FileSystem.Dir Method

Source:

FileSystem.vb

Source:

FileSystem.vb

Source:

FileSystem.vb

public:
 static System::String ^ Dir();

public static string Dir ();

static member Dir : unit -> string

Public Function Dir () As String

Returns

A string representing the name of a file, directory, or folder that matches a specified pattern or file attribute, or the volume label of a drive.

Examples

This example uses the Dir function to check if certain files and directories exist.

Dim MyFile, MyPath, MyName As String
' Returns "WIN.INI" if it exists.
MyFile = Dir("C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI")

' Returns filename with specified extension. If more than one *.INI
' file exists, the first file found is returned.
MyFile = Dir("C:\WINDOWS\*.INI")

' Call Dir again without arguments to return the next *.INI file in the
' same directory.
MyFile = Dir()

' Return first *.TXT file, including files with a set hidden attribute.
MyFile = Dir("*.TXT", vbHidden)

' Display the names in C:\ that represent directories.
MyPath = "c:\"   ' Set the path.
MyName = Dir(MyPath, vbDirectory)   ' Retrieve the first entry.
Do While MyName <> ""   ' Start the loop.
    ' Use bitwise comparison to make sure MyName is a directory.
    If (GetAttr(MyPath & MyName) And vbDirectory) = vbDirectory Then
        ' Display entry only if it's a directory.
        MsgBox(MyName)
    End If
    MyName = Dir()   ' Get next entry.
Loop

Remarks

The Dir function supports the use of multiple-character (*) and single-character (?) wildcards to specify multiple files.

VbVolume returns the volume label for the drive instead of a specific file name.

You must supply a PathName the first time that you call the Dir function. To retrieve the next item, you can make subsequent calls to the Dir function without parameters.

The Attributes argument enumeration values are as follows:

See also

• ChDir(String)
• ChDrive
• FileAttribute

Source:

FileSystem.vb

Source:

FileSystem.vb

Source:

FileSystem.vb

[System.Runtime.Versioning.SupportedOSPlatform("windows")]
public static string Dir (string PathName, Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileAttribute Attributes = Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileAttribute.Normal);

public static string Dir (string PathName, Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileAttribute Attributes = Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileAttribute.Normal);

public static string Dir (string Pathname, Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileAttribute Attributes = Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileAttribute.Normal);

[<System.Runtime.Versioning.SupportedOSPlatform("windows")>]
static member Dir : string * Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileAttribute -> string

static member Dir : string * Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileAttribute -> string

Public Function Dir (PathName As String, Optional Attributes As FileAttribute = Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileAttribute.Normal) As String

Public Function Dir (Pathname As String, Optional Attributes As FileAttribute = Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileAttribute.Normal) As String

Parameters

Returns

A string representing the name of a file, directory, or folder that matches a specified pattern or file attribute, or the volume label of a drive.

Attributes

SupportedOSPlatformAttribute

Examples

This example uses the Dir function to check if certain files and directories exist.

Dim MyFile, MyPath, MyName As String
' Returns "WIN.INI" if it exists.
MyFile = Dir("C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI")

' Returns filename with specified extension. If more than one *.INI
' file exists, the first file found is returned.
MyFile = Dir("C:\WINDOWS\*.INI")

' Call Dir again without arguments to return the next *.INI file in the
' same directory.
MyFile = Dir()

' Return first *.TXT file, including files with a set hidden attribute.
MyFile = Dir("*.TXT", vbHidden)

' Display the names in C:\ that represent directories.
MyPath = "c:\"   ' Set the path.
MyName = Dir(MyPath, vbDirectory)   ' Retrieve the first entry.
Do While MyName <> ""   ' Start the loop.
    ' Use bitwise comparison to make sure MyName is a directory.
    If (GetAttr(MyPath & MyName) And vbDirectory) = vbDirectory Then
        ' Display entry only if it's a directory.
        MsgBox(MyName)
    End If
    MyName = Dir()   ' Get next entry.
Loop

Remarks

The Dir function supports the use of multiple-character (*) and single-character (?) wildcards to specify multiple files.
VbVolume returns the volume label for the drive instead of a specific file name.
You must supply a PathName the first time that you call the Dir function. To retrieve the next item, you can make subsequent calls to the Dir function with no parameters.

See also

• ChDir(String)
• ChDrive
• FileAttribute