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FILESEEK()
Searches for files by name and attribute
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Syntax
FILESEEK([<cFileMap>, [<nFileAttr>], [<lExact>]])
--> cFileName
Arguments
<cFileMap> Designates a file name including its path and drive
designation. It may contain wildcards.
<nFileAttr> Designates the file attribute that corresponds to the
ones described in the table on the next page. The default value is 0.
<lExact> If you designate .T. as the optional parameter, FILESEEK()
also checks for the exact agreement of the file attributes of the
respective file with the value passed by <nFileAttr>.
() If you call the function without parameters, it serves as a
sequential call for a FILESEEK() with file specifications, and returns
sequential entries as long as these are found.
Returns
FILESEEK() returns the name of the first or next entry (when called
without parameter) located in the selected directory.
Description
FILESEEK() provides the foundation for a variety of functions. As a
group, they permit access to desired information about directory
entries. Implement the FILESEEK() function when you want information
about a file group (wildcards). When you call it with the <cFileMap>
parameter, it searches for the first entry in the designated directory.
If you call it without parameters, it searches for the next matching
entry in the directory. If no more entries are present, it returns a
null string. An attribute mask can further define a file group that is
being searched for. The desired file attributes are coded as follows:
Table 7-15: Coding the File Attribute
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Value Symb. constants Assigned attribute
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0 FA_NORMAL
1 FA_READONLY READ ONLY (Read-only)
2 FA_HIDDEN HIDDEN (Hidden files)
4 FA_SYSTEM SYSTEM (System files)
8 FA_VOLUME VOLUME (Name of a floppy/hard disk)
16 FA_DIRECTORY DIR (Directory)
32 FA_ARCHIVE ARCHIVE (Changes since last backup)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you implement multiple attributes simultaneously, the table values
are added accordingly. Of course, not all combinations are useful.
Exact File Attributes
DOS does not make an exact comparison with a designated attribute mask
and attributes actually found in a file. Specify only the SYSTEM,
HIDDEN, VOLUME, or DIR attributes for an entry to be found. Files with
only one other attribute bit set are always returned, regardless of the
value specified in the attribute mask. This way, a function call with a
mask value of 16 returns not only subdirectories, but all files without
a set attribute (e.g., all the ARCHIVE and R/O files).
To avoid this, you can designate .T. as the third parameter. The
function itself also reviews the designated attribute mask with the
actual file attributes, for an exact agreement. Then, the designation
of a 16 mask and .T., only returns subdirectories.
Internal Data Buffer
Every time you use FILESEEK() all the data for a directory entry is
saved to an internal buffer. Individual information such as size, time,
or date is easily accessible. To do this, the FILETIME(), FILEDATE(),
etc., functions are called without parameters; otherwise, it requires
another call to the disk, instead of taking the data from an internal
buffer.
Notes
. Use the recursive sample function SCANFILES() in the
accompanying Tooldemo.prg file, to produce the most effective
programs to work with entire directory structures.
. Display the date and size of all files with the extension .TXT
in a directory:
cFile := FILESEEK("C:\TEXT\*.TXT")
DO WHILE .NOT. EMPTY(cFile)
? FILESIZE() // Size of file in buffer
? FILEDATE() // Date of file in buffer
cFile := FILESEEK() // Search for next entry
ENDDO
. Display system files in the root directory. Attribute: READ
ONLY, HIDDEN, SYSTEM, ARCHIVE --> 39, although 6(2 + 4) will
suffice as an attribute:
cFile := FILESEEK("C:\*.*", 39)
DO WHILE .NOT. EMPTY(cFile)
? cFile // File name
cFile := FILESEEK() // Look for next entry
ENDDO
. Only query the subdirectory:
cSubDir := FILESEEK("C:\*.*, 16, .T.)
DO WHILE .NOT. EMPTY(cSubDir)
? cSubDir // Name of the directory
cSubDir := FILESEEK() // Search for next directory
ENDDO
See Also:
FILEATTR()
FILEDATE()
FILESIZE()
FILETIME()
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