Introduction
This article will explain about the FileInfo class and its use. The System.IO namespace is one of the most significant namespaces used for working with Files in the .Net Framework. Let us see about the class.
FileInfo Class
The FileInfo class does not have static methods and can only be used on instantiated objects. The FileInfo object represents a file on a disk or network location. OR Provides instance methods for the creation, copying, deletion, moving, and opening of files, and aids in the creation of FileStream objects. Some of the most useful methods of the FileInfo class are:
List of Methods of FileInfo Class, I have included only a few Methods of FileInfo Class.
S.No |
Methods |
Description |
1 |
Create
|
This method is used to create the new file. |
2 |
CreateText |
This Method Creates a StreamWriter that writes a new text file. |
3 |
Delete |
This method is used to delete a existing file. |
4 |
CopyTo |
The CopyTo method is used to copy the existing file into new file. |
5 |
MoveTo |
The MoveTo method is used to move the file one place to another valid location. |
6 |
AppendText |
This method creates a StreamWriter that appends text to the file represented by this instance of the FileInfo. |
7 |
OpenText |
This method creates a StreamReader with UTF8 encoding that reads from an existing text file. |
Figure 1 â€" FileInfo Methods
The methods of the FileInfo class.
Create Method
This method is used to create the new file.
Imports System.IO
Module Module1
Sub Main()
Dim path As String = "D:\MyTestFile1.txt"
Dim fl As New FileInfo(path)
File.Create(path)
If True Then
Console.WriteLine("File has been created")
End If
End Sub
End Module
|
CreateText
This Method Creates a StreamWriter that writes a new text file.
Imports System.IO
Module Module1
Sub Main()
Dim fi As New FileInfo("D:\MyTestFilecreatetext1.txt")
Dim str As StreamWriter = fi.CreateText()
str.WriteLine("hello")
Console.WriteLine("File has been created with text")
str.Close()
End Sub
End Module
|
Delete
This method is used to delete a existing file.
Imports System.IO
Module Module1
Sub Main()
Dim fi As New FileInfo("D:\MyTestFilecreatetext.txt")
fi.Delete()
Console.WriteLine("File has been deleted")
End Sub
End Module
|
CopyTo
The CopyTo method is used to copy the existing file into new file.
Imports System.IO
Module Module1
Sub Main()
Dim path As String = "d:\MyTestFile7.txt"
Dim path2 As String = "d:\NewFile.txt"
Dim fi1 As New FileInfo(path)
Dim fi2 As New FileInfo(path2)
fi1.CopyTo(path2)
Console.WriteLine("{0} was copied to {1}.", path, path2)
End Sub
End Module
|
MoveTo
The MoveTo method is used to move the file one place to another valid location.
Imports System.IO
Module Module1
Sub Main()
Dim path As String = "d:\NewFile1.txt"
Dim path2 As String = "E:\NewFile1.txt"
Dim fi1 As New FileInfo(path)
Dim fi2 As New FileInfo(path2)
fi1.MoveTo(path2)
Console.WriteLine("{0} was moved to {1}.", path, path2)
End Sub
End Module
|
AppendText
This method creates a StreamWriter that appends text to the file represented by this instance of the FileInfo.
Imports System.IO
Module Module1
Sub Main()
Dim fi As New FileInfo("E:\NewFile1.txt")
Dim sw As StreamWriter = fi.AppendText()
sw.WriteLine("This")
sw.WriteLine("is Extra")
sw.WriteLine("Text")
Console.WriteLine("File has been appended")
sw.Close()
End Sub
End Module
|
Example
Imports System.IO
Module Module1
Sub Main()
' Create Method
Dim path As String = "D:\MyTestFile1.txt"
Dim fl As New FileInfo(path)
File.Create(path)
If True Then
Console.WriteLine("File has been created")
End If
'CreateText Method
Dim fi As New FileInfo("D:\MyTestFilecreatetext1.txt")
Dim str As StreamWriter = fi.CreateText()
str.WriteLine("hello")
Console.WriteLine("File has been created with text")
str.Close()
'Delete Method
Dim fi As New FileInfo("D:\MyTestFilecreatetext.txt")
fi.Delete()
Console.WriteLine("File has been deleted")
'CreateText Method
Dim path As String = "d:\MyTestFile7.txt"
Dim path2 As String = "d:\NewFile.txt"
Dim fi1 As New FileInfo(path)
Dim fi2 As New FileInfo(path2)
fi1.CopyTo(path2)
Console.WriteLine("{0} was copied to {1}.", path, path2)
'MoveTo Method
Dim path As String = "d:\NewFile1.txt"
Dim path2 As String = "E:\NewFile1.txt"
Dim fi1 As New FileInfo(path)
Dim fi2 As New FileInfo(path2)
fi1.MoveTo(path2)
Console.WriteLine("{0} was moved to {1}.", path, path2)
'ApendText Method
Dim fi As New FileInfo("E:\NewFile1.txt")
Dim sw As StreamWriter = fi.AppendText()
sw.WriteLine("This")
sw.WriteLine("is Extra")
sw.WriteLine("Text")
Console.WriteLine("File has been appended")
sw.Close()
End Sub
End Module
The FileInfo class provides the following properties that enable you to retrieve information about a file.
S.No |
Property |
Description |
1 |
CreationTime |
This property returns the creation of the file date and time. |
2 |
Exists |
The Exists property checks for the presence of a file before operating on it. |
3 |
Extension |
It returns the type of the file in the extension name |
4 |
FullName |
It returns the full name of the file from the root directory. |
5 |
Name |
The Name retrieves the name of a file. |
6 |
LastWriteTime |
It returns the last file saving date and time |
7 |
Length |
The Length retrieves the size of a file. |
Figure 2 â€" FileInfo Properties
Property - Example
Imports System.IO
Module Module1
Sub Main()
Dim fi As New FileInfo("E:\NewFile1.txt")
Console.WriteLine("File name is {0} ", fi.Name)
Console.WriteLine("File creation time is {0} ", fi.CreationTime.ToLongTimeString())
Console.WriteLine("File Lastaccesstime is {0} ", fi.LastAccessTime.ToLongDateString())
Console.WriteLine("File length is {0} ", fi.Length.ToString() &" Bytes")
Console.WriteLine("File extension is {0} ", fi.Extension)
Console.WriteLine("File exist is: ", fi.Exists)
Console.WriteLine("File LastWriteTime is {0} ", fi.LastWriteTime)
End Sub
End Module
|
Conclusion:
The FileInfo class is very useful for working with files. If there is any mistake in this article then please notify me. I expect your valuable comments and feedback about this article.