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c#filewindows-servicesfilesystemwatcher

When does a FileSystemWatcher.Created event fire within a directory?

I am currently designing a Windows Service that will watch a folder for a file which is copied from another folder automatically. Will an event fire as soon as it sees this copy happening or after when the copy has completed?

Or is best to poll the folder every minute lets say?

Solution

  • Will an event fire as soon as it sees this copy happening

    Yes.

    Or is best to poll the folder every minute lets say?

    That too, as a FileSystemWatcher can miss certain events, especially under stress (for example when a lot of files are being created in rapid succession).