The FileSystemObject Object
The FileSystemObject object is used to access the file system on
the server. This Object can manipulate files, folders, and
directory paths, and it can get file system information.
Methods
Method Description
BuildPath
Appends a name to
an existing path
CopyFile
Copies a file
CopyFolder
Copies a folder
CreateFolder
Creates a folder
CreateTextFile
Creates a text
file
DeleteFile
Deletes a file
DeleteFolder
Deletes a folder
DriveExists
Checks if a drive
exists
FileExists
Checks if a file
exists
FolderExists
Checks if a
folder exists
GetAbsolutePathName
Returns
the complete path
GetBaseName
Returns the base
name of the file or folder
GetDrive
Returns a Drive
Object corresponding to the drive in a specified path
GetDriveName
Returns the name
of the drive
GetExtensionName
Returns the
file extension
GetFile
Returns a File Object
corresponding to the file in a path
GetFileName
Returns the last
file name or folder that is not part of the drive
specification
GetFolder
Returns a Folder
Object corresponding to the folder in a path
GetParentFolderName
Returns
the name of the parent folder
GetSpecialFolder
Returns the
specified folder
GetTempName
Returns a
randomly generated temporary file or folder name
MoveFile
Moves a file
MoveFolder
Moves a folder
OpenTextFile
Opens a file and
returns a TextStream object to access the file
The BuildPath Method
The BuildPath method appends a name to an existing path.
Syntax
object.BuildPath(path, name)
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
path Required. The path to append a name to
name Required. The name appended to the path
Example
dim fs, path
set fs=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") path=fs.BuildPath("c:\mydocuments",
"mydoc")
set fs=nothing
The CopyFile Method
The CopyFile method copies a file or files, from one location to
another.
Syntax
object.CopyFile source, destination, overwrite
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
source Required. The files to copy
destination Required. Where to copy the files
overwrite Optional. Sets whether an existing file can be
overwritten. True indicates that files can be overwritten, False
indicates that files can not be overwritten. True is default
Example
dim fs
set fs=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
fs.CopyFile "c:\mydocuments\web\*.htm", "c:\webpages\"
set fs=nothing
The CopyFolder Method
The CopyFolder method copies a folder or folders, from one
location to another.
Syntax
object.CopyFolder source, destination, overwrite
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
source Required. The folders to copy
destination Required. Where to copy the folders
overwrite Optional. Sets whether an existing folder can be
overwritten. True indicates that folders can be overwritten,
False indicates that folders can not be overwritten. True is
default
Example
dim fs
set fs=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
fs.CopyFolder "c:\mydocuments\web\*", "c:\webpages\"
set fs=nothing
The CreateFolder Method
The CreateFolder method creates a folder.
Syntax
object.CreateFolder(name)
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
name Required. Name of the folder
Example
dim fs, f
set fs=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
set f=fs.CreateFolder("c:\asp")
set f=nothing
set fs=nothing
The CreateTextFile Method
The CreateTextFile method creates a file and returns a
TextStream object that can be used to read from or write to the
file.
Syntax
object.CreateTextFile(filename, overwrite, unicode)
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject or Folder
Object
filename Required. Name of the file to create
overwrite Optional. Sets whether an existing file can be
overwritten. True indicates that
the file can be overwritten, False indicates that the file can
not be overwritten.
False is default
unicode Optional. Sets whether the file is created as a
Unicode or an ASCII file. True
indicates that the file is created as a Unicode file, False
indicates that the file is
created as an ASCII file. False is default
Example
dim fs, txtfile
set fs=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
set txtfile=fs.CreateTextFile("c:\somefile.txt")
set txtfile=nothing
set fs=nothing
The DeleteFile Method
The DeleteFile method deletes a specified file.
Syntax
object.DeleteFile filename, force
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
filename Required. The name of the file to delete
force Optional. Sets whether the read-only files are
deleted. True indicates that the
read-only files are deleted, False indicates that they are not
deleted. False is
default
Example
dim fs
set fs=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
fs.DeleteFile("c:\asp\introduction.asp")
set fs=nothing
The DeleteFolder Method
The DeleteFolder method deletes a specified folder and its
contents.
Syntax
object.DeleteFolder foldername, force
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
foldername Required. The name of the folder to delete
force Optional. Sets whether the read-only folders are
deleted. True indicates that the
read-only folders are deleted, False indicates that they are not
deleted. False is
default
Example
dim fs
set fs=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
fs.DeleteFolder("c:\temp")
set fs=nothing
The DriveExists Method
The DriveExists method returns "true" if the specified drive
exists, "false" if not.
Syntax
object.DriveExists(drive)
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
drive Required. A drive letter or a complete path
specification
Example
dim fs
set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
if fs.DriveExists("c:") = true then
Response.Write("Drive c: exists.")
else
Response.Write("Drive c: does not exist.")
end If
set fs=nothing
The FileExists Method
The FileExists method returns "true" if the specified file
exists, "false" if not.
