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Deleting files from a directory using wildcards in a C++ App.

I am writing a function in Visual C++ 5.0 that should delete files from a directory that begins with a certain prefix. A related DOS command would be "C:\> del myfiles.*". I have used the function DeleteFile() to delete files where I know the exact name, such as "DeleteFile("c:\\archive\\myfiles.001")". But if I substitute the wildcard character "*"
for ".001" it does not work. Can this function accomplish this task? If so, please provide an example. If it can't, what would you recommend?

Thank you.

I think this should be an easy question to answer but if you need more points, feel free
to take what you feel it is worth.

asavino

ASKER

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asavino

ASKER

Edited text of question

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

piano_boxer

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piano_boxer

Sorry, s argument to FindFirstFile should be replaced by lpszFile.

tma050898

PMFJI, the open curly before the while should be a closing brace

piano_boxer

HERE IS THE CORRECTED ANSWER
****************************

DeleteFile() does not support wildcards.
You need to Use FindFirstFile()/FindNextFile() instead.

I have written the following sample routine for you.
Plz note that you can include the path in the filename
(ex: WildDeleteFiles("c:\temp\*.*") which will delete all
file in the temp dir.

void WildDeleteFiles(LPCTSTR lpszFile)
{
WIN32_FIND_DATA fd;
HANDLE hFind;

hFind = FindFirstFile(lpszFile, &fd);
if(hFind == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE)
// No files found
return;

do
{
DeleteFile(fd.cFileName);
}
while(FindNextFile(hFind, &fd));
FindClose(hFind) // <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
}

asavino

ASKER

Thank you for your help, problem is solved. One note though, I found that the file name returned does not include the directory path name where the file was found. But, it was no big deal. All I did was re-append the path name to the file name returned and then issued the 'DeleteFile()'. Thank you again.