How can i check a directory for certain files?

Hello to all.
I want to check a directory, lets call it "ProgramDirectory", for certain files, which we will say are all called filename#.file where # is a number, to see if they already exist. The program is in the directory it is checking but i would also like to know how to do this if it was in a different dircetory. I dont want to do this by opening a file stream and then running a

Code:

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if(!ifstream_variable.is_open)
{etc.};

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because I want to use the directory search to tell the program what files already exist for it to open. The search needs to be able to search progressively through the file numbers. for example it needs to be able to check if filename1.file exists and if it does then it will check to see if filename2.file exists and so on until a file number doesnt exist. I would also like to know how to search a directory for any filename I specify. I know this is a lot of questions but I greatly appreciate any help. any additional information is welcome and appreciated as well. Also any information even partially pertaining to the question is helpful.

Thanks in advance.

PS
I am new to this forum so if i did something wrong (which i probably did) then i apologize and please let me know so i can fix it or at the least not do it next time.

There's a FAQ entry on how to read all the filenames in a given directory. You could use that to scan for filenames which match the pattern you're looking for, and record the maximum value of 'n' you see.

You've not given a proper reason why trying to open the file isn't a valid way of writing the program.

Thanks Salem, I did look through the FAQ before posting this but I guess I just missed it. I'll have to find that today.

Writing the program like that would work perfectly fine. The reason I ask is because I don't know how to do it this way as so I want to learn. In fact I have already written the program once using that but after my HD broke I lost the program so now im rewriting with comparatively much more advanced code. Comparatively being the key word here. (The first time I wrote it I was almost completely new to C++.)

FindFirstFile() and FindNextFile() under Win32. I'm not sure how to do it under linux.

You can use wildcards like *.* for the filename and it will return every file in the directory.

So I looked over the FAQ again and found the right one. The only problem is I am not a level 3. I am about a 1.5 but I'm getting there. And so abachler I don't yet know Win32.

Well, you'll either have to learn to swim, or drown... Because doing this sort of thing requires some ability. Level 3 is still fairly "low" in C++, I'd say...

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Mats

Just wondering, what is a level 3 or level 1.5?

I think it refers to the FAQ's "Level 1" etc.

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Mats

Yeah its talking about the FAQ levels and I am really new. But hey you gotta start somewhere. I was wondering how long it took ya'll to become masters of the C++?

Having worked professionally in C++ for 6 months, I wouldn't call myself a master. But I have 20 years experience of programming, and still learning there too! In those 20 years, about 15 have been in C.

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Mats

Quote:

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Originally Posted by patrioticpar883

Yeah its talking about the FAQ levels and I am really new. But hey you gotta start somewhere. I was wondering how long it took ya'll to become masters of the C++?

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I started messing with C++ about 8 years ago or so. But before that I used Visual Basic. Haha. Now that you think back on it, how much VB sucks :p

The first C program I wrote was in '93. It didn't do much. Windows 3.1 I think with Program Manager. Fun stuff. Then, I did nothing with it again until picking it back up last summer. I still have Borland C++ 3.1 in the box with all the manuals.

I learned C++ about 7 or 8 years ago. I consider myself a master of theoretical knowledge, though I lack practical experience in large projects.