Unable to delete folder

[biganthony via AccessMonster.com]

Hi,

I have the following code to select a folder and then delete it. I keep
getting a Path/File error on the line that deletes the actual folder. The
line before that line deletes the files in the folder but I get the error
message when the procedure attempts to delete the folder selected in the
BrowseforFolder byPath function.

How can I get it to delete the folder that the user has selected in the
Browse for Folder dialog?
Thanks,
Anthony
*************** ********* BEGIN CODE SNIPPET *************** ***************

ArchiveFolder = BrowseForFolder ByPath(ProgramP ath)

'check if user has clicked the Cancel button.
If ArchiveFolder = vbNullString Then

Exit Sub

End If

'check if the selected folder is under the program folder.
If Left(ArchiveFol der, Len(ArchiveFold er) - 5) <ProgramPath Or
(Right(ArchiveF older, 4)) Like "*[!0-9]*" Then

MsgBox "That is an invalid Archive folder." & Chr$(13) & Chr$(13)
& _
"Archives are located in the " & ProgramPath & " folder." & Chr$
(13) & Chr$(13) & _
"Please select an archive in the " & ProgramPath & " folder.",
vbOKOnly + vbInformation, "Invalid Archive Folder."

Exit Sub

End If

strDeleteQuesti on = MsgBox("Do you really want to delete the " &
ArchiveFolder & " archive?", vbYesNo + vbQuestion, "Delete Archive.")

If strDeleteQuesti on = vbYes Then

'delete all files in the selected archive folder.
Kill ArchiveFolder & "\*.*" <----------------
- this line works.

Delete_Destinat ion = ArchiveFolder & "\" <------ this
line fails.

RmDir Delete_Destinat ion

MsgBox "The Archive has been successfully deleted.", vbOKOnly
+ VbInformation, "Success!"

End If

*************** ************* END CODE SNIPPET
*************** *************** **************

This is the function I'm using for the Browseforfolder byPath:
Public Function BrowseForFolder ByPath(sSelPath As String) As String

Dim BI As BROWSEINFO
Dim pidl As Long
Dim lpSelPath As Long
Dim spath As String * MAX_PATH

With BI
.hOwner = Me.hwnd
.pidlRoot = 0
If RestoreArchive = True Then
.lpszTitle = "Archives are located under the application's folder." &
Chr$(13) & "What Archive do you want to Restore?"
Else
.lpszTitle = "Archives are located under the application's folder." &
Chr$(13) & "What Archive do you want to Delete?"
End If

.lpfn = FARPROCl(Addres sOf BrowseCallbackP rocStr)

lpSelPath = LocalAlloc(LPTR , Len(sSelPath) + 1)
CopyMemory ByVal lpSelPath, ByVal sSelPath, Len(sSelPath) + 1
.lParam = lpSelPath

End With

pidl = SHBrowseForFold er(BI)

If pidl Then

If SHGetPathFromID List(pidl, spath) Then
BrowseForFolder ByPath = Left$(spath, InStr(spath, vbNullChar) - 1)
End If

Call CoTaskMemFree(p idl)

End If

Call LocalFree(lpSel Path)

End Function

Public Function IsWinNT() As Boolean

#If Win32 Then

Dim OSV As OSVERSIONINFO

OSV.OSVSize = Len(OSV)

'API returns 1 if a successful call
If GetVersionEx(OS V) = 1 Then

'PlatformId contains a value representing
'the OS, so if it's VER_PLATFORM_WI N32_NT,
'return true
IsWinNT = OSV.PlatformID = VER_PLATFORM_WI N32_NT
End If

#End If

End Function

--
Message posted via AccessMonster.c om
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[biganthony via AccessMonster.com]

Alan,

The desktop computer is a Pentium IV 3.6 Ghz with 2 GB RAM and the code works.
The laptop is the slower computer and the code doesn't work. The laptop is 1.
73 Ghz Centrino with 1 GB RAM.

Nevertheless, I put the DoEvents line in as you suggested and it still cannot
delete the folder.

The folder is not Read-Only, I verified this in properties in Explorer.