Syntax
object.FileExists(filename)
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
filename Required. The name of the file we want to check the
existence of
Example
dim fs
set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
if fs.FileExists("c:\asp\introduction.asp") = true then
Response.Write("File c:\asp\introduction.asp exists.")
else
Response.Write("File c:\asp\introduction.asp does not exist.")
end If
set fs=nothing
The FolderExists Method
The FolderExists method returns "true" if the specified folder
exists, "false" if not.
Syntax
object.FolderExists(foldername)
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
foldername Required. The name of the folder we want to check
the existence of
Example
dim fs
set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
if fs.FolderExists("c:\asp") = true then
Response.Write("Folder c:\asp exists.")
else
Response.Write("Folder c:\asp does not exist.")
end If
set fs=nothing
The GetAbsolutePathName Method
The GetAbsolutePathName method returns a complete path in the
path specification.
Syntax
object.GetAbsolutePathName(pathspec)
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
pathspec Required. Path specification to change to a
complete and unambiguous path
The GetBaseName Method
The GetBaseName method returns the base name of the file or
folder, in the specified path.
Syntax
object.GetBaseName(path)
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
path Required. The path for the file or folder whose base
name is to be returned
Example
dim fs
set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Response.Write(fs.GetBaseName("c:\winnt\cursors\3dgarro.cur"))
set fs=nothing
The GetDrive Method
The GetDrive method returns a Drive Object corresponding to the
drive in a specified path.
Syntax
object.GetDrive(drivespec)
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
drivespec Required. Can be a drive letter (c), a drive
letter followed by a colon (c:), a
drive letter followed by a colon and path separator (c:\), or
any network share
specification (\\computer2\share1)
Example
Dim fs, drive
set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") drive=fs.GetDrive("c:")
Response.Write(drive)
set fs=nothing
The GetDriveName Method
The GetDriveName method returns the name of the drive.
Syntax
object.GetDriveName(path)
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
path Required. The path for the component whose drive name
is to be returned
Example
dim fs,p
set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") p=fs.GetDriveName("c:\winnt\cursors\3dgarro.cur")
Response.Write(p)
set fs=nothing
The GetExtensionName Method
The GetExtensionName method returns the file extension name for
the last component in a path.
Syntax
object.GetExtensionName(path)
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
path Required. The path for the component whose extension
name is to be returned
Example
dim fs
set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Response.Write(fs.GetExtensionName("c:\winnt\cursors\3dgarro.cur"))
set fs=nothing
The GetFile Method
The GetFile method returns a File Object corresponding to the
file in a specified path.
Syntax
object.GetFile(path)
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
path Required. The path to the file
Example
dim fs
set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
fs.getfile("c:\winnt\cursors\3dgarro.cur")
set fs=nothing
The GetFileName Method
The GetFileName method returns the last file name or folder of a
specified path, that is not part of the drive specification.
Syntax
object.GetFileName(path)
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
path Required. The path to a specific file
Example
dim fs,p
set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") p=fs.getfilename("c:\winnt\cursors\3dgarro.cur")
response.write(p)
set fs=nothing
The GetFolder Method
The GetFolder method returns a Folder Object corresponding to
the folder in a specified path.
Syntax
object.GetFolder(path)
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
path Required. The path to the specific folder
Syntax
dim fs,p
set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") p=fs.getfolder("c:\winnt\cursors")
response.write(p)
set fs=nothing
The GetParentFolderName Method
The GetParentFolderName method returns the name of the parent
folder in a specified path.
Syntax
object.GetParentFolderName(path)
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
path Required. The path for the file or folder whose parent
folder name is to be returned
Example
Dim fs,p
set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") p=fs.GetParentFolderName("c:\winnt\cursors\3dgarro.cur")
Response.Write(p)
set fs=nothing
The GetSpecialFolder Method
The GetSpecialFolder method returns the specified folder.
Syntax
object.GetSpecialFolder(foldername)
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
foldername Required. The name of the folder to be returned.
0 = WindowsFolder Contains
files installed by the Windows operating system 1 = SystemFolder
Contains
libraries, fonts, and device drivers 2 = TemporaryFolder Used to
store
temporary files. Its path is found in the TMP environment
variable
The GetTempName Method
The GetFolder method returns a randomly generated temporary file
or folder name that is useful for performing operations that
require a temporary file or folder.
Syntax
object.GetTempName
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
The MoveFile Method
The MoveFile method moves a file or files, from one location to
another.
Syntax
object.MoveFile source, destination
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
source Required. The files to be moved
destination Required. Where to move the files
Example
dim fs
set fs=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
fs.MoveFile "c:\mydocuments\web\*.gif", "c:\mydocuments\images\"
set fs=nothing
The MoveFolder Method
The MoveFolder method moves a folder or folders, from one
location to another.
