File Handle Closing

Hey Everyone :)

I have a quick question regarding the FindFile API Call, if im doing a recurse, and i do something like this:

VB Code:

lngFileHandle = FindFirstFile(DirectoryString & "*.*", WFD)

and close the handle like this:

VB Code:

lngFileHandle = FindClose(lngFileHandle)

What would happen, if, for whatever reason, the function it was in generated an error and the file handle was never closed. Would this have an adverse affect on my program? On the file? Or on anything related?

Hope anyone can answer this :)

Thanks, Gav

Why not check handles and close valid ones in your error handler?

I could do that... i was thinking of something like this:

VB Code:

if lngFileHandle <> 0 then
'Close Handle Here
endif

However, what i really wanted to know, is what would happen if file handles were left unclosed. Also, in the error handler, what would happen if it generated an error closing the file handle? I dont like putting things in error handles that could generate errors (Would this happen?)

Hope that makes sense!

Thanks, Gav

FindClose will not raise a VB error.

If you don't close the handles, you'll leak some memory.

Okay Brilliant :)

So, it wont interfere with the actual file itself? It would just leak a bit of memory (because VB has allocated the handle?). I think im gonna close the handle then, is what i suggested for the close handle correct?

Thanks again!

Gav

No I'm pretty sure it won't intefere with the file, because you haven't actually opened it.

You should check against INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE for closing:

if handle <> INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE then ..