How to Detect Subdirectories with Test Basic EXISTS Function

ID Number: Q84835

1.00

WINDOWS

Summary:

There is no built-in function in Test Basic to detect whether or not a

subdirectory exists. However, if you know what subdirectories might

exist, you can check for the NUL file in a given subdirectory using

the EXISTS function. This method works consistently only on local

subdirectories, and may not work correctly for drives accessed through

a network.

This information applies to Microsoft Test for Windows version 1.0.

More Information:

The following code checks to see if the subdirectory \DOS exists by

checking for the existence of the NUL file. (The NUL file is created

when a subdirectory is created, and is subsequently present in all

MS-DOS subdirectories.)

If EXISTS ("C:\DOS\NUL") Then

Print "Subdirectory exists."

Else

Print "Subdirectory does not exist."

End If

To check for the presence of other subdirectories, put each name into

the path used with the EXISTS function. For example, to check for the

presence of a subdirectory named TEMP, you would use the following:

If EXISTS ("C:\TEMP\NUL") Then...

Because this method requires the name of the subdirectory to be

checked, it will not work if the subdirectory names are not known.

This method works on all local MS-DOS subdirectories, and may work

sporadically on network subdirectories.

Additional reference words: 1.00