Thanks for helping

Anthony

Alan Carpenter wrote:

>Anthony,

Sorry about that. I read your message quickly, replied, read it again and
noticed my error and cancelled my original message. Too slow!

However, that stirred a memory. Could it be that one computer is much
faster than the other?
Perhaps DoEvents:

Kill ArchiveFolder & "\*.*"
Delete_Destina tion = ArchiveFolder & "\"
DoEvents <--- Added this.
RmDir Delete_Destinat ion

Worth a try.

Cheers,
Alan

>Alan,

[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]

>thanks
Anthony

--
Message posted via AccessMonster.c om
http://www.accessmonster.com/Uwe/For...ccess/200705/1

[Tom van Stiphout]

On Tue, 22 May 2007 04:54:37 GMT, "biganthony via AccessMonster.c om"
<u31673@uwewrot e:

It seems to be a timing issue. I might write a loop:

Public Declare Function GetTickCount Lib "kernel32" Alias
"GetTickCou nt" () As Long

Sub SleepMsec(msec as Long)
dim dwTickCount as long
dwTickCount=Get TickCount()
do
DoEvents
loop until GetTickCount() dwTickCount + msec
End sub

Then I might call this repeatedly until I give up or the file is
removed:
dim intLoopCount as integer
intLoopCount = 0
On Error Resume Next
Do
RmDir ...
If Err.Number = 0 then
Exit Do 'folder was removed
Else
SleepMsec(100)
End If
intLoopCount = intLoopCount + 1
Loop until intLoopCount 10
On Error Goto ErrorLabel

-Tom.

>Tom (and other respondents),

Thank you for taking time to read and help.

I can delete the folder manually through Windows Explorer.

After I receive the error message when attempting to delete the folder
through the above code, I click OK to clear the message. I look in Windows
Explorer and the folder is there but all files have been deleted (as expected)
So I tried something new: If I immediately click the delete archive button
again, the code above runs again. So I select the folder (which is now empty)
from the browseforfolder bypath function, it deletes the folder!

A check in Explorer reveals that the folder is now gone.

So in summary:

When I click the command button for the first time to select the folder for
deletion, the browse for folder dialog opens. I select the desired folder to
delete and click OK. The files are deleted but the folder remains. I receive
the error message as reported above.

I then click the command button to select the same folder for deletion, the
browse folder dialog opens. I select the same folder (which is now empty) and
click OK. The code above runs and the folder is deleted. The folder is
deleted success message appears on screen and a check in Explorer reveals the
folder is now gone.

I am confused - the above code works on one machine, but not the on I'm on
now.

Thanks to all for responding.

Anthony
Tom van Stiphout wrote:

>>Can you delete the folder manually?
Can you programmaticall y delete another folder you just created (e.g.
c:\test1\)?
Right-click folder Properties. Anything unusual?

-Tom.

>>>Hi,

[quoted text clipped - 123 lines]

>>>
End Function

[Alan Carpenter]

Anthony

I wonder if the slower computer has an slower Hard Drive and needs just a
little more time to empty the Folder.

Meanwhile, here's another unlikely case I didn't consider, but is probably
worth adding to the code (Properly, of course!)

If CurDir = Delete_Destinat ion Then ... Drink heavily. :-)

Here's another straw to clutch.

while Len(Dir(Archive Folder & "\*.*"))
Kill ArchiveFolder & "\*.*"
DoEvents
Wend
... and some more DoEvents for luck.

It'll still knock them all out at once, but maybe the problem is trying to
convince the Drive that Yes, the folder really, truely IS empty.

Cheers,
Alan

"biganthony via AccessMonster.c om" <u31673@uwewrot e in
news:728bdb55f1 25a@uwe:

Alan,

The desktop computer is a Pentium IV 3.6 Ghz with 2 GB RAM and the
code works. The laptop is the slower computer and the code doesn't
work. The laptop is 1. 73 Ghz Centrino with 1 GB RAM.

Nevertheless, I put the DoEvents line in as you suggested and it still
cannot delete the folder.

The folder is not Read-Only, I verified this in properties in
Explorer.

Thanks for helping

Anthony

[biganthony via AccessMonster.com]

Alan,

Thanks for the suggestion. I will try when I get home from work tonight. May
even drink heavily!

