C# Newbie - Having a problem

Question

I have a test file located here: C:	est.txt I am trying to see if the file exists: bool exists; exists = System.IO.File.Exists(@"c:	est.txt"); exists always returns false even though the file does exist the same thing happens if I try using: System.IO.File.Delete(@"c:	est.txt"); even thought he file exists, it is never deleted. Am I missing something? What is the purpose of the @ symbol before the file name? Thanks

Scott Lysle · Answer

Not sure about why you cannot get the delete to work: I dropped a file on to the C root and ran these three operations: if (!System.IO. File .Exists( @"C:\alabama-seal.jpg" )) MessageBox .Show( "It is NOT there" ); else MessageBox .Show( "It IS there" ); System.IO. File .Delete( @"C:\alabama-seal.jpg" ); if (!System.IO. File .Exists( @"C:\alabama-seal.jpg" )) MessageBox .Show( "It is NOT there" ); else MessageBox .Show( "It IS there" ); As expected, the first message box said "It IS there", the file was then deleted and the second message box said "It is NOT there." A check of the root file shows the file was in fact deleted.

Scott Lysle · Answer

The purpose of the '@' is to take the string following literally (without the use of any escape sequences); e.g., @"c:\Temp\Test.txt" works but so does "c:\Temp\Test.txt". As for usage of the File.Exists method; this works fine: if (!System.IO. File .Exists( "C:\Temp\somefile.txt" )) MessageBox .Show( "It is NOT there" ); else MessageBox .Show( "It IS there" ); And so does this: if (!System.IO. File .Exists( @"C:\Temp\al_outline.gif" )) MessageBox .Show( "It is NOT there" ); else MessageBox .Show( "It IS there" );