* Illegal filename characters in QBasic included '''* ? , > < ; : " | \ / + [ ]''' and more than one dot extension in [http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000209.htm DOS].
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<!-- function obsoleted by _FILEEXISTS; function doesn't use the FILES statement and is not relevant in this context; may be moved to an exclusive page if desired;
{{Parameter|Example 2:'' A function that verifies that a file exists if it is not empty. Note: This function will delete empty files.
''Alternative 1:'' The DIR$ function adapted from PDS (7.1) returns a filename or a list when more than one exist. The file spec can use a path and/or wildcards.
:''Explanation:'' The function will verify that a file exists (even if it is empty) by returning its 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 as QB64 doesn't support optional parameters.''' The function does not delete empty files.
* The member-contributed [[FILELIST$]] function uses the mouse and does not affect your program screens. It can verify that a file name exists or display a list of long and short file names to choose from. It also avoids program errors when a file name does not exist. <!-- broken link: [http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/burger2227/FILE-ss2.jpg FILELIST$ function screenshot] -->
<!-- The referenced library is not present in this link anymore ''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] -->