>Does anyone have experience with programmatically performing a file search in VFP based on a top-level directory? This would be similair to what explorer gives you the capability of doing in the find files or computers tool.
>
>The file system object doesn't seem to be up to the task. I could use ADIR but then I have to iterate through all of the sub-direcories under the specified search directory which seems like a lot of work. Perhaps this is my only choice.
>
>Any suggestions?
>
>Thanks for your help!
>
>-JT

There are several files here in Download section including one from Nigel Coates. If this is not for the distribution, you can use Filer.

********************************************************************
*  Description.......: FindFileInNetwork
*  Calling Samples...: FindFileInNetwork("pdfmon.dll","c:\")
*  Parameter List....: tcFileToSearch, tcSearchPath, tlEntireNetwork
*  Created by........: Houston Brennan 06/13/2000
*  Modified by.......: Nadya Nosonovsky 06/16/2000 11:30:52 AM (with assistance of BP and JH)
********************************************************************
lparameters tcFileToSearch, tcSearchPath, tlEntireNetwork
** Check passed parameters
if vartype(tcFileToSearch)<>'C' or empty(tcFileToSearch)
     return .f. && First parameter is required
endif
#define NoAttributesSet       0
#define readonly              1
#define hidden                2
#define system                4
#define Archived              32
#define DoNotSearchSubFolder  0
#define SearchSubFolder       1

local lcRetPath, lcDrive, lcSearchPath, lnStartTime,;
     lcPrevOnEsc, lcPrevEscape, MsgTail, halt, loFiler

lcRetPath=''
* note clock reading for generating final timing statistics
lnStartTime = seconds()                         && # seconds since midnight

* support user Escapes for interrupting the loop
lcPrevOnEsc = on('escape')                    && save previous Escape handler
lcPrevEscape = set('escape')                    && previous Escape enablement state
set escape on                                   && enable escape handling
halt = .f.                                        && allow loop to run until this flag is toggled
on escape halt = .t.                         && force immediate termination if user escapes

* assemble fixed portion of status bar message outside of loop, for speed
MsgTail = "...         Wait or press Esc to cancel ..."

wait window nowait 'Searching file '+tcFileToSearch+iif(tlEntireNetwork,' in the whole network...',' ...')
loFiler = createobject( "Filer.FileUtil" )
loFiler.FileExpression = tcFileToSearch
loFiler.SubFolder = SearchSubFolder && Search all tree

if vartype(tcSearchPath)<>'C' or (empty(tcSearchPath) and !tlEntireNetwork)
     lcSearchPath='c:\' && Local drive
else
     lcSearchPath=tcSearchPath
endif
if !tlEntireNetwork && Only specified path to search
     loFiler.SearchPath = lcSearchPath
     set message to 'Searching in '+lcSearchPath + MsgTail
     loFiler.find(0) && Perform search
     if m.halt or lastkey()=27 && Escape was pressed
          exit
     endif
     if loFiler.files.count>0 && At least one file was found, pick up the first
          lcRetPath=loFiler.files.item[1].path
     endif
else
     local lni, lcDrive
** Want to search in the whole network
     for lni = 67 to 90
          lcDrive = chr(lni)
          if inlist(drivetype(lcDrive),3,4)
* Make sure the drive is ready (type 4 is either removeable or a network drive)
               set message to 'Searching drive '+lcDrive+MsgTail
               loFiler.SearchPath = lcDrive+':\'
               loFiler.find(0) && Perform search
               if m.halt or lastkey()=27 && Escape was pressed
                    exit
               endif
               if loFiler.files.count>0 && At least one file was found, pick up the first
                    lcRetPath=loFiler.files.item[1].path
                    exit
               endif
          endif
     endfor
endif
* Restore settings
if lcPrevEscape='OFF'
     set escape off
endif
on escape &lcPrevOnEsc
set message to ' '
wait clear
=messagebox("File "+iif(!empty(lcRetPath),lcRetPath+tcFileToSearch,"not")+" found in "+ ;
           alltrim(str(seconds()-lnStartTime,10,3))+" sec.")
return lcRetPath && Path to the first found file