VB.NET Language in a Nutshell

Class

Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileSystem

Syntax

Rename( oldpath , newpath )

oldpath (required; String)

The current filename and optional path

newpath (required; String)

The new filename and optional path

Description

Renames a disk file or folder

Rules at a Glance

• newpath must not already exist, or an error will be generated.

• oldpath must exist; the Rename procedure isn't able to create a new file or directory.

• When renaming a file or folder, both newpath and oldpath should include a path to the same folder, or the function will move the file or directory. For instance, the statement:

  Rename("c:\Temp\Graphics", "Images")

  renames the Graphics folder to Images and moves it so that it becomes a subdirectory of the current directory.

• Path information included in newpath and oldpath can take the form of the local system's path or the UNC path. The local system path can be either a fully qualified path or a relative path from the current directory.

• newpath and oldpath can be on different drives , but if they are, Rename cannot both move the files and rename them.

• newpath and oldpath cannot include the wildcard characters ? and * .

• You cannot use the Rename procedure with a file that is already open .

Programming Tips and Gotchas

The Rename procedure can be used to move a file from one folder to another and, optionally , to change the file's name at the same time. If the folder specified in newname exists and is different from that stated in oldname , the file will be moved to the folder specified in newname . If the filename in newname is also different, the file will be renamed at the same time.

VB.NET/VB 6 Differences

The Rename procedure is new to VB.NET.