Deleting Folders with DOS Command ~ LEARN MS-ACCESS TIPS AND TRICKS

Introduction.

We have seen how to create folders with MkDir() DOS Command and learned how to change default folder to the active database’s folder with ChDir() Command.

If we can create a folder then we must be able to remove the folder too. But, RmDir() Command usage is not as common as the MkDir() Command. We create new folders or sub-folders to organize files into them so that we can easily locate them when needed. The removal of those folders becomes necessary only when the need arises for relocation/removal of those files and increase the available disk space.

We can run RmDir() command directly from the Immediate Window (Debug Window) as shown below, to learn its usage:

RmDir "C:\MyFolder"

Validation Checks.

This command has a safety-check mechanism built into it. When you run the above command it will check whether the folder is totally empty of any sub-folders or files. If the Command execution was successful, then it will not show any message, otherwise, it will one of the following two messages:

If the path specified is not correct, then it will show a Path Not Found Error Message.
If the folder is not empty, then the message ‘Path/File access error’ is displayed.

Through Windows Explorer, we can remove a folder with all its sub-folders and files in one clean sweep. If this is done by mistake, then we can always restore them from the Recycle bin also, before emptying it.

Network Folders or Files deleted through Windows Explorer are not transferred to the Recycle bin. If you have access rights to delete Network Folders/Files then you must approach the Network Administrator to restore the Folder/File from the latest LAN Backup. Normally, some users may be allowed to create folders but access rights to delete folders are kept with the Network Administrator, as a safety measure.

A Custom Function.

Let us write a small function with the name FolderDeletion() to run the RmDir() DOS Command with proper validation checks so that you can add this to your other common function library. The function will have the following validation checks before the folder is physically removed:

It checks whether the folder name passed to the function exists, if it doesn't display a message to that effect, and aborts the program.
If the folder exists, then ask for confirmation from the user to delete the folder.
If the user’s response is negative, then abort the program, otherwise, attempt to delete the folder.
If the delete action fails, then the folder has sub-folders or files in it, abort the program, otherwise delete the folder and show a message.

The Function VBA Code:

Public Function DeleteFolder(ByVal strFolder As String)
On Error Resume Next

If Len(Dir(strFolder, vbDirectory)) > 0 Then
  'Folder exists, ask for permission to delete the folder
  If (MsgBox("Deleting Folder: '" & strFolder & "', Proceed...?", vbOKCancel + vbDefaultButton2 + vbQuestion, "DeleteFolder()") = vbNo) Then
     'User says not to delete the folder, exit program
     GoTo DeleteFolder_Exit
  Else
     'Delete Folder
     RmDir strFolder
     
     If Err = 75 Then 'folder is not empty, have sub-folders or files
        MsgBox "Folder: '" & strFolder & "' is not empty, cannot be removed."
        GoTo DeleteFolder_Exit
     Else
        MsgBox "Folder: '" & strFolder & "' deleted."
        GoTo DeleteFolder_Exit
     End If
  End If
Else
  MsgBox "Folder: '" & strFolder & "' Not found."
End If

DeleteFolder_Exit:
On Error GoTo 0
End Function

If you want something different to get the same work done, then we can use VB Script in Microsoft Access to do that. VB Script is mostly used in Web Pages for Server Side actions. VB Script uses FileSystemObject to manage Drives, Folders & Files. We have used it for creating Text, Word, and Excel Files before.

You can find those examples in the following links:

VBScript Function: FolderCreation()

First, let us write a VB Script Function to create a Folder - C:\MyProjects.

Public Function FolderCreation(ByVal strFolder As String)
Dim FSysObj, fldr
  
  On Error Resume Next 'arrange to capture the error so that it can be check
  'Create the File System Object
  Set FSysObj = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
  'Call the Create Folder Method of the File System Object with Folder Path as parameter
  Set fldr = FSysObj.CreateFolder(strFolder)
  'if this action ended up with error code 58 then the folder already exists
  If Err = 58 Then
     MsgBox "Folder: '" & strFolder & "' already exists."
     GoTo FolderCreation_Exit
  Else
     MsgBox "Folder: " & strFolder & " created successfully."
  End If
  
FolderCreation_Exit:
On Error GoTo 0
End Function

Copy and paste the above function into the Standard Module of your database. You can try the function by calling it from the Debug Window with a folder name as shown below:


FolderCreation "C:\MyProjects"

VBScript Function: FolderDeletion().

After the sample run, open Windows Explorer and check for the folder name c:\MyProjects. The following VB Script Function FolderDeletion() can be used for removing a folder:

Public Function FolderDeletion(ByVal strFolder As String)
  Dim FSysObj, fldr
  
  On Error Resume Next
  Set FSysObj = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
  Set fldr = FSysObj.GetFolder(strFolder)
  If Err = 76 Then
     MsgBox "Folder: '" & strFolder & "' No found!"
  Else
     If MsgBox("Delete Folder: '" & strFolder & "' Proceed...?", vbOKCancel + vbDefaultButton2 + vbQuestion, "FolderDeletion()") = vbNo Then
         GoTo FolderDeletion_Exit
     Else
         fldr.Delete 'call the Delete Method of the Folder Object
         MsgBox "Folder: '" & strFolder & "' Deleted."
     End If
  End If
FolderDeletion_Exit:
On Error GoTo 0
End Function

Copy and paste the above code into the Standard Module of your database. You can run the above code either from the Debug Window or call it from a Command Button Click Event Procedure.

Sample Run from Debug Window:

FolderDeletion "C:\MyProjects"


Private Sub cmdRun_Click()
    FolderDeletion txtFolderPath
End Sub

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