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More Ways to Determine if a Database Exists

Several readers responded with their suggestions for determining if a database exists.

Thomas Mount responded to my tip on finding out whether a file exists in WAW 6.07, with a more efficient method using the FileSystemObject:

Function isFile(FileName as String) as Boolean

   isFile = _

   CreateObject(“Scripting.FileSystemObject”).FileExists(FileName)

End Function
 

This method is indeed more efficient.  I often use the FileSystemObject to work with files in my code samples.  The only drawback is that it requires setting a reference to the Microsoft Scripting Runtime library. 

Cameron Knox also contributed a function using the FileSystemObject:

Public Function TestFileExists(strFile As String) As Boolean

 

   Dim fso As New Scripting.FileSystemObject

   Dim fil As Scripting.File

 

On Error Resume Next

 

   Set fil = fso.GetFile(strFile)

   If fil Is Nothing Then

      TestFileExists = False

   Else

      TestFileExists = True

   End If

 

End Function
 

If your database has a reference set to the Microsoft Scripting Runtime library, you can use one of these functions to determine whether a file exists.

Finally, John Allcock contributed a one-line function that uses the old Dir function, and thus does not require a reference to the Microsoft Scripting Runtime library.

Public Function TestFileExists(strFile as string) as Boolean

 

   On Error Resume Next

   TestFileExists = Not (Dir(strFile) = “”)

 

End Function

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