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c#getfiles

Ignore folders/files when Directory.GetFiles() is denied access


I am trying to display a list of all files found in the selected directory (and optionally any subdirectories). The problem I am having is that when the GetFiles() method comes across a folder that it cannot access, it throws an exception and the process stops.

How do I ignore this exception (and ignore the protected folder/file) and continue adding accessible files to the list?

try
{
    if (cbSubFolders.Checked == false)
    {
        string[] files = Directory.GetFiles(folderBrowserDialog1.SelectedPath);
        foreach (string fileName in files)
            ProcessFile(fileName);
    }
    else
    {
        string[] files = Directory.GetFiles(folderBrowserDialog1.SelectedPath, "*.*", SearchOption.AllDirectories);
        foreach (string fileName in files)
            ProcessFile(fileName);
    }
    lblNumberOfFilesDisplay.Enabled = true;
}
catch (UnauthorizedAccessException) { }
finally {}

Solution

  • You will have to do the recursion manually; don't use AllDirectories - look one folder at a time, then try getting the files from sub-dirs. Untested, but something like below (note uses a delegate rather than building an array):

    using System;
    using System.IO;
    static class Program
    {
        static void Main()
        {
            string path = ""; // TODO
            ApplyAllFiles(path, ProcessFile);
        }
        static void ProcessFile(string path) {/* ... */}
        static void ApplyAllFiles(string folder, Action<string> fileAction)
        {
            foreach (string file in Directory.GetFiles(folder))
            {
                fileAction(file);
            }
            foreach (string subDir in Directory.GetDirectories(folder))
            {
                try
                {
                    ApplyAllFiles(subDir, fileAction);
                }
                catch
                {
                    // swallow, log, whatever
                }
            }
        }
    }