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How to remove directory recursively?

Aug 8, 2010 at 8:53pm
rain (84)
RemoveDirectory(); Removes only empty directory, but how to remove directories that have files inside?
Aug 8, 2010 at 9:03pm
m4ster r0shi (2201)
Delete the files first. Use FindFirstFile, FindNextFile to enumerate the files in the directory and DeleteFile to delete them.

Useful example:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa365200%28VS.85%29.aspx
Aug 8, 2010 at 10:13pm
rain (84)
This clears directory from files, but what I do next?
Aug 8, 2010 at 10:16pm
m4ster r0shi (2201)
Well, call RemoveDirectory(). What else? :P

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa365488%28VS.85%29.aspx
Aug 9, 2010 at 8:57am
rain (84)
RemoveDirectory needs empty directory but all these directiries have files and directories inside. How to go in to all flders alnd list all contents?

since i dont know how many folders aren in C:\X i can't write fixed loop
Last edited on Aug 9, 2010 at 9:04am
Aug 9, 2010 at 9:08am
Kyon (912)
Make a function that takes a directory, opens it and checks it for files. If it comes across a file, remove it, if it comes across a directory, recursively call the function for that directory. That's really all.
Last edited on Aug 9, 2010 at 9:08am
Aug 10, 2010 at 1:00pm
rain (84)
I made function but does anyone know why it doesn't delet empty directories? (look at DirectoryRecursive)

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// del2.cpp : Defines the entry point for the console application.
//

#include "stdafx.h"

#include <windows.h>
#include <tchar.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string>
#include <iostream>
#include "Shlwapi.h"


using namespace std;

//bool DirectoryRecursive(char * path = new char[261])
bool DirectoryRecursive(char path[261])
{
	WIN32_FIND_DATA FindFileData;
    HANDLE hFind;
	DWORD Attributes;
	strcat(path,"\\*");
	//path[strlen(path)] = '*';

	hFind = FindFirstFile(path, &FindFileData);
	//printf("---Recursive: %s\n",path);
			do{
				if (strcmp(FindFileData.cFileName, ".") != 0 && strcmp(FindFileData.cFileName, "..") != 0){
				//Str append Example
				char str[MAX_PATH];
				strcpy (str,path);
				str[strlen(path)-1] = '\0';
				strcat (str,FindFileData.cFileName);
				//_tprintf (TEXT("---File Found: %s\n"),str);
				Attributes = GetFileAttributes(str);
				//_tprintf (TEXT("---File Attributes: %d\n"),Attributes);
				if (Attributes & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY)
				{
				DirectoryRecursive(str);
				//str[strlen(str)] = '\\';
				str[strlen(path)-1] = '\0';
				printf("--Rem: '%s'\n",str);
				RemoveDirectory(str);
				}
				else
				{
				remove( str );
				}
				}
			}while(FindNextFile(hFind, &FindFileData));
	return true;
}

int main()
{
	system("cls");
   WIN32_FIND_DATA FindFileData;
   HANDLE hFind;

   //Read list file
   FILE *filein;
   long lSize;
   char * buffer;
   size_t result;
   DWORD Attributes;
   //Get path to list.txt
   	 char szFileName[MAX_PATH];
     HINSTANCE hInstance = GetModuleHandle(NULL);
     GetModuleFileName(hInstance, szFileName, MAX_PATH);
	 PathRemoveFileSpec(szFileName);
	 PathAppend(szFileName,"\\list.txt");
	 //Open file
   filein = fopen(szFileName, "r");
   //if (filein==NULL) {fputs ("File error",stderr); exit (1);}

    // obtain file size:
    fseek (filein , 0 , SEEK_END);
    lSize = ftell (filein);
    rewind (filein);

    // allocate memory to contain the whole file:
    buffer = (char*) malloc ((sizeof(char)*lSize)+1);

	// copy the file into the buffer:
    result = fread (buffer,1,lSize,filein);
	buffer[result] = '\0'; // make extra byte nul
	/*//Print some info
    printf ("%s\n",buffer);// list.txt
	printf ("%s\n",szFileName);//Path
    fclose(filein);
	*/

	//token apc
	char *token;
	token = strtok(buffer,"\r\n");
	   while( token != NULL )
       {
           // While there are tokens in "string"
           printf( "%s\n", token );

