| Platform SDK: Files and I/O |
The DeleteFile function deletes an existing file.
BOOL DeleteFile( LPCTSTR lpFileName // file name );
Windows NT/2000: In the ANSI version of this function, the name is limited to MAX_PATH characters. To extend this limit to nearly 32,000 wide characters, call the Unicode version of the function and prepend "\\?\" to the path. For more information, see File Name Conventions.
Windows 95/98: This string must not exceed MAX_PATH characters.
If the function succeeds, the return value is nonzero.
If the function fails, the return value is zero. To get extended error information, call GetLastError.
If an application attempts to delete a file that does not exist, the DeleteFile function fails.
To delete or rename a file, you must have either delete permission on the file or delete child permission in the parent directory. If you set up a directory with all access except delete and delete child and the ACLs of new files are inherited, then you should be able to create a file without being able to delete it. However, you can then create a file, and you will get all the access you request on the handle returned to you at the time you create the file. If you requested delete permission at the time you created the file, you could delete or rename the file with that handle but not with any other.
Windows 95: The DeleteFile function deletes a file even if it is open for normal I/O or as a memory-mapped file. To prevent loss of data, close files before attempting to delete them.
Windows NT/2000: The DeleteFile function fails if an application attempts to delete a file that is open for normal I/O or as a memory-mapped file.
To close an open file, use the CloseHandle function.
MAPI: For more information, see Syntax and Limitations for Win32 Functions Useful in MAPI Development.
Windows NT/2000: Requires Windows NT 3.1 or later.
Windows 95/98: Requires Windows 95 or later.
Header: Declared in Winbase.h; include Windows.h.
Library: Use Kernel32.lib.
Unicode: Implemented as Unicode and ANSI versions on Windows NT/2000.
File I/O Overview, File I/O Functions, CloseHandle, CreateFile