Is there some reason that the fileread and fileseek commands do not work with files stored on a cd? I know I can not write to the cd but I thought as long as I have read attributes my fileread and fileseek should work.

I created a command button that I was using to practice my external file input output functions and commands.

The goal was to be able to read through a bunch of  sub directories, access a specific file in each directory and read the file for specific lines of data then do some cleanup to the data and then write the data in a format that is good for importing or import directly into the application.

When the command button is pressed it presents the user with some questions that upon the users response it creates a file that contains all the subdirectories that will be used as the list to create a path variable to read a specific file.

At this point I take the directory name and do a dir with the b switch directed to a file (thanks for the idea Bob Hansen)

If this file is created successfully the next process reads the file using 1 line at a time to build the path for my subroutine that parses the specific file in that directory for the data.
It then writes out the directory and filename to a log before going on to the next subdirectory and file to process.

This code works fine as long as it is pointed to a real hard drive it does not work reading a cd.  If I copy the directories from the cd to the hard drive and then point the program at that drive it works great.

Before I spend any more time trying to troubleshoot my code I figured I would check with the more experienced external file I-O command users to see if there are issues working from a cd, other then problem code.

Thanks

Hello Robert

Glad to hear that the "dir /b >dirlist.txt" worked for you.  Since we spoke, I ran across this utility that may make your life a little easier:

JDirPrint is a freeware utility available from:
http://www.spadixbd.com/freetools/JDirPrint.htm

You could possible use jdirprint with @shell vs. using dir /b?

The JR Directory Printer Utility allows you to print a listing of every file contained within a directory and/or subdirectory(ies).

The result displayed in NotePad or default text editor as "dirprint.txt" file. This file is created in "JR Directory Printer" installtion folder, each time you click "Start" button.

Options:

Check Recurse Sub-directories option to see a complete list of all subdirectories and all files in all directories.

The Lowercase Filename option will force all file names into lowercase regardless of the actual file name.

Dos style filename option will limit the file name length within 8 chars.

Display Sub-directories will result in a list of all subdirectories contained under the selected directory along with a list of all individual files contained under the root directory.  It will not list all subdirectories or individual files contained in the main subdirectories.  To see a complete list of all subdirectories and all files in all directories, you would check the Recurse Sub-directories option and click on the Start button. This would rewrite the"dirprint.txt" file using the new options.

You can limit length file names so that they fits properly in list. By default this value is 35 chars.

You can check/uncheck Display Size, DateTime and Attributes option to list/unlist the file size, modified date/time and file attributes (a - Archives, r - Read Only, s - System, h - Hidden).

Download (size: 173 KB)
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Re your reading CD issue.  Here's a thought, but I can't guarantee it is a solution.  Let me know results if you try this.

I believe that your working directory may have to be writeable for a system temp scratch file when you do a DIR listing.  At times, many CDs are Read Only after files are burned onto it.  So when you are trying to read the directories, perhaps be sure that your current working directory is somplace on your hard drive first.

If D is your CD, and C is your hard drive, do something like:
C:\
CD\temp
DIR  D:\Folder\*.* /b >dirlist.txt

Quote:
  I am guessing that was the one about the current directory.

Let me know if you try the utility JDirPrint.