Syntax
object.MoveFolder source, destination
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
source Required. The folders to be moved
destination Required. Where to move the folders
Example
dim fs
set fs = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
fs.MoveFolder "c:\mydocuments\web\", "c:\windows\desktop\"
set fs=nothing
The OpenTextFile Method
The OpenTextFile method opens a file and returns a TextStream
object to access the file.
Syntax
object.OpenTextFile(filename, iomode, create, format)
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
filename Required. Name of the file to open
iomode Optional. How to open the file. 1 = ForReading Opens
a file for reading. It is
not possible to write to this file 2 = ForWriting Opens a file
for writing. It is not
possible to read from this file 8 = ForAppending Opens a file
and write to the
end of the file
create Optional. Sets whether new file can be created if the
filename does not exist.
Use True if a new file can be created, and False if not. False
is default
format Optional. The format of the file. 0 = TristateFalse
Opens the file as ASCII. This
is the default -1 = TristateTrue Opens the file as Unicode -2 =
TristateUseDefault Opens the file using the system default
Example
Dim fs, f
set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
set f=fs.OpenTextFile(Server.MapPath("testread.txt"), 1)
Response.Write(f.readall)
f.Close
set f=Nothing
set fs=Nothing
Properties
Property Description
Drives
Returns a collection
of all Drive Objects available on the machine
The Drives Property
The Drives property returns a collection of all Drive Objects
available on the local machine.
Syntax
object.Drives
Part Description
object Required. The name of a FileSystemObject
Examples
1.File Exist
This example demonstrates how to first create a FileSystemObject
Object, and then use the FileExists method to check if the file
exists.
Coding
<html>
<body>
<%
Set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
If (fs.FileExists("c:\winnt\cursors\3dgarro.cur"))=true Then
Response.Write("File c:\winnt\cursors\3dgarro.cur exists.")
Else
Response.Write("File c:\winnt\cursors\3dgarro.cur does not
exist.")
End If
set fs=nothing
%>
</body>
</html>
Output
File c:\winnt\cursors\3dgarro.cur does not exist.
2.Folder Exist
This example demonstrates how to use the FolderExists method to
check if a folder exists.
Coding
<html>
<body>
<%
Set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
If fs.FolderExists("c:\temp") = true Then
Response.Write("Folder c:\temp exists.")
Else
Response.Write("Folder c:\temp does not exist.")
End If
set fs=nothing
%>
</body>
</html>
Output
Folder c:\temp exists.
3.Drive Exist
This example demonstrates how to use the DriveExists method to
check if a drive exists.
Coding
<html>
<body>
<%
Set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
if fs.driveexists("c:") = true then
Response.Write("Drive c: exists.")
Else
Response.Write("Drive c: does not exist.")
End If
Response.write("<br>")
if fs.driveexists("g:") = true then
Response.Write("Drive g: exists.")
Else
Response.Write("Drive g: does not exist.")
End If
set fs=nothing
%>
</body>
</html>
Output
Drive c: exists.
Drive g: does not exist.
4.getDriveName
This example demonstrates how to use the GetDriveName method to
get the name of a specified drive.
Coding
<html>
<body>
<%
Set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
p=fs.GetDriveName("c:\winnt\cursors\3dgarro.cur")
Response.Write("The drive name is: " & p)
set fs=nothing
%>
</body>
</html>
Output
The drive name is: c:
5.getParentFolderName
This example demonstrates how to use the GetParentFolderName
method to get the name of the parent folder of a specified path.
Coding
<html>
<body>
<%
Set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
p=fs.GetParentFolderName("c:\winnt\cursors\3dgarro.cur")
Response.Write("The parent folder name of c:\winnt\cursors\3dgarro.cur
is: " & p)
set fs=nothing
%>
</body>
</html>
Output
The parent folder name of c:\winnt\cursors\3dgarro.cur is: c:\winnt\cursors
6.getExtensionName
This example demonstrates how to use the GetExtensionName method
to get the file extension of the last component in a specified
path.
Coding
<html>
<body>
<%
Set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Response.Write("The file extension of the file 3dgarro is: ")
Response.Write(fs.GetExtensionName("c:\winnt\cursors\3dgarro.cur"))
set fs=nothing
%>
</body>
</html>
Output
The file extension of the file 3dgarro is: cur
7.getBaseName
This example demonstrates how to use the GetBaseName method to
return the base name of the file or folder, in a specified path.
Coding
<html>
<body>
<%
Set fs=Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Response.Write(fs.GetBaseName("c:\winnt\cursors\3dgarro.cur"))
Response.Write("<br>")
Response.Write(fs.GetBaseName("c:\winnt\cursors\"))
Response.Write("<br>")
Response.Write(fs.GetBaseName("c:\winnt\"))
set fs=nothing
%>
</body>
</html>
Output
3dgarro
cursors
winnt