How-to Confirm if variable directory exists

[steve4king]

I am writing a simple little utility, and in this utility, I am giving the user the option to enter a directory. It works fine unless the user selects a non-existent directory.

I was hoping I could just use code similar to t-sql "if exists.." but apparently that doesnt work.

I tried using "If DIRECTORY(G:\foldername)..." and it returned "Function name is missing"

I tried "dDir = DIRECTORY(G:\foldername)" also did not work.

What am I doing wrong? is there a better way to do this check? I just want the utility to exit gracefully if a nonexistant directory is entered.

 

[ilyad]

local lcDir
lcDir = "g:\FolderName"
if directory(m.lcDir)
   * The directory exists
else
   md (m.lcDir)
endif

Note, that you may find that directory exists, but you may not have rights to write into it.

 

[Zografski]

Check in Help DIRECTORY( ) function and nFlags parameter.

You can use the ADIR( ) function to determine specific attributes for the directory.

 

[steve4king]

Did check help, and I am using directory() as specified I think..

I don't know how I would utilize ADIR() to accomplish my needs. (isn't directory() exactly what I want?)

Getdir actually looks good Mike!, really prefer text entry(faster than navigating) but great second option!

Ilyad, the only differences between what I was doing and what you did, was "local lcdir" and for testing purposes, I was not using a variable. example:

if directory("g:\foldername")
   *whatever functions
else
   messagebox("Directory does not exist, retry")
endif

Why should this code not work? vs yours ilyad?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[ilyad]

Your code should work as is, I don't see a problem. It may be a problem, if you try to access non-existing drive, but I think directory() function is smart enough to catch it too.

What is your VFP version?

 

[Mike Lewis]

Steve,

I tried using "If DIRECTORY(G:\foldername)..." and it returned "Function name is missing"

You need to change G:\foldername to a variable that contains the folder name. Either that, or pass the actual folder name in quotes. Either:

lcFolder = <whatever the user entered>
IF DIRECTORY(lcFolder) ...

or:

IF DIRECTORY("G:\MyFolder")

really prefer text entry(faster than navigating)

Agreed, but why not do both. Give them a text box for typing the folder, plus a button that does GETDIR(). That way, they get the choice.

Better still, use Barbara Peisch's cmpSelDir class, which does the whole thing for you (see

http://www.ml-consult.co.uk/foxst-24.htm).

Mike



__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My Visual FoxPro site: www.ml-consult.co.uk

 

[steve4king]

version 9, ugh.. I dont know what I was doing wrong earlier.. The code I just typed in is working fine.

By the way.. what does "local lcDir" do?

 

[steve4king]

Great suggestions Mike!
Thanks, both of you.

 

[ilyad]

local lcDir simply declares local variable named lcDir. Check LOCAL in Help.