Delete a single .txt file if exist in Visual Basic? - vb.net

Question

i have been trying to figure out how to delete a .txt file that constantly change name exept the first 4 ex: THISTEXT-123-45.txt where THISTEXT stays the same but -123-45 changes.
I have found a way to detect it, but i don't know how to delete it.
Dim paths() As String = IO.Directory.GetFiles("C:\", "THISTEXT*.txt")
If paths.Length > 0 Then
Anyone knows the command line to delete that special .txt file?
I am using Visual Basic on visual studio 2013 framework 3.5.

Answer 1

Use the Delete method of System.IO.
Assuming you have write access to C:\
Dim FileDelete As String
FileDelete = "C:\testDelete.txt"
If System.IO.File.Exists( FileDelete ) = True Then
System.IO.File.Delete( FileDelete )
MsgBox("File Deleted")
End If
Deleting a file is quite simple - but dangerous! So be very careful when you're trying out this code.
Edit
To delete all file use *(asterisk) followed with the file extension
example C:\*.txt"
For multiple files
Dim FileDelete As String
FileDelete = "C:\"
For Each FileDelete As String In IO.Directory.GetFiles(FileDelete & "THISTEXT*.txt")
File.Delete(FileDelete)
Next

Answer 2

If you read the MSDN page on GetFiles, you will realize that you have the file name and path in your paths array. You can then iterate through the array deleting your matches.
Dim x as Integer
Dim paths() as String = IO.Directory.GetFiles("C:\", "THISTEXT*.txt")
If paths.Length > 0 Then
For x = 0 to paths.Length -1
IO.File.Delete(paths(x))
Next
End If

Answer 3

To build on the feedback you provided to Omar's answer, it appears that your file path and file name are separate.
You cannot provide them separated by a comma, as commas denote separate parameters passed to a subroutine or function.
To fix this, you need to concatenate them, for example:
Dim fileName As String = "foo.txt"
Dim filePath As String = "C:\"
Dim FileToDelete As String = fileName + filePath
To delete a single .*txt file if it exists:
If (deleteFile("C:\")) Then
MsgBox("File deletion successful")
Else
MsgBox("File couldn't be deleted with the following error: " + exception)
End If
alternatively with concatenation:
If (deleteFile("C:\") Then
MsgBox("File deletion successful")
Else
MsgBox("File couldn't be deleted with the following error: " + exception)
End If
Dim exception As String 'Place this at the beginning of your app's class.
Dim path As String = "C:\"
If (deleteFile(path)) Then
MsgBox("File deletion successful")
Else
MsgBox("File couldn't be deleted with the following error: " + exception)
End If
Private Function deleteFile(ByVal dir) As Boolean
Dim fileToRemove As String
Try
Dim paths() As String = IO.Directory.GetFiles(dir, "THISTEXT*.txt")
For i As Integer = 0 To paths.Length
fileToRemove = paths(i).ToString
System.IO.File.Delete(fileToRemove)
If (Not System.IO.File.Exists(fileToRemove)) Then
Return True
Else
exception = "Unknown error."
Return False
End If
Next
Return False
Catch ex As Exception
exception = ex.Message
Return False
End Try
Return False
End Function
The above function checks if the file exists, if it does it tries to delete it. If the file cannot be deleted, or an error occurs (which is handled), the Function returns False.

Answer 4

Simple example:
For Each path As String In IO.Directory.GetFiles("C:\", "THISTEXT*.txt")
Try
System.IO.File.Delete(path)
Catch ex As Exception
MessageBox.Show(path, "Unable to Delete File")
End Try
Next