FILEFIND.FIRST Function

Syntax

obj as P = FILEFIND.First(C pattern[,N file_attribute])

Arguments

patternCharacter

A pattern to select file names using wildcard characters like ?*' and ?? '.

file_attributeNumeric

Default = 0 (normal files). The File_Attribute parameter is a numeric value specifying the type of file to find. You can find files that have one or more of the following attributes:

File Attribute: Description
FILE_FIND_NORMAL: Normal
FILE_FIND_READONLY: Read-only
FILE_FIND_HIDDEN: Hidden
FILE_FIND_SYSTEM: System
FILE_FIND_LABEL: Label
FILE_FIND_DIRECTORY: Directory
FILE_FIND_ARCHIVE: Archive
FILE_FIND_AND_FLAGS: Specifies that multiple flags should be ANDed together rather than ORed. By default flags are ORed.
FILE_FIND_NOT_READONLY: Files that are NOT read-only
FILE_FIND_NOT_DIRECTORY: Files that are NOT directory files
FILE_FIND_NOT_ARCHIVE: Files that do not have their archive bit turned on.
FILE_FIND_AND_NOT_FLAGS: Specifies that when multiple "NOT" flags are used that the flags should be ANDed together.

Returns

objPointer: Returns an object pointer that can be used to find all files in a directory.

Description

Find first file, returns a new FileFind object pointer to the file(s).

Discussion

The FILEFIND.FIRST() method creates the object pointer that can be used to find all of the files in a directory. will refer to all files matching the specified File_Pattern (wildcard characters like ?*' and ?? ' are used). The optional File_Attribute parameter is a numeric value specifying the type of file to find. See FILEFIND.GET() for information about this parameter. Note : FILEFIND.FIRST()is obsolete, and is included for backward compatibility. The FILEFIND.GET() method is the preferred method for getting a list of files.

Example

Populate an array with the names of all tables in the A_SPORTS directory. Then let the user choose a table from the list.

dim file_names250 as C
old_directory = dir_get()
DIR_put("c:\a5\a_sports")
files = FILEFIND.first("*.dbf")
i = 1
while .not. files.eof()
    file_namesI = files.name()
    files.next()
    i = i + 1
end while
dir_put(old_directory)
file_names.sort()
filename = ui_get_list_array("Choose a Table", 1, "file_names")
if filename = "" then
    end
end if

List all sub-directories in the specified path.

dirs = FILEFIND.first("c:\a5\*.*",16)
while .not. dirs.eof()
    dir_name = dirs.name()
    dirs.next()
    trace.writeln(dir_name)
end while

List all sub-directories (including read only directories) in the specified path.

dirs = FILEFIND.first("c:\a5\*.*", FILE_FIND_DIRECTORY + FILE_FIND_READONLY)
while .not. dirs.eof()
    dir_name = dirs.name()
    dirs.next()
    trace.writeln(dir_name)
end while