When looking for files, it is often useful (necessary) to search through subfolders. In this article we'll see how to use Delphi's strength to create a simple, but powerful, find-all-matching-files project.

Project: File / Folder Mask Search

The following project not only lets us search for files through subfolders, but it also lets us easily determine file attributes, such as Name, Size, Modification Date and similar that we can see when we invoke the File Properties Dialog from the Windows Explorer.

In particular we well see how to recursively search through subfolders and assemble a list of files that mach a certain file mask.
The technique of recursion is defined as a routine that calls itself in the middle of its code. For more information about recursive routines in Object Pascal read the: Recursions in Delphi article.

Preparations In order to understand the code in the project we have to familiarize ourselves with the next three methods defined in the SysUtils unit: FindFirst, FindNext and FindClose.

FindFirst

function FindFirst(const Path: string; Attr: Integer; var Rec: TSearchRec): Integer; FindFirst is the initialization call to start a detailed file search procedure using Windows API calls. The search looks for files that match the Path specifier. The Path usually includes wildcard characters (* and ?). Attr parameter contains combinations of file atributes to control the search. The file atribute constants recognized in Attr are: faAnyFile (any file), faDirectory (directories), faReadOnly (read only files), faHidden (hidden files), faArchive (archive files), faSysFile (system files) and faVolumeID (volume ID files).
If FindFirst finds one or more matching files it returns 0 (or an error code for failure, usually 18) and fills in the Rec with information about the first matching file.

In order to contine the search we have to use the same TSearcRec record and pass it to the FindNext function. When the search is completed the FindClose procedure must be called to free internal Windows resources. The TSearchRec is a record defined as:

typeTSearchRec = record Time: Integer; Size: Integer; Attr: Integer; Name: TFileName; ExcludeAttr: Integer; FindHandle: THandle; FindData: TWin32FindData; end; When the first file is found the Rec parameter is filled, and the following fields (values) can be used by our project.
. Attr, the file's atributes as described above.
. Name holds a string that represents a file name, without path information
. Size in bytes of the file found.
. Time stores the file's modification date and time as a file date.
. FindData contains additional information such as the file creation time, last access time, and both the long and short file names.

FindNext

function FindNext(var Rec: TSearchRec): Integer; The FindNext function is the second step in the detailed file search procedure. We have to pass the same search record (Rec) that has been created by the call to FindFirst. The return value from FindNext is zero for success or an error code for any error.

FindClose

procedure FindClose(var Rec: TSearchRec) ; This procedure is the required termination call for a FindFirst/FindNext.

Recursive File Mask Matching Searching in Delphi

What we have here is the "Searching for files" project as it appears at run time. The most important components on the form are: two edit boxes, one list box, a check box and a button. Edit boxes are used to specify the path we want to search in and a file mask. Found files are displayed in the List box and if the Check box is checked then all subfolders are scanned for matching files.
Here goes only the small code snippet from the project, just to see that searching for files with Delphi is as easy as can be:

procedure FileSearch(const PathName, FileName : string) ; var Rec : TSearchRec; Path : string; begin Path := IncludeTrailingPathDelimiter(PathName) ; if FindFirst (Path + FileName, faAnyFile - faDirectory, Rec) = 0 thentryrepeat ListBox1.Items.Add(Path + Rec.Name) ; until FindNext(Rec) <> 0; finally FindClose(Rec) ; end; ... {all the code, particularly recursive function call can be found (downloaded) in the project source code} ... end;

More information about the file, please...

Now, when we have all the files listed in a list box, we can grab some more information from a Rec variable. As mentioned above, the Rec variable contains information about file attributes, such as Name, Size, Modification Date and similar. The second form in our project is used to show how to display those information, along with the information in the FindData structure from the TSearchRec...
Download "File Mask Searching" Source Code.