Anthony
Alan Carpenter wrote:

>Anthony

I wonder if the slower computer has an slower Hard Drive and needs just a
little more time to empty the Folder.

Meanwhile, here's another unlikely case I didn't consider, but is probably
worth adding to the code (Properly, of course!)

If CurDir = Delete_Destinat ion Then ... Drink heavily. :-)

Here's another straw to clutch.

while Len(Dir(Archive Folder & "\*.*"))
Kill ArchiveFolder & "\*.*"
DoEvents
Wend
.. and some more DoEvents for luck.

It'll still knock them all out at once, but maybe the problem is trying to
convince the Drive that Yes, the folder really, truely IS empty.

Cheers,
Alan

>Alan,

[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]

>>
Anthony

--
Message posted via http://www.accessmonster.com

[biganthony via AccessMonster.com]

Tom,

Thanks for your help. I will try your idea along with Alan's when I get home
from work tonight.

Anthony
Tom van Stiphout wrote:

>It seems to be a timing issue. I might write a loop:

Public Declare Function GetTickCount Lib "kernel32" Alias
"GetTickCoun t" () As Long

Sub SleepMsec(msec as Long)
dim dwTickCount as long
dwTickCount=Ge tTickCount()
do
DoEvents
loop until GetTickCount() dwTickCount + msec
End sub

Then I might call this repeatedly until I give up or the file is
removed:
dim intLoopCount as integer
intLoopCount = 0
On Error Resume Next
Do
RmDir ...
If Err.Number = 0 then
Exit Do 'folder was removed
Else
SleepMsec(100)
End If
intLoopCount = intLoopCount + 1
Loop until intLoopCount 10
On Error Goto ErrorLabel

-Tom.

>>Tom (and other respondents),

[quoted text clipped - 44 lines]

>>>>
End Function

--
Message posted via AccessMonster.c om
http://www.accessmonster.com/Uwe/For...ccess/200705/1

[biganthony via AccessMonster.com]

Hi Tom,

Found some time here at work to try your idea. When I select the folder in
the browseforfolder box, and click OK, I get the "Archive deleted" success
message, but the folder still remains. The contents are deleted.
This is the code as it stands now:

*************** *************** *************** ********

ArchiveFolder = BrowseForFolder ByPath(ProgramP ath)

strQuestion1 = MsgBox("Do you really want to delete the " &
ArchiveFolder & " archive?", vbYesNo + vbQuestion, "Delete Archive.")

If strQuestion1 = vbYes Then

strResponse = InputBox("Enter DELETE to continue." & vbCrLf &
vbLf & _
"Click Cancel to exit.", "Delete Archive.")

If strResponse = "DELETE" Or Delete_Response = "delete" Or
Delete_Response = "Delete" Then

'delete all files in the selected archive folder.
Kill ArchiveFolder & "\*.*"
Delete_Destinat ion = ArchiveFolder & "\"

Dim intLoopCount As Integer
intLoopCount = 0
On Error Resume Next
Do
RmDir Delete_Destinat ion
If Err.Number = 0 Then
Exit Do 'folder was removed
Else
SleepMsec (100)
End If
intLoopCount = intLoopCount + 1
Loop Until intLoopCount 10
On Error GoTo ErrHandler:
MsgBox "The Archive has been successfully deleted.", vbOKOnly
+ vbInformation, "Success!"
End If

*************** *************** *************** ********

Regards
Anthony

Tom van Stiphout wrote:

>It seems to be a timing issue. I might write a loop:

Public Declare Function GetTickCount Lib "kernel32" Alias
"GetTickCoun t" () As Long

Sub SleepMsec(msec as Long)
dim dwTickCount as long
dwTickCount=Ge tTickCount()
do
DoEvents
loop until GetTickCount() dwTickCount + msec
End sub

Then I might call this repeatedly until I give up or the file is
removed:
dim intLoopCount as integer
intLoopCount = 0
On Error Resume Next
Do
RmDir ...
If Err.Number = 0 then
Exit Do 'folder was removed
Else
SleepMsec(100)
End If
intLoopCount = intLoopCount + 1
Loop until intLoopCount 10
On Error Goto ErrorLabel

-Tom.

