FileFindFirst

The function starts the search of files or subdirectories in a directory in accordance with the specified filter.

long  FileFindFirst(
   const string   file_filter,          // String - search filter
   string&        returned_filename,    // Name of the file or subdirectory found
   int            common_flag=0         // Defines the search
   );

Parameters

file_filter

[in] Search filter. A subdirectory (or sequence of nested subdirectories) relative to the \Files directory, in which files should be searched for, can be specified in the filter.

returned_filename

[out] The returned parameter, where, in case of success, the name of the first found file or subdirectory is placed.

common_flag

[in] Flag determining the location of the file. If common_flag = FILE_COMMON, then the file is located in a shared folder for all client terminals. Otherwise, the file is located in a local folder.

Return Value

Returns handle of the object searched, which should be used for further sorting of files and subdirectories by the FileFindNext() function, or INVALID_HANDLE when there is no file and subdirectory corresponding to the filter (in the particular case - when the directory is empty). After searching, the handle must be closed using the FileFindClose() function.

Note

For security reasons, work with files is strictly controlled in the MQL5 language. Files with which file operations are conducted using MQL5 means, cannot be outside the file sandbox.

Example:

//--- display the window of input parameters when launching the script
#property script_show_inputs
//--- filter
input string InpFilter="*";
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Script program start function                                    |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnStart()
  {
   string file_name;
   int    i=1;
//--- receive search handle in local folder's root
   long search_handle=FileFindFirst(InpFilter,file_name);
//--- check if FileFindFirst() function executed successfully
   if(search_handle!=INVALID_HANDLE)
     {
      //--- check if the passed strings are file or directory names in the loop
      do
        {
         ResetLastError();
         //--- if this is a file, the function will return true, if it is a directory, the function will generate error 5018
         FileIsExist(file_name);
         PrintFormat("%d : %s name = %s",i,GetLastError()==5018 ? "Directory" : "File",file_name);
         i++;
        }
      while(FileFindNext(search_handle,file_name));
      //--- close search handle
      FileFindClose(search_handle);
     }
   else
      Print("Files not found!");
  }