DOCUMENT:Q154005  22-JUN-2001  [vbwin]
TITLE   :HOWTO: Delete a File into the Win95/98/Me Recycle Bin
PRODUCT :Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows
PROD/VER::4.0,5.0,6.0
OPER/SYS:
KEYWORDS:kbAPI kbSDKWin32 kbVBp kbVBp400 kbVBp500 kbVBp600 kbGrpDSVB kbDSupport

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The information in this article applies to:

 - Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
 - Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
 - Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 
 - Microsoft Visual Basic Standard Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 
 - Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition, 16-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 
 - Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 
 - Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition, 16-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 
 - Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

The Visual Basic function called KILL enables a user to delete a file from disk.
Under Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows 2000,
files can be deleted into the Recycle Bin, giving a user the ability to reclaim
deleted items. The KILL function does not offer this functionality to the Visual
Basic Programmer. This article describes how to use the SHFileOperation Win32
API to enable a user to delete a file and place it in the Recycle Bin. Below is
a code sample showing how to use the API in Visual Basic.

The Recycle Bin option to remove files immediately when deleted should be turned
off in order for this sample to function as designed.

MORE INFORMATION
================

1. Start a new project in Visual Basic. Form1 is created by default.

2. Place a Command button on Form1.

3. Add the following code to the Form1 code window:

         Option Explicit

         Private Type SHFILEOPSTRUCT
           hwnd As Long
           wFunc As Long
           pFrom As String
           pTo As String
           fFlags As Integer
           fAnyOperationsAborted As Boolean
           hNameMappings As Long
           lpszProgressTitle As String
         End Type

         Private Declare Function SHFileOperation Lib "shell32.dll" Alias _
           "SHFileOperationA" (lpFileOp As SHFILEOPSTRUCT) As Long
         Private Declare Function GetTempFileName Lib "kernel32" _
           Alias "GetTempFileNameA" (ByVal lpszPath As String, _
           ByVal lpPrefixString As String, ByVal wUnique As Long, _
           ByVal lpTempFileName As String) As Long

         Private Const FO_DELETE = &H3
         Private Const FOF_ALLOWUNDO = &H40

         Sub Command1_Click()
           Dim FileOperation As SHFILEOPSTRUCT
           Dim lReturn As Long
           Dim sTempFilename As String * 100
           Dim sSendMeToTheBin As String
           lReturn = GetTempFileName("c:\", "VB_", 0, sTempFilename)
           sSendMeToTheBin = Left(sTempFilename, InStr(sTempFilename, _
              Chr$(0)))
           With FileOperation
              .wFunc = FO_DELETE
              .pFrom = sSendMeToTheBin
              .pTO = vbNullChar   ' Not used
              .fFlags = FOF_ALLOWUNDO
           End With
           lReturn = SHFileOperation(FileOperation)
           MsgBox "View your Recycle Bin for files beginning with VB_"
         End Sub

4. Press the F5 key to run the project, and click the Command button. You will
   be prompted to confirm the deletion of the file. In your Recycle Bin, there
   will be a file with the prefix "VB_" that is the file created by the
   GetTempFileName Win32 API call.

REFERENCES
==========

The Win32 SDK Helpfile refers to other SHFileOperation functionality.

Additional query words:

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Keywords          : kbAPI kbSDKWin32 kbVBp kbVBp400 kbVBp500 kbVBp600 kbGrpDSVB kbDSupport 
Technology        : kbVBSearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword6 kbZNotKeyword2 kbVB500Search kbVB600Search kbVBA500 kbVBA600 kbVB500 kbVB600 kbVB400Search kbVB400 kbVB16bitSearch
Version           : :4.0,5.0,6.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

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