File Exists

This article provides information on the following topics:

Note: The Actions Quick Reference provides a complete list of actions that you can print for easy reference.

What is the File Exists Action?

The File Exists Action determines if a specific file exists.  The result is either True or False which is stored in a Variable.

Creating a File Exists Action

Select Files & Folders Actions to expand the Action list. Select theFile Exists Action from the Actions list to display the Action Builder.

Enter the File path of the file for which existence will be determined. Be sure to enter the full file path.

Note: When entering the File path , an asterisk (wildcard character) can not be used.

Enter a Destination where the result will be stored.  A result of True or False will be stored in the destination Field or Variable chosen.

Check the Include subfolders option if subfolders should also be searched when looking for the existence of the file.  

The Options section allows you to further refine which files are considered.  Enabling any of the these options will only include files with specific attributes.  You have the ability to filter files by:

  • Create date
  • Equal to
  • Newer than
  • Newer than or equal to
  • Older than
  • Older than or equal to
  • Last modified date
  • Equal to
  • Newer than
  • Newer than or equal to
  • Older than
  • Older than or equal to
  • File size
  • Equal to
  • Larger than
  • Larger than or equal to
  • Smaller than
  • Smaller than or equal to

Additionally, you have the ability to filter by the Read-Only, Archive, Hidden, System, and Compressed attributes of the file.

Optionally add Notes to the Action to document any special instructions or functionality. When the Run Switchis set to Run, the action will be executed after clicking OK.

Note: The run switch is set to Run by default. To create or modify this action without executing it, click the slider to change the option to Don't Run.  For more information, go to Action Builder.

Click the OK button to save the Action.