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**Ask( **[ //file queue//] [, //restore path //]** )**

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| **Ask** | Displays the Windows file dialog. |
| //file queue// | The label of a QUEUE structure that receives information for the selected files. The structure must be the same as the SelectFileQueue structure declared in ABUTIL.INC. If omitted, the end user may select only one file, for which the Ask method returns the full pathname. |
| //restore path// | An integer constant, variable, EQUATE, or expression that indicates whether to restore the current path to its pre-file dialog state. A //restore path //value of one (1) restores the current path; a value of zero (0) does not restore the current path. If omitted, //restore path //defaults to zero (0). |

The **Ask **method displays the Windows file dialog and returns information, primarily the full pathname, for the selected file or files.

**Implementation:**

The //file queue// parameter must name a QUEUE that begins the same as the SelectFileQueue structure declared in ABUTIL.INC:

**SelectFileQueue QUEUE,TYPE**

**Name             STRING(File:MaxFilePath)**

**ShortName        STRING(File:MaxFilePath)**

**                END**

**Return Data Type:**     STRING

**Example:**

**FileQ      SelectFileQueue       !declare FileName QUEUE**

**FileQCount BYTE**

** CODE**

** !program code**

** SelectFile.Ask(FileQ,0)         !multi file dialog, don't restore directory**

** LOOP FileQCount=1 TO RECORDS(FileQ) !for each selected file**

**  GET(FileQ,FileQCount)          !get the file information**

**  MESSAGE(FileQ.Name)            !process the file**

** END**

** FileNames = SelectFile.Ask(1)   !single file dialog, restore directory**