Delete Files Using VB

To guarantee deletion, you can use the built-in kill function.  Just type in:
kill "C:\files\whatever", or anything you'd like.  It's really convenient, because it can even delete files in-use somehow (no idea...), so I just slap a VBScript together whenever I accidently pick up one of those trojans you cant delete...

You can also use pure VB functions without even creating any external objects - for example good for Windows 95.

Just create FileView control, set path to "c:\files" and simply
run through all files in the list.

Dim I as integet, cPath as string
cPath=iif(Right$(File1.Path,1)="\", File1.Path, File1.Path & "\")
For I=0 to File1.ListCount-1
   if DateDiff("d", FileDateTime(cPath & File1.List(I)), Date)>60 then Kill cPath & File1.List(I)
Next I

*Debug the code `cause I wrote this from memory and maybe DateDiff won't work.

how would u do code for if u wated to delete All files and Folders, From C:\files? say after 60 days?

maybe using a shell and dir function? im sure i did something in the past, to do with DIR / command to a text file then for each file in the text delete it

They something like this:

Public Function DeleteAllFiles(ByVal FolderSpec As String) _
  As Boolean

'Deletes all files in folder specified
'by parameter FolderSpec.  Does not delete
'subfolders or files within subfolders
'Returns True if sucessful, false otherwise

'Requires a reference the Microsoft Scripting Runtime
'----------                        -------------------------------

'EXAMPLE: DeleteAllFiles "C:\Test"

Dim oFs As New FileSystemObject
Dim oFolder As Folder
Dim oFile As File

If oFs.FolderExists(FolderSpec) Then
    Set oFolder = oFs.GetFolder(FolderSpec)
    On Error Resume Next
    For Each oFile In oFolder.Files
        If DateDiff("d", FileDateTime(oFile), Now) >= 60 Then
            oFile.Delete
        End If
    Next
    DeleteAllFiles = oFolder.Files.Count = 0
End If

End Function

i am having type mismatch for FileDateTime please help




'**********************************************************************
'  Visual Basic ActiveX Script
'************************************************************************

Function Main()
      
Dim fso
Dim filename

Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Dim File, Folder, FileCollection



Set Folder = fso.GetFolder("C:\Elsie\")
Set FileCollection = Folder.Files

For Each File In FileCollection
msgbox FileDateTime(File)
    If DateDiff("d", FileDateTime(File), Now) <= 60 Then
        fso.DeleteFile (File)
    End If
   
Next
   
End Function

elsietina1 ,

When I run you function in Excel it appears tto work fine.
It appeares to look at files in the "C:\Elsie\" and delete ones older than specified.

Where are you running this function?

Do you have any references?  (Found via: Tools -> References)

You might need to make sure you have the reference for the "Microsoft Scripting Runtime".

thanks

how do i make it delete files in a folder that has sub directories.

 i need it to go into the subdirectors of the folder and delete files, is this possible?

Yes you can delete subfolder and the data in them.

Use  fso.DeleteFolder.  I am not sure if the delete folder has to be empty first or not.  If it needs to be empty you can make a recursive function and then clear it out then delete the folder.  using Folder.SubFolders will give you the folders in the specified folder.


Dim subfolders, Folder, FileCollection
Dim fso As New FileSystemObject

Set Folder = fso.GetFolder("C:\Elsie\")
Set FileCollection =  Folder.SubFolders

For Each subfolders In FileCollection

    If DateDiff("d", FileDateTime(subfolders ), Now) >= 60 Then
       fso.DeleteFolder(subfolders);

    End If
   
Next

thanks, i do not want to delete the folders but the files in the folders

Then you could just go into them and delete them.

Call the function recusively to delete all the files within the subfolder but never issue the delete to the subfolder itself.


You will want something like this then:

Public Function DeleteAllFiles(ByVal FolderSpec As String) _
  As Boolean

'Deletes all files in folder specified
'by parameter FolderSpec. AND deletes
'subfolders or files within subfolders
'Returns True if sucessful, false otherwise

'Requires a reference the Microsoft Scripting Runtime
'----------                        -------------------------------

'EXAMPLE: DeleteAllFiles "C:\Test"

Dim oFs As New FileSystemObject
Dim oFolder As Folder
Dim oFile As File
Dim Folder
Dim FileCollection
Dim tempboolean

If oFs.FolderExists(FolderSpec) Then
    Set oFolder = oFs.GetFolder(FolderSpec)
    On Error Resume Next
    For Each oFile In oFolder.Files
        If DateDiff("d", FileDateTime(oFile), Now) >= 60 Then
            oFile.Delete
        End If
    Next

    Set Folder = fso.GetFolder(FolderSpec)
    Set FileCollection =  Folder.SubFolders
    For Each subfolders In FileCollection
        tempboolean = DeleteAllFiles(FolderSpec)
    Next
   
    DeleteAllFiles = oFolder.Files.Count = 0
End If

End Function

Thanks still having problem on line 89, it deletes files in folder and subdirector files but gives me an error message saying permision denialed and points to line 89.


'
'
'Purpose Script to delete files older than a given number of days.
'
'
'Set StdOut = WScript.StdOut

Main

Sub Main()
      '
      ' DropOldFiles
      '      folderspec - Folder where you want to delete files
      '      logfile    - File where logfile will be generated.
      '      days         - Number of days to keep files.
      '
      
      'modify path and number of days
      Call DropOldFiles("C:\mimi\","C:\mimi\LOG.TXT", 0)
End Sub      

Sub DropOldFiles(folderspec, logfile, days)
  Dim fso,f,f1,s,fi, cnt, tot
 
  '
 
  Logopen(logfile)
  cnt = 0
  tot = 0

  Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
  Set f = fso.GetFolder(folderspec)
  Set fc = f.Files
  set fm = f.SubFolders
 
  For Each f1 in fc
      If DateDiff ("d",f1.DateLastModified, Now ) > days Then
            LogWrite f1.name & " DateLastModified:" & f1.DateLastModified & " DaysOld:" & DateDiff ("d",f1.DateLastModified, Now )
            fso.DeleteFile (folderspec & f1.name)
            'cnt = cnt + 1
            'tot = tot + 1
      End If
next


 

Call DropOldFiles("C:\mimi\mimi\","C:\mimi\mimi\LOG.TXT", 0)
Set Folder = fso.GetFolder(FolderSpec)
    Set FileCollection =  Folder.SubFolders
    For Each subfolders In FileCollection
        fso.DeleteFile (folderspec)
            
      
      cnt = cnt + 1
      tot = tot + 1
  Next
  LogWrite "--------------------------------------------------------------"
  LogWrite " Processed " & tot & " file(s). Deleted " & cnt & " file(s)."
  LogWrite "--------------------------------------------------------------"
  LogClose
'  StdOut.WriteLine "Ending DropOldFiles..."

End Sub  
 
'  
' *****************************************************************************************  
'  
'
' Write to the Logfile
'

Dim LogFile

Sub LogWrite (Text)
      LogFile.WriteLine "[" & Now & "] " & Text
End Sub  

Sub LogClose ()
      LogFile.Close
      Set Logfile=nothing
End Sub      

Sub LogOpen (LogPath)
  Dim fso, f1
  Const ForAppend = 8
      Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
      Set LogFile = fso.OpenTextFile(LogPath, ForAppend, True)
      Set fso = nothing
End Sub

I can't figure out how to create a file system object in VB.net to run this code. Can anyone help.

There is an awesome, free vb.net application at http://www.aspdotnetsoftware.com/products/FileCleanup/default.aspx

Those guys have a lot of free vb.net packages. The code is very clean, too.