vb/net app to search for a file

This can now be easily accomplished by Windows Desktop Search. This is a built-in feature of Windows Vista and an Add-On for Windows XP (If you have Outlook 2007, you will probably have Deasktop Search installed).

You can now use this to search local and network drives, as well as emails and other such stuff.

I would suggest that you download the code samples from the microsoft website: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=645300AE-5E7A-4CE7-95F0-49793F8F76E8&displaylang=en

You can also check out:
Overview: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa965362(VS.85).aspx
Programmatic Query: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb266517(VS.85).aspx

If you want I can provide you a very simple program that leverage's this technology that you can incorporate into your application.

I must warn you before dedicating yourself to this path, that it does not function 100% at the moment, and certain built-in features need to be custom programmed, however, for your application I think that using WDS or WDS 2.X will work perfect.

mate i know about the windows search, but i need my app to start and then if my if statement fails it will ask do you want me to find it for you, then the app will go fine the file i am looking for

so, do you need to specify the folder or base path to search or, search all paths?

it is just search all local drives

i think it would be to much to search over the network wouldnt

may i know the extension of the file? so i could just filter the file first before checking it

yea mate it is MDB thanks

What version VB.Net?

2005 mate sorry for not saying before

See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/t71ykwhb.aspx

You can pass in a start folder, the name of the file, and whether to search subfolders...

mate do you have a demo of this code in action

This finds all .jpg files under the "My Documents" folder:

        For Each match As String In My.Computer.FileSystem.GetFiles(My.Computer.FileSystem.SpecialDirectories.MyDocuments, FileIO.SearchOption.SearchAllSubDirectories, New String() {"*.jpg"})
            Debug.Print(match)
        Next

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all i need it to do is fine one file i will alway kjnow the name of the file, just need to know the path of that file

Try this way:

Imports System.IO
 
Public Class Form1
 
    Sub SearchFile(ByVal strRootPath As String, ByVal strFileName As String)
        Try
 
            Dim x As Integer = 0
 
            Dim FullDir() As String = IO.Directory.GetDirectories(strRootPath)
            For Each Dir As String In FullDir
                If Dir <> (strRootPath & "System Volume Information") Then
                    Dim FullFiles() As String = IO.Directory.GetFiles(Dir, strFileName, SearchOption.AllDirectories)
                    For Each File As String In FullFiles
                        Dim fi As New FileInfo(File)
 
                        Debug.WriteLine(fi.DirectoryName)
 
                        ' If you think that you will have more then
                        ' one file, turn the next line as comment
                        Exit Sub
 
                    Next
                End If
            Next
 
        Catch ex As Exception
            MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, My.Application.Info.Title, MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Exclamation)
        End Try
 
    End Sub
 
 
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Call SearchFile("c:\", Me.TextBox1.Text)
    End Sub
 
End Class

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You can delete: Dim x As Integer = 0

It was just for counting :)

please try this

Module Module1
 
    Dim filepath As String
 
    Sub Main()
        subDir("test.jpg")
 
        Console.ReadLine()
        Debug.WriteLine("-----------------------------")
        Debug.WriteLine(filepath)
        Debug.WriteLine("-----------------------------")
        Console.ReadLine()
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub subDir(ByVal filename As String)
        Try
 
            Dim x As Integer = 0
 
            Dim FullDir() As IO.DriveInfo = IO.DriveInfo.GetDrives()
 
            For Each drive As IO.DriveInfo In FullDir
                Try
                    For Each file As IO.FileInfo In drive.RootDirectory.GetFiles(filename)
                        filepath = file.DirectoryName()
                        Exit Sub
                    Next
 
 
                    For Each folder As IO.DirectoryInfo In drive.RootDirectory.GetDirectories()
 
                        If Not folder.FullName.EndsWith("System Volume Information") Then
                            subdirs(folder.FullName, filename)
                        End If
 
                    Next
                Catch ex2 As Exception
                    Debug.WriteLine(ex2.ToString())
                End Try
 
