Programming Tutorials

File operations in VB.net

By: Issac in VB.net Tutorials on 2009-01-30  

File class is using for the File operations in VB.NET. We can create, delete, copy etc. operations do with File class.

How to create a File?

In order to create a new File, we can call Create method in the File class.Syntax : File.Create(FilePath)FilePath : The name of the new File Object File.Create("c:\testFile.txt")

How to check a File exist or not? 

Before we create File object, we usually check that File exist or not. For that we are using the Exists method in the File class.Syntax: File.Exists (FilePath) as BooleanFilePath: The name of the FileBoolean: Returns true or false, if File exist it Returns true else Returns false VB.NET: File.Exists ("c:\testFile.txt")

The following VB.NET source code shows these operations:

Imports System.IO
Public Class Form1
    Private Sub Button1_Click (ByVal sender As System.Object, _
	ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        If File.Exists("c:\testFile.txt") Then
            'shows message if testFile exist
            MsgBox("File 'testFile' Exist ")
        Else
            'create the file testFile.txt
            File.Create("c:\testFile.txt")
            MsgBox("File 'testFile' created ")
        End If
    End Sub
End Class

How to Copy a File? 

If we want the Copy of the File Object we can use the Copy method in File class.Syntax : Copy(sourceFileName, destFileName)sourceFileName : The source file we want to move.destFileName: The destinations file name. VB.NET: File.Copy ("c:\testFile.txt", "c:\testDir\testFile.txt")

How to delete a File Object? 

If you want to delete a File Object we can use the Delete methods in the File classSyntax: Delete(FilePath)DirPath: The File Object you want to delete. VB.NET: File.Delete ("c:\testDir\testFile.txt")

The following VB.NET source code shows these operations:

Imports System.IO
Public Class Form1
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
	ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        If Not File.Exists("c:\testFile.txt") Then
            MsgBox("FIle not exist ")
        Else
            File.Copy("c:\testFile.txt", "c:\testDir\testFile.txt")
            MsgBox("File Copied ")
            File.Delete("c:\testFile.txt")
            MsgBox("file deleted ")
        End If
    End Sub
End Class

When you run this code first it checks whether the file exist or not , if it does not exist it shows message "file does not exist", if it exists it is copied to testDir directory and deleted from the c:\.