Delete known files

Hello,
Im a new in c++ and need help,
can anybody give me one example how to delete file/s from c:\

for example

delete c:\test.txt


thanks very much

Don't hurt my, dwks, if you're reading this ::

Code:

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system ("delete C:\\test.txt");

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should do it, hopefully. There's a non-system function method which I can't remember. Nor can I remember the header for system. Possibly cstdlib ...

Olé, 800 posts!!

is this a right code?

#include <iostream.h>

int main()
{

system ("delete C:\\test.txt");

return 0;

}
if yes that gives error system undeclared identifier

>> #include <iostream.h>
<iostream> would be better.

If text.txt was in the same folder, and if that system delete thing works, I don't see why it shouln't work.

also, #include <cstdlib>

AND USE CODE TAGS!!!

Which OS and compiler are you using?

Look for the appropriate API function rather than using system()

Eg
http://www.cppreference.com/stdio/remove.html

remove() is ANSI standard, so you'll almost certainly have it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by twomers

Don't hurt my, dwks, if you're reading this ::

Code:

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system ("delete C:\\test.txt");

---

---

I won't, I'll quote you instead:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by twomers

Read the FAQ about using cin.get() and cin.ignore() to avoid using system("pause") commands, unless you have to. The reason why you should try to avoid using system commands is because, apparently, some people like to hack into computers, and make batch files, called pause or cls or whatever, so when you system ("pause"), you inadvertently execute the bat file, and the most popular conclusion is that your entire hard drive is deleted.

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The same goes for delete. :D

Thanks, dwks, I'd forgotten all about that! But I did say there was a non-system way ;) so I wasn't being completely unhelpful :D I think I'll leave the ' though, but I'll color it red

what about _unlink? or is it only for borland? btw you will need fstream for that...

try remove()

Quote:

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Originally Posted by achy1729

try remove()

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Do you mean the STL algorithm remove()? Unfortunately that is for removing elements in a container, nothing to do with file handling.

>> Do you mean the STL algorithm remove()?
No. There is a standard C function called remove that was mentioned already by Salem with a link to a reference to it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Arsench

is this a right code?

#include <iostream.h>

int main()
{

system ("delete C:\\test.txt");

return 0;

}
if yes that gives error system undeclared identifier

---

The reason this didn't compile was because system is in <cstdlib> (or <stdlib.h> if your compiler's really old). But don't use system, because it's unportable and, as twomers forget, dangerous. You sould use the remove function already posted.
[edit]

Code:

---

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <cstdio>

int main(void) {
    std::string filename;

    std::cout << "Enter the name of the file to delete (blank to cancel): " << std::endl;
    std::getline(std::cin, filename);

    if(filename != "") {
        if(std::remove(filename)) {
            std::cout << "Error removing file " << filename << std::endl;
        }
        else {
            std::cout << "File " << filename << " removed successfully" << std::endl;
        }
    }

    return 0;
}

---

[/edit]

>> or <stdlib.h> if your compiler's really old
stdlib.h is standard and will work on all modern compilers. I'm guessing you meant that you can't use cstdlib if your compiler is really old.

>> std::remove(filename);
remove takes a C style string, you probably meant std::remove(filename.c_str());.

Quote:

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>> or <stdlib.h> if your compiler's really old
stdlib.h is standard and will work on all modern compilers. I'm guessing you meant that you can't use cstdlib if your compiler is really old.

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Yes, and the alternative is <stdlib.h>, which doesn't include namespace support. That's pretty much what I said, isn't it?

Quote:

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>> std::remove(filename);
remove takes a C style string, you probably meant std::remove(filename.c_str());.

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Indeed I did. :)