File is a GeneXus data type that allows you to manage system files. It makes it easier to develop applications that need to execute actions that affect system files.

The File data type enables system file management. It can be used for typical operations such as copying, moving, renaming and deleting files. You can also use File data type to get file attributes such as modification, date, time and size.

Properties

Source Assign a path to the file. The source cannot be read, use GetAbsoluteName(*) instead.
Separator Returns the name separator character depending on the OS.
ErrCode Returns the result of the last operation.
ErrDescription Returns the result description of the last operation.

 

Methods

Copy Copies the specified file to a new file.
Delete Deletes the specified file.
Exists Determines whether the specified file exists.
GetName Returns the name of the specified file.
(*)GetAbsoluteName Returns the full path name of the specified file.
GetPath Returns the path of the parent directory.
Rename Renames the specified file.
GetLastModified Returns the date and time the specified file was last modified.
GetLength Gets the size of the specified file.
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Copy

Copies the file specified in source to a new location. If the target file already exists, it will be overridden.

Parameters

New filename (Character)

Example

&file.copy("c:\empcopiedFile.txt")

Delete

Deletes the file specified in source.

Example

&file.delete()

Exists

Checks whether the file specified in source exists

Returned values

Boolean

Example

If &file.exists()
    msg("The file exists!")
Else 
    msg("The file does not exist!")
EndIf

GetName

Returns the name of the file specified in source.

Returned values

Character

Example

&file.Source="c:\myFile.txt"
Msg(&file.GetName()) // screen shows: myFile.txt

GetAbsoluteName

Return the absolute name of the file specified in source.

Returned values

Character

Example

&file.Source="c:\empmyFile.txt"
Msg(&file.GetAbsoluteName()) // screen shows: c:\empmyFile.txt

GetPath

Returns the path of the parent directory.

Returned values

Character

Example

&parentDir = &file.getPath()

Rename

Renames the file specified in source. It can also be used to move the file, changing its current path.

Parameters

New name of the file (Character)

Example

&file.Rename("d:\empnewFileName.txt")

GetLastModified

Returns the date and time the file specified in source was last modified.

Rerturned values

DateTime

Example

&dateTime = &file.GetLastModified()

GetLength

Returns the size (in bytes) of the file specified in source.

Returned values

Numeric

Example

&size = &file.GetLength()

Error Codes

0 Operation completed successfully.
1 Invalid file instance - if source property was not set.
2 File does not exist.
3 File already exists.
100 Security error.
-1 Undefined error.

See Also

File data type: Text file handling

Scope

Language Java, .NET,  Ruby
Objects Procedure object, Web Panel object, Transaction object