WD98: Macro to Determine If a File Exists on Disk

ID: Q187949

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

The following macro examples determine if a specified file exists in the current folder.

These macros can help you avoid receiving error messages such as "File not found" and "Document does not exist" when you open or delete specific files using Visual Basic for Applications.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

    http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

This example uses the Dir function to check if a certain file exists.

Dir Function Syntax:

   Dir[(pathname[,attributes])]

Visual Basic for Applications Sample Code:

   Sub DoesFileExist()
      Dim MyFile as String
      ' Returns "My Document" if it exists.
      MyFile = Dir("HD:MyDocs:My Document")
      If MyFile <> "" Then MsgBox "File Exists."
   End Sub

NOTE: To avoid getting an error, you must specify pathname the first time you call the Dir function.

Dir returns the first file name that matches pathname. When no more file names match, Dir returns a zero-length string (""). Once a zero-length string is returned, you must specify pathname in subsequent calls or an error occurs.

For more information about the Dir Function, while in the Visual Basic for Applications Editor, click the Office Assistant, type "Dir" (without the quotation marks), click Search, and then click to view "Dir Function."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Microsoft Visual Basic Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q176476
   TITLE     : OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

REFERENCES

For more information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for
               Applications

For more information about running sample code, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q181058
   TITLE     : OFF98: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles

Additional query words: wordcon vba vb macword

Keywords          : kbdta kbdtacode macword98 
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Hardware          : MAC
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: April 6, 1999