Checking existing Files

PrivatePile

Hi,

I'm writing a script that creates a server-side file structure based on arguments passed into the function. One of the features i need to implement involves iterating a number on the end of some of the created files depending on what already exists. For example, the basic file structure looks something like this:

.\Name\Type\Number\

then within the 'Number' directory, there are various files such as:

.\Name\Type\Number\A1
.\Name\Type\Number\B1
.\Name\Type\Number\C1
etc
.
.
.

It is possible to have more than 1 'A' directory, so there could be an 'A2', 'A3' etc... This means that i need to be able to check what directories already exist, and what number they are. For example... if i'm adding another 'A' directory, the function will only be told that another 'A' directory needs to be created. It needs to establish for itself if there are any 'A' directories already there, what number they are, and then create a new 'A' directory with the relevant number post-fixed.

If there is an 'A1' and 'A2' already in the structure, an 'A3' needs to be added.

Anyone able to recommend some useful functions or methods of implementation that might be helpful?

Thanks
Pile

notionlogic

I assume you've checked the "directory" functions at PHP.net

Everything you need is there, it is the "I Ching" of PHP 😃

PrivatePile

Thanks for the advise notionlogic,

I did come up with a solution by calling a function that checks for the existance of folders and loops through iterating a post-fix id on the end if the folder already exists. I passed the function a string containing the directory to be checked ($checkDir) and the name of the foler being created i.e. 'A', 'B', etc.. ($calcType). For anyone who's interested the function looked like this.

		 function checkCurrentDirNo($checkDir, $calcType)
		 {
		 		$i = 1; // Value to be added to the $calcType variable.
  		 	$done = false;
				// Loop until $done = true.
  			while ($done == false)
  			{
				  // If the folder does exist then we need to continue increasing the post-fix id.
    		 	if (is_dir($checkDir . $calcType . $i) == true)
    			{
      			 $i++;
    			}else // If the folder doesn't exist then we have found the right post-fix id.
  				{
					   // So set $done = to true to drop out of the 'while' loop.
    				 $done = true;
  				}
  			}
				// Concatenate $calcType with the value of $i.
				$calcType .= $i;
				return $calcType;
		 }