How can i check whether a file exists? (General questions)

Our application uploads files using FtpDLX.Net.

We have a requirement to not overwrite files if they are already present.

How can we check for the existence of a file?

I do not want to have to list the dir contents.

David,

Why don't you simply set Resume property to True? If server supports file transfer resuming, and component finds an exact file on server, it will not transfer it.

Other than that, you can simply call any other method (i.e. GetAttributes) on the file you wish to check existancy for. If file doesn't exist, you'll be given an error.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Damba

David,

Why don't you simply set Resume property to True? If server supports file transfer resuming, and component finds an exact file on server, it will not transfer it.

Other than that, you can simply call any other method (i.e. GetAttributes) on the file you wish to check existancy for. If file doesn't exist, you'll be given an error.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Damba

Thanks. I'll try that and report back.

GetAttributes does not raise an error if i call it with a file path specifying a file that does not exist.

David,

Are you using blocking or non-blocking mode?

You could also use CheckDir or Rename (and specify both parameters to be same) methods.

Regards,
Damba

David,

Are you using blocking or non-blocking mode?

You could also use CheckDir or Rename (and specify both parameters to be same) methods.

Regards,
Damba

The blocking property = True.

I've added an AttributesDelegate method and passed this to the component. Even when i call GetAttributes and specify a file that does not exist, it still fires the event! No errors.

These components are difficult to work with.

David,

Are you using blocking or non-blocking mode?

You could also use CheckDir or Rename (and specify both parameters to be same) methods.

Regards,
Damba

What does CheckDir do? There is no documentation.

David,

Are you using blocking or non-blocking mode?

You could also use CheckDir or Rename (and specify both parameters to be same) methods.

Regards,
Damba

CheckDir does not do what i want - it appears to require a directory name rather than a file name.

My test FTP server is returning file or directory not found when i call GetAttributes, so that looks like it could do what i want, but it never errors.

David,

You didn't mention that you're using Blocking mode in your initial post, so I assumed you were using asynchronous mode.

However, this works perfectly:
[code]
String fullRemotePath = /path/to/file/to/check ;
Ftp1.Rename(fullRemotePath , fullRemotePath );
[/code]

If file doesn't exist, an exception will be thrown immediately, and if it does, it will remain same sa it was, unchanged.

Please note that there is no command in FTP that does this. The above is only a workaround on how to achieve something that isn't implemented into the protocol itself.

As for CheckDir method, you can find help on it here.

Regards,
Damba

David,

You didn't mention that you're using Blocking mode in your initial post, so I assumed you were using asynchronous mode.

However, this works perfectly:
[code]
String fullRemotePath = /path/to/file/to/check ;
Ftp1.Rename(fullRemotePath , fullRemotePath );
[/code]

If file doesn't exist, an exception will be thrown immediately, and if it does, it will remain same sa it was, unchanged.

Please note that there is no command in FTP that does this. The above is only a workaround on how to achieve something that isn't implemented into the protocol itself.

As for CheckDir method, you can find help on it here.

Regards,
Damba

Many thanks. My solution is to use an attributes delegate method, and store the results of that in a variable. My code calls GetAttributes and checks the contents of the variable to compare the name of the file to determine whether it exists.

I'm not sure i like idea of renaming a file (i understand what you're proposing though).