DOCUMENT:Q32724  30-MAR-1989  [B_MQUICKB]
TITLE   :Using FILES$ or FILES to Display Filename or Disk Directory
PRODUCT :Microsoft QuickBASIC Compiler
PROD/VER:1.00
OPER/SYS:MACINTOSH
KEYWORDS:B_BasicInt B_MQuickB

Summary: 

The FILES$ function and the FILES statement cannot display files based
on the letters in the filenames. Wild cards in filenames, such as the
"*" or "?" symbols supported in MS-DOS file commands, are not
supported in BASIC for the Macintosh. (For example, the MS-DOS command
DIR *.DOC displays all files with .DOC in the name; however, BASIC for
the Macintosh does not have a similar feature.) 

Although the FILES statement can send a disk directory to the screen,
there is no easy feature to send a disk directory to a file or array,
except through calls to Toolbox routines. (For more information, query
on the word "HFSDispatch".) 

Note that the CHDIR command affects the file folder (subdirectory)
displayed by the FILES statement, but CHDIR does NOT affect the file
folder displayed by the FILES$(1) function. FILES$(1) always displays
the files in the folder where the source file is located (if run in
the interpreter), or the files in the folder where the compiled
program apl file is located (if run from a compiled program). The
FILES$(1) window lets you manually look through other folders with the
mouse. 

This information applies to Microsoft QuickBASIC Version 1.00,
Microsoft BASIC Compiler Version 1.00, and Microsoft BASIC Interpreter
Version 3.00 for the Apple Macintosh. 

More Information:

The FILES$(n) function (where n can be 0 or 1) and the FILES statement
offer different capabilities. 

The FILES$(n) function can be used to display all files of a certain
type and to return one selected filename in a string variable. For
example, x$=FILES$(1,"TEXT") displays a dialog box listing all files
of type TEXT. The following program displays a scroll box containing
all files of type APPL (applications) and TEXT: 

   x$=FILES$(1,"TEXTAPPL") 
   PRINT X$   ' Prints the name of the one selected file.

The FILES statement displays on the screen the filenames in the
"current" folder and drive. On a 400K disk, all files will display
regardless of their folders; however, on 800K or hard disks, only the
files in the current folder will display. (The current folder is
defined as the folder in which the BASIC interpreter or compiled
program is located.) 

BASIC's current folder can be changed with the CHDIR command. For
example, the following program changes the current folder on the disk
called "HD 20" to a folder called "System," and the FILES statement
displays the files in that folder: 
 
CHDIR "HD 20:System:"
FILES
 
A colon (:) is required after both the disk name and folder name, as
shown above. 

The CHDIR statement affects the folder displayed by the FILES
statement, but NOT the folder displayed by default by the FILES$(1)
function. The FILES$(1) function displays a scrolling dialog box which
lets you manually change folders (subdirectories) with the mouse.