		   //List files
			hFind = FindFirstFile(token, &FindFileData);
			do{
				if (strcmp(FindFileData.cFileName, ".") != 0 && strcmp(FindFileData.cFileName, "..") != 0){
				//Str append Example
				char str[MAX_PATH];
				strcpy (str,token);
				str[strlen(token)-1] = '\0';
				strcat (str,FindFileData.cFileName);
				//_tprintf (TEXT("File Found: %s\n"),str);
				Attributes = GetFileAttributes(str);
				if (Attributes & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY)
				{
				 //is directory
				DirectoryRecursive(str);
				str[strlen(token)-1] = '\0';
				printf("Rem: '%s'\n",str);
				RemoveDirectory(str);
				}
				else
				{
				remove( str );
				//not directory
				}
				}
			}while(FindNextFile(hFind, &FindFileData));
			FindClose(hFind);

           // Get next token: 
           token = strtok( NULL,"\r\n"); // C4996
       }
	free(buffer);
return	0;
}
Edit & run on cpp.sh


output:
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D:\trash\rain\*
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Application Data\Microsoft\Credentials\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Application Data\Microsoft\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Application Data\Microsoft\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Application Data\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\My\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Application Data\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\My\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Application Data\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\My\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Application Data\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Application Data\Microsoft\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Application Data\'
Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\'
Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\'
Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\'
Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Credentials\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Local Settings\Application Data\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Local Settings\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Local Settings\History\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Local Settings\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Local Settings\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Local Settings\'
Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\'
Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\'
Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\'
Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Start Menu\Programs\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Start Menu\Programs\'
--Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\Start Menu\'
Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\'
Rem: 'D:\trash\rain\'

C:\Users\rain>
Last edited on Aug 10, 2010 at 1:51pm
Aug 10, 2010 at 7:52pm
guestgulkan (2942)
For this I assumed each entry in the list.txt file would be the full directory
path you want to delete (without any trailing \) . For example

D:\trash\rain
D:\trash\rain\Local Settings\History

I'll leave any final tidying up for you to do.

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#include <windows.h>
#include <tchar.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string>
#include <iostream>
#include "Shlwapi.h"


using namespace std;

//bool DirectoryRecursive(char * path = new char[261])
bool DirectoryRecursive(char *token)
{
    WIN32_FIND_DATA FindFileData;
    HANDLE hFind;
    DWORD Attributes;  
    char str[MAX_PATH];
    
    strcpy (str,token); 
    strcat (str,"\\*.*");


    //List files
    hFind = FindFirstFile(str, &FindFileData);
    do{
        if (strcmp(FindFileData.cFileName, ".") != 0 && strcmp(FindFileData.cFileName, "..") != 0)
        {
            //Str append Example
            strcpy (str, token);
            strcat(str,"\\");
            strcat (str,FindFileData.cFileName);
            //_tprintf (TEXT("File Found: %s\n"),str);
            Attributes = GetFileAttributes(str);
            if (Attributes & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY)
            {
                //is directory
                DirectoryRecursive(str);
            }
            else
            {
                remove( str );
                //not directory
            }
        }
    }while(FindNextFile(hFind, &FindFileData));
    FindClose(hFind);
    
    RemoveDirectory(token);
	return true;
}

int main()
{
	system("cls");
   WIN32_FIND_DATA FindFileData;
   HANDLE hFind;

   //Read list file
   FILE *filein;
   long lSize;
   char * buffer;
   size_t result;
   DWORD Attributes;
   //Get path to list.txt
   	 char szFileName[MAX_PATH];
     HINSTANCE hInstance = GetModuleHandle(NULL);
     GetModuleFileName(hInstance, szFileName, MAX_PATH);
	 PathRemoveFileSpec(szFileName);
	 PathAppend(szFileName,"\\list.txt");
	 //Open file
   filein = fopen(szFileName, "r");
   //if (filein==NULL) {fputs ("File error",stderr); exit (1);}

    // obtain file size:
    fseek (filein , 0 , SEEK_END);
    lSize = ftell (filein);
    rewind (filein);

    // allocate memory to contain the whole file:
    buffer = (char*) malloc ((sizeof(char)*lSize)+1);

	// copy the file into the buffer:
    result = fread (buffer,1,lSize,filein);
	buffer[result] = '\0'; // make extra byte nul
	/*//Print some info
    printf ("%s\n",buffer);// list.txt
	printf ("%s\n",szFileName);//Path
    fclose(filein);
	*/

	//token apc
	char *token;
	token = strtok(buffer,"\r\n");

	   while( token != NULL )
       {
           // While there are tokens in "string"
           //char FullDir[MAX_PATH];
           printf( "%s\n", token );

            DirectoryRecursive(token);

           // Get next token: 
           token = strtok( NULL,"\r\n"); 
       }
	free(buffer);
return	0;
}
Edit & run on cpp.sh
Aug 10, 2010 at 11:30pm
rain (84)
Your code makes exe crash.

