DirectoryInfo Class in VB.NET

Introduction:

This article will explain the DirectoryInfo class and its use. The System.IO namespace is one of the most significant namespaces used for working with Directory in the .Net Framework. Let us see about the class.

DirectoryInfo Class

The DirectoryInfo class shares almost all of the same properties as the FileInfo class, except that they operate on directories not files. The DirectoryInfo class does not have static methods and can only be used on instantiated objects. The DirectoryInfo object represents a physical directory on a disk. It also provides instance methods for the delete, create new directory and sub directories.  

When we use DirectoryInfo class

If you are going to reuse an object several times, consider using the instance method of DirectoryInfo instead of the corresponding static methods of the Directory class.

Some of the most useful methods of the DirectoryInfo class are:

Figure1 DirectoryInfo Methods

Now Let us see the some of the methods in the DirectoryInfo class.

Create Method

This method is used to create the new directory.

CreateSubDirectory Method

This method is used to create a subdirectory or subdirectories on the specified path.

MoveTo Method

Moves a DirectoryInfo instance and its contents to a new path.

Delete Method

Deletes this instance of a DirectoryInfo, specifying whether to delete subdirectories and files.

GetDirectories Method

This method is used to get the sub directories in the given directory path or, Returns the subdirectories of the current directory.

GetFiles

The GetFiles method is used to get the files in the specified folder.

Example

Imports System.IO

Module Module1

    Sub Main()

        'Create(Method)

        Dim path As [String] = "D:\MyTestFile1.txt"

        Dim fl As New DirectoryInfo(path)

        fl.Create()

        If True Then

            Console.WriteLine("Directory has been created")

        End If

        'CreateSubdirectory(Method)

        Dim path As [String] = "D:\MyTestFile1.txt"

        Dim fl As New DirectoryInfo(path)

        Dim dis As DirectoryInfo = fl.CreateSubdirectory("hellotest")

        If True Then

            Console.WriteLine("SubDirectory has been created")

        End If

        'MoveTo(Method)

        Dim path As [String] = "D:\MyTestFile1.txt"

        Dim path1 As String = "D:\NewFile1.txt"

        Dim f1 As New DirectoryInfo(path)

        Dim f2 As New DirectoryInfo(path1)

        f1.MoveTo(path1)

        If True Then

            Console.WriteLine("Directory has been Moved")

        End If

        ' Delete(Method)

        Dim path As String = "D:\NewFile1.txt"

        Dim f1 As New DirectoryInfo(path)

        f1.Delete()

        If True Then

            Console.WriteLine("Directory has been deleted")

        End If

        'GetDirectories(method)

        Try

            Dim di As New DirectoryInfo("D:\newFile\")

            Dim dir1 As DirectoryInfo() = di.GetDirectories()

            Console.WriteLine("The number of directories containing is {0}.", dir1.Length)

        Catch e As Exception

            Console.WriteLine("The process failed: {0}", e.ToString())

        End Try

        'GetFiles(method)

        Dim di As New DirectoryInfo("D:\newfile")

        Dim dirs As DirectoryInfo() = di.GetDirectories()

        For Each diNext As DirectoryInfo In dirs

            Console.WriteLine("The number of files in {0} is {1}", diNext, diNext.GetFiles().Length)

        Next

    End Sub

End Module

The DirectoryInfo class provides the following properties that enable you to retrieve information about a directory.

Figure 2  DirectoryInfo Properties

Property - Example

Conclusion:

The DirectoryInfo class is very useful for working with directories. If there is any mistake in this article then please notify me. I expect your valuable comments and feedback about this article.