ControlGetText behavior when getting path from explorer window

[shako]

Hi everyone,
I was using the script below to try and get the path from an explorer window. Turns out it only works if I've already clicked inside the path bar before triggering the script.

Code: Select all

#IfWinActive, ahk_class CabinetWClass
!+q::
ControlGetText, f_text, Edit1 ; get the path
if(ErrorLevel)
MsgBox, Error
else
MsgBox, %f_text%
#IfWinActive

From my understanding of ControlGetText, I thought it made sense since without the bar being focused, Edit1 (ClassNN of the path bar) isn't found. What's confusing to me is why it still works after I remove focus from the bar by clicking somewhere in the explorer window's background.
Appreciate any insights!

[Mod edit: Added provisional topic name.]

[flyingDman]

There are several functions on the forum to get the path of the current folder in explorer. This is one:

Code: Select all

#\::                                              ;win \
msgbox % Explorer_GetPath() 
return

Explorer_GetPath() {
   WinGetClass, winClass, % "ahk_id" . hWnd := WinExist("A")
   if !(winClass ~= "(Cabinet|Explore)WClass")
      Return
   for window in ComObjCreate("Shell.Application").Windows
      if (hWnd = window.hWnd)
         return window.Document.Folder.Self.Path
}

[shako]

There are several functions on the forum to get the path of the current folder in explorer. This is one:

Code: Select all

#\::                                              ;win \
msgbox % Explorer_GetPath() 
return

Explorer_GetPath() {
   WinGetClass, winClass, % "ahk_id" . hWnd := WinExist("A")
   if !(winClass ~= "(Cabinet|Explore)WClass")
      Return
   for window in ComObjCreate("Shell.Application").Windows
      if (hWnd = window.hWnd)
         return window.Document.Folder.Self.Path
}

Thanks! I'm already using something similar which I found here. I actually wanted to know why ControlGetText is behaving the way it is in the scenario I described.

[Lem2001]

I actually wanted to know why ControlGetText is behaving the way it is in the scenario I described.

I'd like to know the answer to this too (having encountered the exact same problem myself).

Does anybody have any insight on why ControlGetText does not work with the path / breadcrumb bar in Explorer or file dialogs?