My current list.txt D:\trash\rain\*
Aug 10, 2010 at 11:49pm
guestgulkan (2942)
Like I said, take it and tidy it up.
I did not use a final \ on the directory name in the list.txt file.
So my list.txt file looked like D:\trash\rain
Aug 11, 2010 at 9:08am
rain (84)
now it deletes \rain too but i want clear D:\trash\rain with out deleting rain
Aug 11, 2010 at 9:25am
Skillless (227)
Can you actually delete a directory, and keep the files it contains?
What happens to the files, how do you access them? Thats awesome o.o

By the way;
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762164(v=VS.85).aspx
Last edited on Aug 11, 2010 at 9:27am
Aug 11, 2010 at 12:04pm
rain (84)
Gah you probably did read what i wrote, I don't want delete given directory, I want to cleat that directory.

Clear means you delete all files and folders from that directory but don't toch directory itself.
Aug 11, 2010 at 12:07pm
Skillless (227)
Ow.

Well you could just make the folder again, but... thats not what you want i guess =P
Aug 11, 2010 at 12:17pm
rain (84)
remaking folder will create folder with wrong owner/attributes/permissions. If i recreate it from another user, that other user might become folder owner thatway, which means original user wont have some access/permissions anymore. because owner on now user who created folder....
Last edited on Aug 11, 2010 at 12:18pm
Aug 11, 2010 at 1:32pm
daxyboy (14)
'pint' is a spam bot - who do I complain to?
Aug 11, 2010 at 5:26pm
rain (84)
any ideas how to make it clear directory given instead of removing it
Aug 11, 2010 at 5:47pm
guestgulkan (2942)
Yes.
((it would have been nice if you had made that point clear to start with)).

If I was given the code above and told fix it quickly on pain of death , this is what I would do...

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#include <windows.h>
#include <tchar.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string>
#include <iostream>
#include "Shlwapi.h"


using namespace std;

//bool DirectoryRecursive(char * path = new char[261])
bool DirectoryRecursive(char *token, char* originalName)//<<=============*******
{
    WIN32_FIND_DATA FindFileData;
    HANDLE hFind;
    DWORD Attributes;  
    char str[MAX_PATH];
    
    strcpy (str,token); 
    strcat (str,"\\*.*");


    //List files
    hFind = FindFirstFile(str, &FindFileData);
    do{
        if (strcmp(FindFileData.cFileName, ".") != 0 && strcmp(FindFileData.cFileName, "..") != 0)
        {
            //Str append Example
            strcpy (str, token);
            strcat(str,"\\");
            strcat (str,FindFileData.cFileName);
            //_tprintf (TEXT("File Found: %s\n"),str);
            Attributes = GetFileAttributes(str);
            if (Attributes & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY)
            {
                //is directory
                DirectoryRecursive(str, originalName);//<<=====================*******
            }
            else
            {
                remove( str );
                //not directory
            }
        }
    }while(FindNextFile(hFind, &FindFileData));
    FindClose(hFind);
    
    if(strcmp ( token, originalName))//<<===================*****
    {
        RemoveDirectory(token);
    }
	return true;
}

int main()
{
	system("cls");
   WIN32_FIND_DATA FindFileData;
   HANDLE hFind;

   //Read list file
   FILE *filein;
   long lSize;
   char * buffer;
   size_t result;
   DWORD Attributes;
   //Get path to list.txt
   	 char szFileName[MAX_PATH];
     HINSTANCE hInstance = GetModuleHandle(NULL);
     GetModuleFileName(hInstance, szFileName, MAX_PATH);
	 PathRemoveFileSpec(szFileName);
	 PathAppend(szFileName,"\\list.txt");
	 //Open file
   filein = fopen(szFileName, "r");
   //if (filein==NULL) {fputs ("File error",stderr); exit (1);}

    // obtain file size:
    fseek (filein , 0 , SEEK_END);
    lSize = ftell (filein);
    rewind (filein);

    // allocate memory to contain the whole file:
    buffer = (char*) malloc ((sizeof(char)*lSize)+1);

	// copy the file into the buffer:
    result = fread (buffer,1,lSize,filein);
	buffer[result] = '\0'; // make extra byte nul
	/*//Print some info
    printf ("%s\n",buffer);// list.txt
	printf ("%s\n",szFileName);//Path
    fclose(filein);
	*/

	//token apc
	char *token;
	token = strtok(buffer,"\r\n");

	   while( token != NULL )
       {
           // While there are tokens in "string"
           //char FullDir[MAX_PATH];
           printf( "%s\n", token );

            DirectoryRecursive(token, token);//<<=========================*************

           // Get next token: 
           token = strtok( NULL,"\r\n"); 
       }
	free(buffer);
return	0;
}
Edit & run on cpp.sh
Aug 13, 2010 at 5:06pm
rain (84)
Great thanks guestgulkan.
Topic archived. No new replies allowed.