>>- I thought the lnBufferSize must be passed by reference, so its value would reflect the change in size, i.e. would hold the length of the result. On the contrary, it remains unchanged. I tried this as an analogy to GetPrivateProfileString, where it does carry the length.

>For GetShortPathName(), the size of the buffer doesn't receive a value and is, therefore, passed by value.

So I figured. I wish they were more consistent, shouldn't they?

Oh, just checked - I was passing it by reference in GetPrivateProfileString, where it actually passes it by value... my bad. So they are consistent, it was me with a few odd memory chips.

Whew, for a moment I thought you'd object to Rod Stewart :)