Using std::filesystem trick to convert windows short path into long path

windows_short_to_long_path.cpp

#include <filesystem>
#include <iostream>
#include <format> // C++20 Required

namespace fs = std::filesystem;

std::string to_long_path(const std::string& short_path) {
    return fs::canonical(short_path).string();
}

int main() {
    std::string short_path{"C:\\PROGRA~1"};
    auto long_path = to_long_path(short_path);
    std::cout << std::format(R"(Short Path: "{}". Long Path Using std::fs: "{}")", short_path, long_path);
    // Output: Short Path: "C:\PROGRA~1". Long Path Using std::fs: "C:\Program Files"
}