>>Tom (and other respondents),

[quoted text clipped - 44 lines]

>>>>
End Function

--
Message posted via AccessMonster.c om
http://www.accessmonster.com/Uwe/For...ccess/200705/1

[Alan Carpenter]

Since I'm already butting in ...

Anthony, I should have been more specific earlier.

Tom. I've inserted a few lines into the quoted code below.

Cheers,
Alan

"biganthony via AccessMonster.c om" <u31673@uwewrot e in
news:72949699a0 f24@uwe:

Hi Tom,

Found some time here at work to try your idea. When I select the
folder in the browseforfolder box, and click OK, I get the "Archive
deleted" success message, but the folder still remains. The contents
are deleted.
This is the code as it stands now:

*************** *************** *************** ********

ArchiveFolder = BrowseForFolder ByPath(ProgramP ath)

strQuestion1 = MsgBox("Do you really want to delete the " &
ArchiveFolder & " archive?", vbYesNo + vbQuestion, "Delete Archive.")

If strQuestion1 = vbYes Then

strResponse = InputBox("Enter DELETE to continue." &
vbCrLf &
vbLf & _
"Click Cancel to exit.", "Delete Archive.")

If strResponse = "DELETE" Or Delete_Response = "delete" Or
Delete_Response = "Delete" Then

'You may prefer:
If UCase(strRespon se) = "DELETE" Then

Debug.Print CurDir
If CurDir = ArchiveFolder Then
ChDir ArchiveFolder & "\.."
End If

'delete all files in the selected archive folder.
Kill ArchiveFolder & "\*.*"
Delete_Destinat ion = ArchiveFolder & "\"

Dim intLoopCount As Integer
intLoopCount = 0
On Error Resume Next
Do
RmDir Delete_Destinat ion
If Err.Number = 0 Then
Exit Do 'folder was removed
Else
SleepMsec (100)
End If
intLoopCount = intLoopCount + 1
Loop Until intLoopCount 10
On Error GoTo ErrHandler:
MsgBox "The Archive has been successfully deleted.",
vbOKOnly
+ vbInformation, "Success!"
End If

*************** *************** *************** ********

Regards
Anthony
<Tom's code ... not snipped>

Tom van Stiphout wrote:

>>It seems to be a timing issue. I might write a loop:

Public Declare Function GetTickCount Lib "kernel32" Alias
"GetTickCount " () As Long

Sub SleepMsec(msec as Long)
dim dwTickCount as long
dwTickCount=G etTickCount()
do
DoEvents
loop until GetTickCount() dwTickCount + msec
End sub

Then I might call this repeatedly until I give up or the file is
removed:
dim intLoopCount as integer
intLoopCoun t = 0
On Error Resume Next
Do
RmDir ...
If Err.Number = 0 then
Exit Do 'folder was removed
Else
SleepMsec(100)
End If
intLoopCount = intLoopCount + 1
Loop until intLoopCount 10
On Error Goto ErrorLabel

-Tom.

>>>Tom (and other respondents),

[quoted text clipped - 44 lines]

>>>>>
>End Function

[biganthony via AccessMonster.com]

Hi Alan,

Tried your suggestion, I am still getting the error 75 File / Path Access
Error Message.
I am thinking of ditching the delete routine altogether and tell the user in
my office to delete the folder manually in explorer!

The annoying thing is, the folder gets deleted the second time round. The
first time I click the delete button, it deletes all files and then reports
the File/Path Access error message. Then when I click the delete buttton a
second time, select the same folder in browseforfolder box, the folder gets
deleted and the success message is displayed.

Regards
Anthony

Alan Carpenter wrote:

>Since I'm already butting in ...

Anthony, I should have been more specific earlier.

Tom. I've inserted a few lines into the quoted code below.

