to 7
Combo1$(x) = word$(a$, x)

next x
'Setup the window
NOMAINWIN
WindowWidth = 529 : WindowHeight = 166
'we want it centered
UpperLeftX = INT((DisplayWidth-WindowWidth)/2)
UpperLeftY = INT((DisplayHeight-WindowHeight)/2)
'setup the controls
groupbox #main.group1, "Current Value", 20, 50, 480, 60
statictext #main.st1, "", 35, 75, 440, 25
statictext #main.st2, "Choose an environment variable:", 25, 20, 205, 20
button #main.go, "Go!",[go],UL, 450, 20, 45, 25
combobox #main.combo,Combo1$(),[loop], 240, 20, 200, 300
Open "Environment Variables" for Window as #main
#main "trapclose [quit]"
#main.combo "selectindex 1"
#main "font ms_sans_serif 11"
#main.combo "font ms_sans_serif 11"
[loop]
Wait
[quit]
close #main : END
[go]
#main.combo "selection? selected$"
if selected$ <> "" then
#main.st1 GetEnvVar$(selected$)
end if
wait
function GetEnvVar$(name$)
'calls the api GetEnvironmentVariable to get the names environment variable
lbuf$ = space$(255) + chr$(0)
name$ = name$ + chr$(0)
calldll #kernel32, "GetEnvironmentVariableA", name$ as ptr, _
lbuf$ as ptr, _
256 as long, _
result as long
if result = 0 then
GetEnvVar$ = "Environment Variable Not Found"
else
GetEnvVar$ = left$(lbuf$,result)
end if
end function



[Brandon Parker]

For completeness sake, you can get the current user's name using this function. You can also change what is returned if the function fails to return successfully.


   'Create the Generic Size Struct
   Struct Size, value As long

   Print CurrentUserName$()
   Wait

   Function CurrentUserName$()
       lpBuffer$ = Space$(_MAX_PATH) + chr$(0)
       Size.value.struct = Len(lpBuffer$)

       Open "advapi32.dll" For DLL As #ADVAPI32
       CallDLL #ADVAPI32, "GetUserNameA", lpBuffer$    As ptr, _
                                          Size         As struct, _
                                          result       As long
       Close #ADVAPI32

       If result Then
           CurrentUserName$ = Trim$(Left$(lpBuffer$, Size.value.struct))
       Else
           CurrentUserName$ = "UNKNOWN USER"
       End If
   End Function


{:0)

Brandon Parker

[metro]

G'Day Brandon, just curious, I also have that code in my database, what is the advantage of using the advapi32.dll over kernel32

metro
(API novice)

[Brandon Parker]

There are two main reasons for using GetUserNameA over GetEnvironmentVariableA:

1. The user can change the value of environment variables very easily.
2. The user can delete environment variables easily as well.

Another issue that should not plague too many people these days is that the environment variable that holds the username was not always initially set on Windows version prior to XP...I believe...

The GetUserNameA function is the most reliable method for retrieving the current user name IMO.

Either method is perfectly acceptable. There is typically more than one way to do one thing in Windows using the vast API.


{:0)

Brandon Parker

[metro]

Jan 5, 2023 22:06:52 GMT -5 Brandon Parker said:

Either method is perfectly acceptable. There is typically more than one way to do one thing in Windows using the vast API.


{:0)

Brandon Parker

Thanks Brandon,

I have found the API universe to be vast and somewhat confusing. need more time to study it.

Who'd a thought I get less free time now I'm retired.

once again, I appreciate your input