Microsoft KB Archive/185601

= HOW TO: Recursively Search Directories by Using FileSystemObject =

Article ID: 185601

Article Last Modified on 5/13/2003

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 Learning Edition
 * Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Learning Edition
 * Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Professional Edition

-



This article was previously published under Q185601



IN THIS TASK
SUMMARY
 * Information About the FileSystemObject Class
 * Build the Sample
 * Troubleshooting

REFERENCES



SUMMARY
This step-by-step article demonstrates how to use the FileSystemObject class to recursively search directories and to find specific files.

back to the top

Information About the FileSystemObject Class
The FileSystemObject class is located in the Microsoft Scripting Runtime (Scrrun.dll). To obtain the Scrrun.dll file, install any of the following packages:
 * Microsoft Windows Script Host
 * Microsoft Windows NT Option Pack
 * Microsoft Internet Information Server 3.0
 * Scripting 3.1 upgrade
 * Microsoft Visual Studio 98
 * Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0

The FileSystemObject class provides better performance than if you use Visual Basic intrinsic functions such as Dir and GetAttr. Additionally, FileSystemObject is much simpler to implement that the Visual Basic intrinsic functions.

back to the top

Build the Sample
 Create a new Standard EXE project in Visual Basic. By default, Form1 is created. On the Project menu, click References, and then add a reference to the Microsoft Scripting Runtime. If this option is not listed, locate the Scrrun.dll file on your system. If you have to, install one of the tools that is listed in the Information About the FileSystemObject Class section. Add a CommandButton, a Label, and a ListBox control to Form1. Adjust the width of the Label control so that it is the same as the width of the form.  Add the following code in the General Declarations section of Form1: Option Explicit

Dim fso As New FileSystemObject Dim fld As Folder

Private Sub Command1_Click Dim nDirs As Long, nFiles As Long, lSize As Currency Dim sDir As String, sSrchString As String sDir = InputBox("Type the directory that you want to search for", _                  "FileSystemObjects example", "C:\") sSrchString = InputBox("Type the file name that you want to search for", _                  "FileSystemObjects example", "vb.ini") MousePointer = vbHourglass Label1.Caption = "Searching " & vbCrLf & UCase(sDir) & "..." lSize = FindFile(sDir, sSrchString, nDirs, nFiles) MousePointer = vbDefault MsgBox Str(nFiles) & " files found in" & Str(nDirs) & _ " directories", vbInformation MsgBox "Total Size = " & lSize & " bytes" End Sub

Private Function FindFile(ByVal sFol As String, sFile As String, _  nDirs As Long, nFiles As Long) As Currency Dim tFld As Folder, tFil As File, FileName As String On Error GoTo Catch Set fld = fso.GetFolder(sFol) FileName = Dir(fso.BuildPath(fld.Path, sFile), vbNormal Or _                 vbHidden Or vbSystem Or vbReadOnly) While Len(FileName) <> 0 FindFile = FindFile + FileLen(fso.BuildPath(fld.Path, _ FileName)) nFiles = nFiles + 1 List1.AddItem fso.BuildPath(fld.Path, FileName) ' Load ListBox FileName = Dir ' Get next file DoEvents Wend Label1 = "Searching " & vbCrLf & fld.Path & "..." nDirs = nDirs + 1 If fld.SubFolders.Count > 0 Then For Each tFld In fld.SubFolders DoEvents FindFile = FindFile + FindFile(tFld.Path, sFile, nDirs, nFiles) Next End If  Exit Function Catch: FileName = "" Resume Next End Function  Run the project, and then click Command1. Type the directory and the file name to search for. Notice that when each file is found, the file name is added to the list box. When the process is complete, the number of files that are found is displayed in a message box. The total size of the files is also displayed.</ol>

back to the top

Troubleshooting

 * Some files and directories, such as System Volume Information on Microsoft Windows XP, cause an access violation if an application tries to access them. The error handling code stops looking in a directory when a problem occurs. You must use a different approach if you must have a more robust workaround.
 * If you use a file filter (such as *.*), a large number of files may be returned. The ListBox control can only contain a limited number of characters. When that limit is reached, no more entries are added to the list box.
 * This code sample was tested by using version 5.6.0.6626 of the Microsoft Scripting Runtime (Scrrun.dll). If problems occur, you may have to download a newer version of this file.

back to the top

<div class="references_section">