Ignore UnauthorizedAccessException on Directory.GetFiles

Question

0.00/5 (No votes)

See more:

Is there an easy way to ignore files, I don't have access to?
I get sometimes an UnauthorizedAccessException for files. If I handle it, my method will be quit.

Here's the code:

string[] files;
files = Directory.GetFiles("C:\MyDir", "*.*", SearchOption.AllDirectories);

Posted 25-Mar-11 1:08am

dj_jeff

Updated 25-Mar-11 1:15am

Tarun.K.S

v2

Add a Solution

Comments

Tarun.K.S 25-Mar-11 7:16am

How about using the Try-Catch statement.

dj_jeff 25-Mar-11 9:47am

I'll give Solution 3 a try.

Thanx a lot @all.

4 solutions

Solution 2

C#

try
{
    string[] files = Directory.GetFiles("C:\MyDir", "*.*", SearchOption.AllDirectories);
    // do something with your file array
}
catch (UnauthorizedAccessException)
{
    // this eats the exception  but it will still stop
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    // you can handle all other exceptions here
}

GetFileSystemEntries will also throw the UnauthorizedAccessException, so I don't think you'll gain anything by using it instead. I also don't know the condition of the array of files - does it continue on with the operation or stop at the exception? I'd have to try running some code, but then again, you can do that yourself.

Posted 25-Mar-11 1:25am

#realJSOP

Updated 25-Mar-11 1:33am

v3

Comments

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 25-Mar-11 13:22pm

The only correct answer, a 5.
--SA

willempipi 28-Mar-11 10:14am

What if your first subdirectory is not accessible and the second is, will the second subdirectory be included in the files array ;) Answer: No, the array will always be empty because the "UnauthorizedAccessException" is thrown before you receive any list.

Now look again at my answer;) "The only correct answer" ;)

Solution 4

Use recursion rather than the SearchOption.AllDirectories value.

e.g.

http://www.dotnetperls.com/recursively-find-files[^]

Or MSDN version

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/07wt70x2.aspx[^]

This way, you can just try-catch on any directories with permissions issues and continue on to the next directory.

See this on stack overflow as well, same issue as you

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/172544/ignore-folders-files-when-directory-getfiles-is-denied-access[^]

Posted 25-Mar-11 1:28am

Dylan Morley

Solution 1

I believe the error occurs when you don't have sufficient rights, meaning you or the app is not allowed to browse it.

You could also try looking at this but it'll probably error too.
Directory.GetFileSystemEntries [^]

Posted 25-Mar-11 1:23am

Groulien

Updated 25-Mar-11 1:26am

v3

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

willempipi · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-25T01:26:00

private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    DirectoryInfo dir_info = new DirectoryInfo("C:\\MyDir");
    List<string> file_list = new List<string>();
    SearchDirectory(dir_info, file_list);
}

private void SearchDirectory(DirectoryInfo dir_info, List<string> file_list)
{
    try
    {
        foreach (DirectoryInfo subdir_info in dir_info.GetDirectories())
        {
            SearchDirectory(subdir_info, file_list);
        }
    }
    catch
    {
    }
    try
    {
        foreach (FileInfo file_info in dir_info.GetFiles())
        {
            file_list.Add(file_info.FullName);
        }
    }
    catch
    {
    }
}

Here you go...