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# Dir Function

Returns the name of a file, a directory, or all of the files and the directories on a drive or in a directory that match the specified search path.

### Syntax:

    Dir [(PathName As String [, Attributes As Integer])]

### Return type:

String

### Parameters:

PathName: Any string expression that specifies the search path, directory or file. This argument can only be specified the first time that you call the Dir function. If you want, you can enter the path in URL notation.

Attributes:Any integer expression that specifies bitwise file attributes. The Dir function only returns files or directories that match the specified attributes. You can combine several attributes by adding the attribute values:

0 : Normal files.

16 : Returns the name of the directory only.

Use this attribute to check if a file or directory exists, or to determine all files and folders in a specific directory.

To check if a file exists, enter the complete path and name of the file. If the file or directory name does not exist, the Dir function returns a zero-length string ("").

To generate a list of all existing files in a specific directory, proceed as follows: The first time you call the Dir function, specify the complete search path for the files, for example, "D:\Files\*.ods". If the path is correct and the search finds at least one file, the Dir function returns the name of the first file that matches the search path. To return additional file names that match the path, call Dir again, but with no arguments.

To return directories only, use the attribute parameter. The same applies if you want to determine the name of a volume (for example, a hard drive partition).

### Error codes:

5 Invalid procedure call

53 File not found

### Example:

    Sub ExampleDir
    ' Displays all files and directories
    Dim sPath As String
    Dim sDir As String, sValue As String
        sDir="Directories:"
        sPath = CurDir
        sValue = Dir$(sPath + getPathSeparator + "*",16)
        Do
            If sValue <> "." And sValue <> ".." Then
                If (GetAttr( sPath + getPathSeparator + sValue) And 16) >0 Then
                    ' Get the directories
                    sDir = sDir & chr(13) & sValue
                End If
            End If
            sValue = Dir$
        Loop Until sValue = ""
        MsgBox sDir,0,sPath
    End Sub

Related Topics

CurDir Function

CompatibilityMode() Function

Option VBASupport Statement