How can I search for a file?

[dekelc]

hello!

I have 4 strings which represent 4 file names...
I want to search my computer for these strings, so if one of them is
found, the search function will break and the full path of the file will be
returned...

how can I do that in C#?

thanks!!

[jmcilhinney]

public string FindFile(string rootFolder, string fileName)
{
    string filePath = System.IO.Path.Combine(rootFolder, fileName);

    // Check for the file in the current folder.
    if (System.IO.File.Exists(filePath))
        return filePath;

    // Check for the file in subfolders.
    foreach (string subfolder in System.IO.Directory.GetDirectories(rootFolder))
    {
        filePath = this.FindFile(subfolder, fileName);

        if (filePath != null)
            return filePath;
    }

    // The file was not found.
    return null;
}

[dekelc]

thanks jmcilhinney!!

now, if I want to scan the entire computer (starting with drive c, the d and
so on...) what string should I put in the 'rootFolder' paramater?

[wordracr]

Put code somewhere to keep passing the drives (their paths) into the function.

and to get all drives:
System.IO.DriveInfo.GetDrives()

Look it up in the object browser to see the return type, and you can even make it search 'just harddisks' (by DriveType)

[jmcilhinney]

Just be aware that DriveInfo is new for .NET 2.0. If you're using 1.x this option is not available to you. If that's the case then post back and we can supply an alternative.

[wordracr]

Oh, ya.
System.IO.Directory.GetLogicalDrives()
would probably do the trick.

[MrPolite]

i posted something in the code bank a while back too...search for it there, might be useful, or not