Dir

Returns a String representing the name of a file, directory, or folder that matches a specified pattern or file attribute, or the volume label of a drive.

Syntax: Dir [ ( pathname [ , attributes ] ) ]

pathname: optional String expression that specifies a file name; may include directory or folder, and drive. A zero-length string ("") is returned if pathname is not found.
attributes: optional Constant or numeric expression, whose sum specifies file attributes. If omitted, returns files that match pathname but have no attributes.

The attributes argument settings are:

Constant	Value	Description
vbNormal	0	(Default) Specifies files with no attributes.
vbReadOnly	1	Specifies read-only files in addition to files with no attributes.
vbHidden	2	Specifies hidden files in addition to files with no attributes.
vbSystem	4	Specifies system files in addition to files with no attributes.
vbVolume	8	Specifies volume label; if any other attribute is specified, vbVolume is ignored.
vbDirectory	16	Specifies directories or folders in addition to files with no attributes.

Dir supports the use of multiple-character (*) and single-character (?) wildcards to specify multiple files.

You must specify pathname the first time you call the Dir function, or an error occurs. If you also specify file attributes, pathname must be included.

Dir returns the first file name that matches pathname. To get any additional file names that match pathname, call Dir again with no arguments. When no more file names match, Dir returns a zero-length string (""). After a zero-length string is returned, you must specify pathname in subsequent calls, or an error occurs.

You can change to a new pathname without retrieving all of the file names that match the current pathname. However, you can’t call the Dir function recursively. Calling Dir with the vbDirectory attribute does not continually return subdirectories.

Tip

Because file names are retrieved in case-insensitive order on Windows, you may want to store returned file names in an array, and then sort the array.

Example

This example uses the Dir function to check whether certain files and directories exist, and to enumerate files in a folder.

Dim MyFile, MyPath, MyName

' Returns "WIN.INI" (on Microsoft Windows) if it exists.
MyFile = Dir("C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI")

' Returns filename with specified extension. If more than one *.ini
' file exists, the first file found is returned.
MyFile = Dir("C:\WINDOWS\*.INI")

' Call Dir again without arguments to return the next *.ini file in
' the same directory.
MyFile = Dir

' Return first *.txt file, including files with a set hidden attribute.
MyFile = Dir("*.TXT", vbHidden)

' Display the names in C:\ that represent directories.
MyPath = "c:\"                       ' Set the path.
MyName = Dir(MyPath, vbDirectory)    ' Retrieve the first entry.
Do While MyName <> ""                ' Start the loop.
    ' Ignore the current directory and the encompassing directory.
    If MyName <> "." And MyName <> ".." Then
        ' Use bitwise comparison to make sure MyName is a directory.
        If (GetAttr(MyPath & MyName) And vbDirectory) = vbDirectory Then
            Debug.Print MyName       ' Display entry only if it
        End If                       ' represents a directory.
    End If
    MyName = Dir                     ' Get next entry.
Loop

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Dir

See Also

Example