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# Throwback Thursday: April 24, 2025
- URL: https://nolongerset.com/throwback-thursday-2025-04-24/
- Published: 2025-04-25T02:24:26.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-08T12:45:18.000Z
- Description: Today's edition of Throwback Thursday is all about building file names, verifying folder paths, and other related file system activities.
- Author: Mike Wolfe
- Tags: Throwback Thursday, #Import 2026-05-20 02:59

*With over a million words scattered across more than 1,500 articles on this blog, you've probably missed a few things here.*

*That’s why each week in "Throwback Thursday," we’ll revisit some standout posts. Expect a blend of my personal favorites, insightful articles from other great minds, and a touch of coding humor to keep things light.*

---

## Highlights from NoLongerSet.com

[Joining Paths in VBAHow many times have you gotten a runtime error because you had duplicate or missing backslashes in your file paths? Never again!![](https://nolongerset.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/09/NLS_Icon_square.png)No Longer SetMike Wolfe![](https://nolongerset.com/content/images/2021/02/spring-3404740_1920.jpg)](https://nolongerset.com/joining-paths-in-vba/)

[GetTempPath: Using the Windows API for Maximum PerformanceIf you are looking to maximize performance in VBA, using the Windows API will almost always be your best bet.![](https://nolongerset.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/09/NLS_Icon_square.png)No Longer SetMike Wolfe![](https://nolongerset.com/content/images/2022/08/car-3922692_1920.jpg)](https://nolongerset.com/gettemppath/)

[EnsurePathExists: A Unicode-Safe Way to Create Missing Subfolders in VBAThe EnsurePathExists function--based on the API function SHCreateDirectoryExW--is the ultimate tool for verifying and creating folder structures.![](https://nolongerset.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/09/NLS_Icon_square.png)No Longer SetMike Wolfe![](https://nolongerset.com/content/images/2022/08/EnsurePathExists.jpg)](https://nolongerset.com/ensurepathexists/)

[The Subtle Dangers of Dir()If Len(Dir(FullPath)) > 0 Then ’the file exists. This potential bug patiently waits to pounce and ruin another poor programmer’s day.![](https://nolongerset.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/09/NLS_Icon_square.png)No Longer SetMike Wolfe![](https://nolongerset.com/content/images/2020/12/jaguar-1337201_1920.jpg)](https://nolongerset.com/the-subtle-dangers-of-dir/)

## Wisdom from Around the Web

[Determine If A Filename Is ValidIn VBA, t is relative simple to validate if a filename meets the Windows naming requirements and if not, determine the elements causing failure.![](https://www.devhut.net/favicon.ico)Daniel Pineault![](https://www.devhut.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CARDA_HfH.jpg)](https://www.devhut.net/determine-if-a-filename-is-valid/)

[How To Sanitize A FilenameA VBA function that allows us to sanitize proposed filenames to ensure they conform to Microsoft Windows file naming conventions and doesn’t include illegal chr![](https://www.devhut.net/favicon.ico)Daniel Pineault![](https://www.devhut.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CARDA_HfH.jpg)](https://www.devhut.net/how-to-sanitize-a-filename/)

## Developer Humor

> [painInAss](https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgrammerHumor/comments/1k1w4vk/paininass/)  
> by [u/Plastic-Bonus8999](https://www.reddit.com/user/Plastic-Bonus8999/) in [ProgrammerHumor](https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgrammerHumor/) 

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