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Using FileSystemWatcher to Monitor Multiple Directories

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20 Oct 2011CPOL 56.8K   29   7
There are times when we need to monitor multiple directories and if any changes are available, invoke a given method.

In a previous example, I showed how to use the FileSystemWatcher class to monitor a directory. But there are times when we need to monitor multiple directories and if any changes are available, invoke a given method.

We can do that by using the following method. First create a class. We’ll call this class Watcher.

C#
 1: public class Watcher
 2:     {
 3:         public string Directory { get; set; }
 4:         public string  Filter { get; set; }   6:
 5:
 6:         private Delegate _changeMethod;
 7:
 8:         public Delegate ChangeMethod
 9:         {
10:             get { return _changeMethod; }
11:             set { _changeMethod = value; }
12:         }
13:
14:         FileSystemWatcher fileSystemWatcher = new FileSystemWatcher();
15:
16:         public Watcher(string directory, string filter, Delegate invokeMethod)
17:         {
18:             this._changeMethod = invokeMethod;
19:             this.Directory = directory;
20:             this.Filter = filter;
21:         }
22:
23:         public void StartWatch()
24:         {
25:             fileSystemWatcher.Filter = this.Filter;
26:             fileSystemWatcher.Path = this.Directory;
27:             fileSystemWatcher.EnableRaisingEvents = true;
28:
29:             fileSystemWatcher.Changed +=
                  new FileSystemEventHandler(fileSystemWatcher_Changed);
30:         }
31:
32:         void fileSystemWatcher_Changed(object sender, FileSystemEventArgs e)
33:         {
34:             if (_changeMethod != null)
35:             {
36:                 _changeMethod.DynamicInvoke(sender, e);
37:             }
38:         }
39:     }

And we can use it to monitor multiple directories as shown below (for this example, I have used a console application and I am only considering the change event):

C#
 1: class Program
 2:     {
 3:         delegate void invokeMethodDelegate(object sender, FileSystemEventArgs e);
 4:
 5:         static void Main(string[] args)
 6:         {
 7:             invokeMethodDelegate mymethod = new invokeMethodDelegate(InvokeMethod);
 8:             Watcher w1 = new Watcher(@"C:\Directory1", "*.*", mymethod);
 9:             w1.StartWatch();
10:
11:             Watcher w2 = new Watcher(@"D:\Directory2", "*.*", mymethod);
12:             w2.StartWatch();
13:
14:             string zRetVal = Console.ReadLine();
15:         }
16:
17:         static  void InvokeMethod(object sender, FileSystemEventArgs e)
18:         {
19:             Console.WriteLine("Change in file {0}", e.FullPath);
20:         }
21:     }

License

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


Written By
Technical Lead Air Liquide Industrial Services (Singapore)
Singapore Singapore
My passion lies in building business intelligence and data-based solutions, writing about things I work with and talking about it. New technologies relevant to my line of work interest me and I am often seen playing with early releases of such technologies.

My current role involves architecting and building a variety of data solutions, providing database maintenance and administration support, building the organization’s data practice, and training and mentoring peers.

My aspiration over the next several years is to achieve higher competency and recognition in the field of Data Analytics and move into a career of data science.


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Comments and Discussions

 
PraiseWorking Perfectly Pin
Pinto E Anto4-Apr-20 21:02
Pinto E Anto4-Apr-20 21:02 
QuestionService version? Pin
Dan Oviatt26-Jun-12 10:28
Dan Oviatt26-Jun-12 10:28 
AnswerRe: Service version? Pin
Manjuke Fernando26-Jun-12 16:19
professionalManjuke Fernando26-Jun-12 16:19 
GeneralRe: Service version? Pin
Dan Oviatt27-Jun-12 3:19
Dan Oviatt27-Jun-12 3:19 
GeneralRe: Service version? Pin
justmicros13-Nov-12 9:57
justmicros13-Nov-12 9:57 
GeneralRe: Service version? Pin
Manjuke Fernando13-Nov-12 13:33
professionalManjuke Fernando13-Nov-12 13:33 
Thanks..
Manjuke Fernando

Questionvery interesting artice Pin
mike231521-Oct-11 2:32
mike231521-Oct-11 2:32 

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