VB.NET Language in a Nutshell
| GetAttr Function |
Class
Microsoft. VisualBasic.FileSystem
Yes
Syntax
GetAttr( pathname )
- pathname (required; String)
-
Filename and an optional pathname
Return Value
An integer representing the sum of the following constants or members of the FileAttribute enumeration, which reflect the attributes set for the file:
| FileAttribute Enum | Constant | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | VbNormal |
| Normal |
| ReadOnly | VbReadOnly | 1 | Read-only |
| Hidden | VbHidden | 2 | Hidden |
| System | VbSystem | 4 | System |
| Directory | VbDirectory | 16 | Directory or folder |
| Archive | VbArchive | 32 | File has changed since last backup |
Description
Determines which attributes have been set for a file or directory
Rules at a Glance
-
pathname may optionally include a directory name and a drive letter, including a network drive. pathname can also follow the UNC format of //machine_ name/drive .
-
You can check if a particular attribute has been set by performing a bitwise comparison of the GetAttr return value and the value of the attribute constant using the And operator. A nonzero result means that the particular attribute has been set; conversely, a zero value indicates that the attribute has not been set. For example:
If (GetAttr(myfile.txt) And VbReadOnly) = 0 then Msgbox "The file is Read-Write" Else MsgBox "The file is Read-Only" End If
Programming Tips and Gotchas
If pathname is invalid, a FileNotFoundException exception is generated.