c# searching on C:\Users\John\Desktop using the text on text.box as search key?

Question

I need to make a simple windows form application in C#, that when I type something in a textbox, the program will search for the words in a path. For example, C:\Users\John\Desktop using the "text" in the textbox as the search key.

Example

text in textbox = "room"

The program will search for the "room" on the desktop.

Possible output : (room202.swf) any file extension as long as the search key is on the name.

I hope I made myself clear.. if you have questions regarding this feel free to ask.

Just to be clear, by 'desktop' do you mean the actual desktop or the file system as well? — Brian, Jan 10 '13 at 16:31
[How do I search for a list of files using wildcard](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1584711/how-do-i-search-for-a-list-of-files-using-wildcard) & [How to get a path to the desktop for current user in C#?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/634142/how-to-get-a-path-to-the-desktop-for-current-user-in-c) — Alex K., Jan 10 '13 at 16:32

Sam I am says Reinstate Monica · Answer 1 · 2013-01-10T16:50:08.913

1

This code contains some of the basic functionality that you can use to search your directory

static void Main(string[] args)
{
    string [] fileNames = Directory.GetFiles(@"c:\path");

    foreach(string fn in fileNames)
    {
        if(Path.GetFileName(fn).Contains(textBox1.Text))
        {
            //do something with fn
        }
    }
}

for more information, read up on the System.IO Namespace

edited Jan 10 '13 at 16:50

answered Jan 10 '13 at 16:32

Sam I am says Reinstate Monica

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im sorry, can i ask something, how can i search the text on textbox1? im sorry for asking .. thanks for the help. – Jurel Jacinto Jan 10 '13 at 16:45
@JurelJacinto you can search using text from just about anywhere – Sam I am says Reinstate Monica Jan 10 '13 at 16:49
@JurelJacinto i've edited the answer to use `textBox1` – Sam I am says Reinstate Monica Jan 10 '13 at 16:50

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 10 '13 at 16:36

1

string[] files = Directory.GetFiles(@"C:\Users\John\Desktop", "*" + textBox1.Text + "*");
foreach(string file in files)
{
    // Output file to user somewhere
}

answered Jan 10 '13 at 16:36

Bali C

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Wolf · Answer 3 · 2013-01-10T16:40:28.093

Try the following

string strToSearch "room";
string path = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Desktop);
string[] files = Directory.GetFiles(path , "*.*", SearchOption.AllDirectories);

 foreach(string fl in files)
    {
        if(Path.GetFileName(fl).Contains(strToSearch))
        {
            // Do the magic here
        }
    }

Here Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Desktop); will give you the path for desktop.
Use this to get all file paths in the desktop Directory.GetFiles(path ,"*.*", SearchOption.AllDirectories);

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 10 '13 at 16:43

0

Below should work. It enumerates that path. Be sure to have a multiline textbox called txtOutput, and a txtSearch named control. You can put this in a button click or where ever.

 txtOutput.Text = "";

 foreach(string file in Directory.GetFiles("c:\\path"))
    if(Path.GetFileName(file).Contains(txtSearch.Text))
        txtOutput.Text += txtOutput.Text + file + ", ";

answered Jan 10 '13 at 16:43

apollosoftware.org

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thanks a lot! this helps me.. but can i ask 1 more question ? how can i access the searched file .. if its a video, or a music .. can i play it on the form1 i make? thanks again! – Jurel Jacinto Jan 10 '13 at 17:04
You can indeed just use Process.Start(filename). This is specified in the docs for Process.Start: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/53ezey2s.aspx – apollosoftware.org Jan 10 '13 at 21:31

c# searching on C:\Users\John\Desktop using the text on text.box as search key?

4 Answers4