I have a directory full of image files which need to be copied to another directory when the original is updated. So basically I need to do this:
System.IO.
File.Copy(originalDirectoryAndName, newDirectoryAndName, true);The only problem is that the original file has some random characters in it's name, and I need to be able to search by wildcard.
How can this be best accomplished
Thanks,
Russ
Find FileName With Wildcard
Benin
The problem with that method is that I'm doing this against the PrimaryKey of my database and an iteration for each to see if the file has been updated, and I have to change the filename. So basically the original file format is:
PrimaryKey_ _.jpg where are the random characters.
I can only take the updated pictures because additional processing occurs from there. With over 200,000 images, in the original directory at any time, I need to only be able to copy the ones that have been updated.
Thanks,
Russ
AndersBank
:-)
well I commented out a couple of things, I said it was optional for you to store it into an array, whilst typing I thought of a better/more effecient way than what I initially thought so started to put in the optional thing.
you can copy there and then in the interation loop.
To get the filenames, well are you talking about physically on the disk if not, then you would get it from the fieldname from the database that contains the filename (when iterating in the for each loop for the rows/columns)
sorry, I will clear it up - my apologies. when you are saying "which match the wildcard" - is this in reference to the field/value in the database if so, then I know you gave an example of the wildcard:
PrimaryKey_ _.jpg (for example)
can you give a real instance of this value (is it like PrimaryKey_g65_.jpg)
Jonathan Stratford
well the whole System.IO.File.Exists(path\filename) does this for you, you just need to replace the bold text - it checks to see if the given path and file exists.
cool, just pass this into the "Exists" method, along with the path you want to check...as suggested above (so it could be 11223344_101_13.jpg, _14....._15......
ok, so, if you have this returned: 11223344_101_ then in my initial reply (I think), do the whole Directory.GetFiles() thing to get a list of files that match that criteria. Example:
string[] theFiles = System.IO.Directory.GetFiles(path, theFileName + "*"); //would get all the files that match the filename given.
so if I had these values returned to me, as is:
11223344_101_
then, hardcoded, would be:
string[] theFiles = System.IO.Directory.GetFiles(path, "11223344_101_*");
or IF the filename/value returned is like this, as is:
11223344_101_
then replace the with a * (theFileName.Replace(" ", "*")) would replace all found with a * instead, then do the above, then go through each of the files found (another iteration) and do the if (File.Exists(currentFile)) etc....
does this help you (hope it doesnt make you confused!) I think I've now made myself confused
edit: you may wish to look at this for understanding on how the GetFiles() works:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/wz42302f.aspx
Shinzo-Prime
I don't think I have any problems at working with datastes/datatables. :o)
My holdup is just trying to find out if there is a file that matches the "11223344_101_ .jpg" format.
Thanks,
Russ
Matt E.
ok, ill give it a bash! :-)
do you know how to work with dataset/datatables etc.... Is this the problem you are having, getting to iterate through the rows/columns to get "the value from that field" if so, let us know and also can you post the current code you have when retrieving items from the database
Sorry for the delay but as long as we try to get "there", thats all that counts!
darkool
The filename is actually like: "11223344_101_12.jpg". The "12" is the random value in this example. There will never be more then one file with that matches the "11223344_101_" scheme however.
The random value isn't in my database however, just the PrimaryKey, so I'm still unsure how I look it up.
Thanks,
Russ
braz
Sorry for being unclear in the original post.
Basically here is a very simplified version my whole process to give you a better understanding:
1. Vendor program downloads data and images.
2. I process all data from the vendor program.
3. Based on the vendor primary key, I copy photos to a new directory if they are brand new (don't exist in my second directory), or have been updated in the vendor image directory (date last modified is newer then mine).
Is this clearer, or am I still missing the question
Thanks for all your help,
Russ
vanderkerkoff
ok, that's clearer - detail makes a huge difference :-)
question is, my apologies if I misunderstood, how are you obtaining the "updated pictures" from the database Do you mean that if the picture file names in the database (PrimaryKey_ _.jpg for example) exist in the source directory on your computer, you want to be able to move them/copy them to another directory
once again I apologise if I have misunderstood
edit: reading more and more of your response I think I understand better. Please correct me
Pedro Martins
Correct.
Gustav OK
what you could do is get a list of the files you wish to copy. Example:
string[] theFilesToCopy = System.IO.Directory.GetFiles(sourcePath, "*.jpg");
this gets the list of files that has an extension jpg, or you could specify all files *.* filter - the second parameter in the GetFiles, specifies a search filter - so you can put in this wildcard of yours and it should find them
then go through each item in the string array and copy it to your destination path:
foreach(string currentFile in theFilesToCopy)
{
System.IO.File.Copy(currentFile, newDirectory, true);
}
does this help
tonn
yes thats better, thanks for that. I will try my best here.
basically you need to store in an array, the list of files that do not exist in the directory based on the filename you are going through in the processing stage (for each)
however IF the file does exist, then look at the last modified time and if the time in the database is older than the file in the directory, then add this file in the list of "files to copy" array/collection.
does this sound like more towards your path if so...then try this.....it's a pseudocode so modify it appropriately if you can
//declare an arraylist, easier to handle
ArrayList theFilesToCopy = new ArrayList();
//for each loop, get the file name from the database - code will be here for that
if (System.IO.File.Exists(originalDirectory\currentFileNameFromDatabase) == false)
{
//file doesnt exist - ok its time to copy...add it to our list
//theFilesToCopy.Add(Newpath\currentFileNameFromDatabase);
System.IO.File.Copy(originalPath\currentFileNameFromDatabase, newPath\fileName, true); //or directly copy it from the source to the destination (new folder )
}
else
{
//ok, file DOES exist so check the datetime to see if its newer and if so, copy it otherwise leave it or do whatever you like
System.IO.FileInfo theFileInformation = new System.IO.FileInfo(originalPath\currentFileNameFromDatabase);
if (theFileInformation.LastWriteTime < currentFileDateTimeField) //or something like this, check to see if the original date time is older than the file you want to analyze/get time details
{
//ok so the file on disk does exist but it is older than what the database states. Add it to the collection
//theFilesToCopy.Add(pathToCopyTo\currentFileNameFromDatabase);
System.IO.File.Copy(originalPath\currentFileNameFromDatabase, NewPath\filename, true); //or directly copy
}
}
//end for each loop
Sorry its not accurate but I do hope this is clear and hopefully it works in some way.
GS80
I feel like I am missing something, is it not in the code, or am I not understanding correctly
Basically, how am I getting the file names which match the wildcard in order to assign them to the array
Thanks,
Russ
Matt Ellis
I ended up getting it working on Saturday. The GetFiles was exactly what I needed.
Thanks for your help,
Russ