Question

delete directory

Asked by: dys7opia

Okay, how can I delete a directory of files? I would like to delete more than one directory also. :)

I would like to know how to do it like... (far fetched example just so you understand me)

-----------------
procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
DeleteDirectory('edit1.text');
DeleteDirectory('edit2.text');
end;
-----------------

lol, you know what I mean? That is just a made up example of how I would like it to be. So the User can specify which directory to delete. I would LOVE if someone could help me out on this one! Thank you very much.

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Asked On
2003-04-28 at 10:21:54ID20598890
Tags

directory

,

delete

Topic

Delphi Programming

Participating Experts
7
Points
250
Comments
9

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Answers

 

by: DaFoxPosted on 2003-04-28 at 11:46:52ID: 8414601

Hi dys7opia!

Try this little procedure:

procedure DeleteDir(aDir: String);
var
  T: TSHFileOpStruct;
begin
  Fillchar(T, SizeOf(T), #0);
  with T do
  begin
    Wnd := 0;
    wFunc := FO_DELETE;
    pFrom := PChar(aDir + #0#0);
    fFlags := FOF_ALLOWUNDO or FOF_SILENT or FOF_NOCONFIRMATION;
  end;
  Application.ProcessMessages;
  if (SHFileOperation(T) <> 0) then RemoveDir(aDir);
end;

Markus

 

by: DaFoxPosted on 2003-04-28 at 11:55:35ID: 8414642

PS: SHFileOperation() is very powerful, you might want to take a look at the Flags (fFlags) to adjust it to your needs (like showing an animation, ...)

Markus

 

by: esoftbgPosted on 2003-04-28 at 12:25:47ID: 8414866

procedure DelTree(Directory: string);
var
  fo:     SHFILEOPSTRUCT;
  pDir:   array[0..255] of char;
begin
  fillChar(pDir, 256, #0);
  strPCopy(pDir, Directory);
  fillchar(fo,sizeof(fo),0);
  fo.Wnd := application.Handle;
  fo.wFunc := FO_DELETE;
  fo.pFrom := pDir;
  fo.pTo := '';
  fo.fFlags := FOF_NOCONFIRMATION or FOF_SILENT;
  SHFileOperation(fo);
end;

 

by: akaSurrealPosted on 2003-04-28 at 13:01:24ID: 8415100

I would suggest looking at the Project JEDI Code Library (JCL). http://sourceforge.net/projects/jcl/

Unit JclFileUtils;

Has two functions:

DelTree
DelTreeEx

These functions allow you to Delete a directory and all its sub-directories without relying on Windows Explorer Shell to do the work for you by using SHFileOperation.  SHFileOperation is really not much different than you hilighting the directory and pressing delete.  By using the flags the others have mentioned it just supresses and hides the UI windows from popping up.  

I would venture to guess this method is also definately much more portable.  This actually does the work of determining what files and folders are in each directory and deleting them all recursively using lower level functions.  DelTreeEx adds the ability to report progress so you can show your own progress indicator of some kind.

Mike

 

by: calinutzPosted on 2003-04-28 at 16:00:22ID: 8416118

Normally you can't delete a directory that is not empty...
If you want to empty a directory 'C:\Windows\TempX' you should do this:

Procedure ShellDirDelete(Folder: String);
var
FileOpRec : TSHFileOpStruct;
begin
with FileOpRec do
begin
Wnd    := Handle ;
wFunc  := FO_DELETE;
if Folder[Length(Folder)] <> '\' then
pFrom  := PChar(Folder+'\*.*'#0#0)
else
pFrom  := PChar(Folder+'*.*'#0#0);
pTo    := nil ;
fFlags := FOF_NOCONFIRMATION or FOF_ALLOWUNDO or FOF_FILESONLY;
hNameMappings := nil;
lpszProgressTitle := nil;
end;

if (SHFileOperation(FileOpRec) <> 0 ) or
(FileOpRec.fAnyOperationsAborted = true) then
begin
ShowMessage('Copy Operation was canceled');
end;
end;

begin
ShellDirDelete('C:\Windows\TempX');
end;

 

by: ILEPosted on 2003-04-28 at 16:48:57ID: 8416322

hmmm if thi is stil open i will do the real option;
s1 is string list or memo (if memo only 32 kb is the limit for names)

procedure deletedir(s:string);
begin
s1.items.clear;
deldir(s);
for i:=s1.itemindex-1 downto 1 do
deletefile(s1[i]);
end;


procedure tform1.deldir(s:string);
var rec :tsearchrec;
begin
if sysutils.findfirst(s + '*.*', faAnyFile, Rec)=0 then
begin
  repeat
    if (rec.name<>'.') and (rec.name<>'..') then
    begin
     s1.items.Add(s+Rec.Name);
     if rec.attr=fadirectory then getalldir(s+rec.name+'\');
    end;
  until SysUtils.FindNext(Rec) <> 0;
 sysutils.FindClose(rec);
end;




great code;

 

by: CleanupPingPosted on 2003-09-08 at 22:42:37ID: 9316004

dys7opia:
This old question needs to be finalized -- accept an answer, split points, or get a refund.  For information on your options, please click here-> http:/help/closing.jsp#1
EXPERTS:
Post your closing recommendations!  No comment means you don't care.

 

by: kacorPosted on 2004-02-02 at 03:41:32ID: 10251707

No comment has been added lately, so it's time to clean up this TA.
I will leave a recommendation in the Cleanup topic area for this question:
       to split points between DaFox, akaSurreal, calinutz and ILE

Please leave any comments here within the next seven days.

PLEASE DO NOT ACCEPT THIS COMMENT AS AN ANSWER!

If you will get a useful answer to your newer question next time, please accept it after evaluating. By this way the experts will get sooner his expert points for supporting you. If you have question about, please look at  http://www.experts-exchange.com/help.jsp.

kacor
EE Cleanup Volunteer

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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