Microsoft KB Archive/187949

= WD98: Macro to Determine If a File Exists on Disk =

Article ID: 187949

Article Last Modified on 8/21/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 98 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q187949





SUMMARY
The following macro examples determine if a specified file exists in the current folder.

These macros can help you avoid receiving error messages such as "File not found" and "Document does not exist" when you open or delete specific files using Visual Basic for Applications.



MORE INFORMATION
Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements. This example uses the Dir function to check if a certain file exists.

Dir Function Syntax:

Dir[(pathname[,attributes])]

Visual Basic for Applications Sample Code: Sub DoesFileExist Dim MyFile as String ' Returns "My Document" if it exists. MyFile = Dir("HD:MyDocs:My Document") If MyFile <> "" Then MsgBox "File Exists." End Sub

NOTE: To avoid getting an error, you must specify pathname the first time you call the Dir function.

Dir returns the first file name that matches pathname. When no more file names match, Dir returns a zero-length string (""). Once a zero-length string is returned, you must specify pathname in subsequent calls or an error occurs.

For more information about the Dir Function, while in the Visual Basic for Applications Editor, click the Office Assistant, type Dir, click Search, and then click to view "Dir Function."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Microsoft Visual Basic Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

176476 OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