            Next
 
 
        Catch ex As Exception
            Debug.WriteLine(ex.ToString())
        End Try
 
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub subdirs(ByVal sPath As String, ByVal f As String)
        Dim di As New System.IO.DirectoryInfo(sPath)
 
        If Not di.FullName.EndsWith("System Volume Information") Then
 
            For Each file As IO.FileInfo In di.GetFiles(f)
                filepath = file.DirectoryName()
                Debug.WriteLine(file.FullName)
                Exit Sub
            Next
            For Each sdir As IO.DirectoryInfo In di.GetDirectories()
                Debug.WriteLine(sdir)
                subdirs(sdir.FullName, f)
            Next
 
        End If
 
    End Sub
 
End Module

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thanks mate just having a chancd to look at it now, i am guessing i use it as a modual, when i do a modual and try to call it i get a "can not be use as expression"  any thoughts i tihnk i am missing a public some where  or i could be doing it wrong

What code have you used ? Can you show us what you have ?

Sure mate i used the 2nd one

Option Explicit On
Module databasefind
 
 
    Dim filepath As String
 
    Sub Main()
        subDir("stars.mdb")
 
        Console.ReadLine()
        Debug.WriteLine("-----------------------------")
        Debug.WriteLine(filepath)
        Debug.WriteLine("-----------------------------")
        Console.ReadLine()
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub subDir(ByVal filename As String)
        Try
 
            Dim x As Integer = 0
 
            Dim FullDir() As IO.DriveInfo = IO.DriveInfo.GetDrives()
 
            For Each drive As IO.DriveInfo In FullDir
                Try
                    For Each file As IO.FileInfo In drive.RootDirectory.GetFiles(filename)
                        filepath = file.DirectoryName()
                        Exit Sub
                    Next
 
 
                    For Each folder As IO.DirectoryInfo In drive.RootDirectory.GetDirectories()
 
                        If Not folder.FullName.EndsWith("System Volume Information") Then
                            subdirs(folder.FullName, filename)
                        End If
 
                    Next
                Catch ex2 As Exception
                    Debug.WriteLine(ex2.ToString())
                End Try
 
            Next
 
 
        Catch ex As Exception
            Debug.WriteLine(ex.ToString())
        End Try
 
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub subdirs(ByVal sPath As String, ByVal f As String)
        Dim di As New System.IO.DirectoryInfo(sPath)
 
        If Not di.FullName.EndsWith("System Volume Information") Then
 
            For Each file As IO.FileInfo In di.GetFiles(f)
                filepath = file.DirectoryName()
                Debug.WriteLine(file.FullName)
                Exit Sub
            Next
            For Each sdir As IO.DirectoryInfo In di.GetDirectories()
                Debug.WriteLine(sdir)
                subdirs(sdir.FullName, f)
            Next
 
        End If
 
    End Sub
 
End Module

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Have you tried my code ? ID:22097971
You just need to add it to your form as use it as the example
Call SearchFile("c:\", Me.TextBox1.Text)
 

narr mate i didnt sorry i rthought both o them was from you
so vasicly i add the first fir to the formload and then call it

would it work if i put the first bit in a modal and then call it with a button click

If you want to use that function SearchFile() everywhere you just need to place it on a module and declare it as public
Public Sub SearchFile(ByVal strRootPath As String, ByVal strFileName As String)
' code
End Sub
 

thanks mate

how are you doing?.. what happened when you tried my code?..

i havent tried it yet mate i will give it a go and let you know as soon as i do thanks  so much

thanks mate works like a treat thanks so much sorry it took so long to get back to you, giving yo0u all  the point mate, hey hoping you could help me out a big more, i am going to write a very simply report in .net and went to do it and coudlt find data report for .net and the other one there i have no idea how to use any chance you could help me out here

Very Great to deal with very patient thanks so much for hte help

what kind of report is it?

have you created a new question? if so, please post the link

mate here is the link i hope you can help here i am in real need for it