The {{KW|FILES}} statement is used to return a list of files in the current directory using a filespec, but long lists will scroll the screen. {{PageSyntax}} :{{KW|FILES}} [{{Parameter|fileSpec$}}] {{PageDescription}} * Filespec is a string expression or variable containing a path when required. * Filespec can use the * and ? wildcard specs like normal DOS DIR statements. : * denotes one or more wildcard characters in a filename or path spec as any legal file name character(s). : ? denotes one wildcard letter in a filename or path spec as any legal filename character. * If {{Parameter|fileSpec$}} is omitted, it is assumed to be <code>"*.*"</code> (all files and folders in the current directory). * Illegal filename characters in '''QB64''' include * > < : " | \ / with any amount of dot extensions being allowed in Windows. * Illegal filename characters in '''Qbasic''' include * ? , > < ; : " | \ / + [ ] and more than one dot extension in [http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000209.htm DOS]. * FILES lists can make the screen roll. Try using SHELL "DIR" with the /P option. [http://www.computerhope.com/dirhlp.htm DIR command]. ''Example 1:'' Finding a list of all BAS files in the current folder. {{CodeStart}}{{Cl|FILES}} "*.BAS" {{CodeEnd}} <center>'''[http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/burger2227/FILESss.jpg Screenshot shows only the end of a long list of files]'''</center> ''Example 2:'' A function that verifies that a file exists if it is NOT empty. Note: Function WILL deleted empty files! {{CodeStart}} '' '' {{Cl|INPUT}} "Enter a file name: ", file$ {{Cl|IF}} Exist%(file$) {{Cl|THEN}} {{Cl|OPEN}} file$ {{Cl|FOR (file statement)|FOR}} {{Cl|INPUT (file mode)|INPUT}} {{Cl|AS}} #1: found% = -1 'function call demo {{Cl|CLOSE}} #1 {{Cl|IF}} found% THEN {{Cl|PRINT}} "File exists!" {{Cl|ELSE}} {{Cl|PRINT}} "File not found!" {{Cl|END}} {{Cl|FUNCTION}} Exist% (filename$) f% = {{Cl|FREEFILE}} {{Cl|OPEN}} filename$ {{Cl|FOR (file statement)|FOR}} {{Cl|APPEND}} {{Cl|AS}} #f% {{Cl|IF}} {{Cl|LOF}}(f%) {{Cl|THEN}} Exist% = -1 {{Cl|ELSE}} Exist% = 0: {{Cl|CLOSE}} #f%: {{Cl|KILL}} filename$ 'delete empty files {{Cl|CLOSE}} #f% {{Cl|END FUNCTION}} '' '' {{CodeEnd}}{{small|Code by Ted Weissgerber}} ''Example 3:'' The DIR$ function used in PDS(7.1) returns a filename or a list when more than one exist. The file spec can use a path and/or wildcards. {{CodeStart}} '' '' {{Cl|FOR...NEXT|FOR}} i = 1 {{Cl|TO}} 2 {{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|LINE INPUT}} "Enter a file spec: ", spec$ file$ = DIR$(spec$) 'use a file spec ONCE to find the last file name listed {{Cl|PRINT}} DIRCount%, file$, 'function can return the file count using {{Cl|SHARED}} variable {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} DIRCount% > 1 {{Cl|THEN}} DO K$ = {{Cl|INPUT$}}(1) file$ = DIR$("") 'use an empty string parameter to return a list of files! {{Cl|PRINT}} file$, {{Cl|LOOP}} {{Cl|UNTIL}} {{Cl|LEN}}(file$) = 0 'file list ends with an empty string {{Cl|END IF}} {{Cl|NEXT}} {{Cl|END}} {{Cl|FUNCTION}} DIR$ (spec$) {{Cl|CONST}} TmpFile$ = "DIR$INF0.INF", ListMAX% = 500 'change maximum to suit your needs {{Cl|SHARED}} DIRCount% 'returns file count if desired {{Cl|STATIC}} Ready%, Index%, DirList$() {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} {{Cl|NOT}} Ready% {{Cl|THEN}} {{Cl|REDIM}} DirList$(ListMAX%): Ready% = -1 '{{Cl|DIM}} array first use {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} spec$ > "" {{Cl|THEN}} 'get file names when a spec is given {{Cl|SHELL}} {{Cl|_HIDE}} "DIR " + spec$ + " /b > " + TmpFile$ Index% = 0: DirList$(Index%) = "": ff% = {{Cl|FREEFILE}} {{Cl|OPEN}} TmpFile$ {{Cl|FOR...NEXT|FOR}} {{Cl|APPEND}} {{Cl|AS}} #ff% size& = {{Cl|LOF}}(ff%) {{Cl|CLOSE}} #ff% {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} size& = 0 {{Cl|THEN}} {{Cl|KILL}} TmpFile$: {{Cl|EXIT FUNCTION}} {{Cl|OPEN}} TmpFile$ {{Cl|FOR (file statement)|FOR}} {{Cl|INPUT (file mode)|INPUT}} {{Cl|AS}} #ff% {{Cl|DO...LOOP|DO}} {{Cl|WHILE}} {{Cl|NOT}} {{Cl|EOF}}(ff%) {{Cl|AND (boolean)|AND}} Index% < ListMAX% Index% = Index% + 1 {{Cl|LINE INPUT (file statement)|LINE INPUT}} #ff%, DirList$(Index%) {{Cl|LOOP}} DIRCount% = Index% '{{Cl|SHARED}} variable can return the file count {{Cl|CLOSE}} #ff% {{Cl|KILL}} TmpFile$ {{Cl|ELSE}} {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} Index% > 0 {{Cl|THEN}} Index% = Index% - 1 'no spec sends next file name {{Cl|END IF}} DIR$ = DirList$(Index%) {{Cl|END FUNCTION}} '' '' {{CodeEnd}} {{small|Code by Ted Weissgerber}} :''Explanation:'' The function will verify that a file exists (even if it is empty) by returning it's name or it returns an empty string if no file exists. It can return a list of file names by using an empty string parameter("") after sending a wildcard spec to get the first file name. The number of file names found is returned by using the SHARED variable, '''DIRCount%'''. Unlike the PDS DIR$ function, '''it MUST use an empty string parameter until QB64 supports optional parameters!''' The function does NOT delete empty files. <center>'''Alternative File List Solution'''</center> A member created a [[FILELIST$ (function)]] that uses the mouse and does not affect your program screens. It can verify that a file name exists or display a list of long and short file names to choose from. It also avoids program errors when a file name does not exist. <center>NEW expanded code is available here: [[FILELIST$]]</center> <center>[http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/burger2227/FILE-ss2.jpg FILELIST$ function Screenshot]</center> ''See Library:'' File Exist C++ Function that does not create a temp file. [http://qb64.net/wiki/index.php?title=C_Libraries#File_Exist FileExist Function] {{PageSeeAlso}} * [[SHELL]], [[SCREEN (function)]] {{text|(See Example 2)}} * [[CHDIR]], [[MKDIR]] * [[RMDIR]], [[KILL]] * [[_CWD$]], [[_STARTDIR$]] * [[_FILEEXISTS]], [[_DIREXISTS]] * [[DOS]], [[Batch Files]], [[DOS#DIR|DIR]] * [[Windows_Libraries#File_Exist|Windows File Exist Library]] * [[Windows_Libraries#File_Open_and_Save_Dialog|Windows Open and Save Dialog Boxes]] * [[C_Libraries#Console_Window|C Console Library]] * [[FILELIST$]], [[DIR$]] {{text|(member file list array functions)}} {{PageNavigation}}