Cheers,
Alan

>Hi Tom,

[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]

> If strResponse = "DELETE" Or Delete_Response = "delete" Or
Delete_Respons e = "Delete" Then

'You may prefer:
If UCase(strRespon se) = "DELETE" Then

Debug.Print CurDir
If CurDir = ArchiveFolder Then
ChDir ArchiveFolder & "\.."
End If

> 'delete all files in the selected archive folder.
Kill ArchiveFolder & "\*.*"

[quoted text clipped - 60 lines]

>>>>>>
>>End Function

--
Message posted via AccessMonster.c om
http://www.accessmonster.com/Uwe/For...ccess/200705/1

[Tom van Stiphout]

On Wed, 23 May 2007 22:06:12 GMT, "biganthony via AccessMonster.c om"
<u31673@uwewrot e:

No, don't give up yet. We want to see you succeed.
What's your best code at this time?

-Tom.

>Hi Alan,

Tried your suggestion, I am still getting the error 75 File / Path Access
Error Message.
I am thinking of ditching the delete routine altogether and tell the user in
my office to delete the folder manually in explorer!

<clip>

[Alan Carpenter]

Hi Anthony.

I've managed to reproduce the error, I think, but it was still random.

I ran the following code in the VBE, with the Immediate window open.
Twice the system showed me the Folder was there after it had been deleted.

The setup at the start is just because I'm too lazy to recreate the start
situation, and it lets me lean on F5 for a high speed run. :-)

You could use your FolderBrowse... in place of QuickChoose, or just replace
the Const with a test Drive/Path on the laptop.
ArchiveFolder = QuickChoose

As it stands, I can lean on F5 and go through the code a couple of hundred
times without error. Twice I say a Dir value for the folder after it had
been deleted.
There are no Permissions issues on my computer, so that's another point
towards a Timing issue rather than a Rights issue (which is unlikely if you
can manually delete the folder.)

If you run the code and get an error, then you have something to work on.
Maybe delete the Folder, wait 1 second and delete again with the checks as
below.

Failing that, perhaps percussive maintenance followed by a new laptop?

Cheers,
Alan

'######## Careful. I Delete things. ########
Option Compare Database
Option Explicit
Private Const QuickChoose As String = "O:\Temp2\Temp3 "
Sub Test()
'---- Prepare for test - Hold down F5
Dim ArchiveFolder$, AF$
Dim iNum%
Static iCount
iCount = iCount + 1
ArchiveFolder = QuickChoose
AF = ArchiveFolder
ChDrive AF
If Len(Dir(AF, vbDirectory)) = 0 Then
MkDir (AF)
End If
ChDir AF
iNum = FreeFile
Open "Empty.txt" For Output As iNum
Close iNum
'MsgBox CurDir & vbCrLf & Dir(AF & "\")
'---- Ready for test......

'RmDir AF & "\NoNameLikeThi s" 'Error 75
'Err.Raise 75 'Lazy way to Help.

While Len(Dir(AF & "\*.*")) 'Avoid "Not Found.. Error if empty
Kill AF & "\*.*"
Debug.Print "Found some and killed them."
DoEvents
Wend

If CurDir = AF Then
ChDir AF & "\.."
Debug.Print "Don't sit on branch while sawing..."
End If

Debug.Print Dir(AF, vbDirectory) 'Who am I?
Debug.Print GetAttr(AF) ' 16 means plain Folder
RmDir AF
Debug.Print Dir(AF, vbDirectory) & "<--" 'It was there Twice in my tests.
On Error Resume Next
Debug.Print GetAttr(AF) & "<--Attribute" '..but OS can't find it.
If Err.Number <53 Then Stop 'Rem out.
Debug.Print Err.Description ; " "; Err.Number
On Error GoTo 0
Debug.Print Dir(AF, vbDirectory) & "<--" 'It was never here
Debug.Print iCount
End Sub

############### #

"biganthony via AccessMonster.c om" <u31673@uwewrot e in
news:72a00c5124 85c@uwe:

Hi Alan,

Tried your suggestion, I am still getting the error 75 File / Path
Access Error Message.
I am thinking of ditching the delete routine altogether and tell the
user in my office to delete the folder manually in explorer!

The annoying thing is, the folder gets deleted the second time round.
The first time I click the delete button, it deletes all files and
then reports the File/Path Access error message. Then when I click the
delete buttton a second time, select the same folder in
browseforfolder box, the folder gets deleted and the success message
is displayed.

Regards
Anthony

<snip>