Send a File to the Recycle Bin

Question

Currently I'm using the following function

file.Delete();

But how can I use this function to send a file to the recycle bin instead of just deleting it outright?

Answer 1

Use FileSystem.DeleteFile and specify the right RecycleOption.

While this will work with UI Interactive Apps, it will not work with non UI interactive apps like a Windows Service app.

Answer 2

NOTE: This also does not work with non UI Interactive apps like Windows Services

This wrapper can provide you needed functionality:

using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

public class FileOperationAPIWrapper
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Possible flags for the SHFileOperation method.
        /// </summary>
        [Flags]
        public enum FileOperationFlags : ushort
        {
            /// <summary>
            /// Do not show a dialog during the process
            /// </summary>
            FOF_SILENT = 0x0004,
            /// <summary>
            /// Do not ask the user to confirm selection
            /// </summary>
            FOF_NOCONFIRMATION = 0x0010,
            /// <summary>
            /// Delete the file to the recycle bin.  (Required flag to send a file to the bin
            /// </summary>
            FOF_ALLOWUNDO = 0x0040,
            /// <summary>
            /// Do not show the names of the files or folders that are being recycled.
            /// </summary>
            FOF_SIMPLEPROGRESS = 0x0100,
            /// <summary>
            /// Surpress errors, if any occur during the process.
            /// </summary>
            FOF_NOERRORUI = 0x0400,
            /// <summary>
            /// Warn if files are too big to fit in the recycle bin and will need
            /// to be deleted completely.
            /// </summary>
            FOF_WANTNUKEWARNING = 0x4000,
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// File Operation Function Type for SHFileOperation
        /// </summary>
        public enum FileOperationType : uint
        {
            /// <summary>
            /// Move the objects
            /// </summary>
            FO_MOVE = 0x0001,
            /// <summary>
            /// Copy the objects
            /// </summary>
            FO_COPY = 0x0002,
            /// <summary>
            /// Delete (or recycle) the objects
            /// </summary>
            FO_DELETE = 0x0003,
            /// <summary>
            /// Rename the object(s)
            /// </summary>
            FO_RENAME = 0x0004,
        }



        /// <summary>
        /// SHFILEOPSTRUCT for SHFileOperation from COM
        /// </summary>
        [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
        private struct SHFILEOPSTRUCT
        {

            public IntPtr hwnd;
            [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.U4)]
            public FileOperationType wFunc;
            public string pFrom;
            public string pTo;
            public FileOperationFlags fFlags;
            [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
            public bool fAnyOperationsAborted;
            public IntPtr hNameMappings;
            public string lpszProgressTitle;
        }

        [DllImport("shell32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
        private static extern int SHFileOperation(ref SHFILEOPSTRUCT FileOp);

        /// <summary>
        /// Send file to recycle bin
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="path">Location of directory or file to recycle</param>
        /// <param name="flags">FileOperationFlags to add in addition to FOF_ALLOWUNDO</param>
        public static bool Send(string path, FileOperationFlags flags)
        {
            try
            {
                var fs = new SHFILEOPSTRUCT
                                        {
                                            wFunc = FileOperationType.FO_DELETE,
                                            pFrom = path + '\0' + '\0',
                                            fFlags = FileOperationFlags.FOF_ALLOWUNDO | flags
                                        };
                SHFileOperation(ref fs);
                return true;
            }
            catch (Exception)
            {
                return false;
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Send file to recycle bin.  Display dialog, display warning if files are too big to fit (FOF_WANTNUKEWARNING)
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="path">Location of directory or file to recycle</param>
        public static bool Send(string path)
        {
            return Send(path, FileOperationFlags.FOF_NOCONFIRMATION | FileOperationFlags.FOF_WANTNUKEWARNING);
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Send file silently to recycle bin.  Surpress dialog, surpress errors, delete if too large.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="path">Location of directory or file to recycle</param>
        public static bool MoveToRecycleBin(string path)
        {
            return Send(path, FileOperationFlags.FOF_NOCONFIRMATION | FileOperationFlags.FOF_NOERRORUI | FileOperationFlags.FOF_SILENT);

        }

        private static bool deleteFile(string path, FileOperationFlags flags)
        {
            try
            {
                var fs = new SHFILEOPSTRUCT
                                        {
                                            wFunc = FileOperationType.FO_DELETE,
                                            pFrom = path + '\0' + '\0',
                                            fFlags = flags
                                        };
                SHFileOperation(ref fs);
                return true;
            }
            catch (Exception)
            {
                return false;
            }
        }

        public static bool DeleteCompletelySilent(string path)
        {
            return deleteFile(path,
                              FileOperationFlags.FOF_NOCONFIRMATION | FileOperationFlags.FOF_NOERRORUI |
                              FileOperationFlags.FOF_SILENT);
        }
    }

Answer 3

From MSDN:

Add a reference to Microsoft.VisualBasic assembly. The needed class is found in this library.

Add this using statement to the top of the file using Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO;

Use FileSystem.DeleteFile to delete a file, it has the option to specify recycle bin or not.

Use FileSystem.DeleteDirectory to delete a directory with the option to specify to send it to the recycle bin or not.

Answer 4

The following solution is simpler than the other ones:

using Shell32;

static class Program
{
    public static Shell shell = new Shell();
    public static Folder RecyclingBin = shell.NameSpace(10);

    static void Main()
    {
        RecyclingBin.MoveHere("PATH TO FILE/FOLDER")
    }
}

You can use other functionalities of the recycle bin using this library.

First, don't forget to add the library "Microsoft Shell Controls And Automation" (from the COM menu), to be able to use the Shell32 namespace. It will be dynamically linked to your project, instead of being compiled along with your program.

Answer 5

Unfortunately you need to resort to the Win32 API to remove a file to the Recycle Bin. Try the following code, based on this post. It makes use of the generic SHFileOperation function for file system operations via the Windows Shell.

Define the following (in a utilities class is probably best).

[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet=CharSet.Auto, Pack=1)]
public struct SHFILEOPSTRUCT
{
        public IntPtr hwnd;
        [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.U4)] public int wFunc;
        public string pFrom;
        public string pTo;
        public short fFlags;
        [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] public bool fAnyOperationsAborted;
        public IntPtr hNameMappings;
        public string lpszProgressTitle;
}

[DllImport("shell32.dll", CharSet=CharSet.Auto)]
public static extern int SHFileOperation(ref SHFILEOPSTRUCT FileOp);

public const int FO_DELETE = 3;
public const int FOF_ALLOWUNDO = 0x40;
public const int FOF_NOCONFIRMATION = 0x10; // Don't prompt the user

And to use it to delete a file, sending it to the Recycle Bin, you want something like:

var shf = new SHFILEOPSTRUCT();
shf.wFunc = FO_DELETE;
shf.fFlags = FOF_ALLOWUNDO | FOF_NOCONFIRMATION;
shf.pFrom = @"C:\test.txt";
SHFileOperation(ref shf);

Answer 6

There is built-in library for this .

First add reference Microsoft.VisualBasic Then add this code :

FileSystem.DeleteFile(path_of_the_file,
                        Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.UIOption.AllDialogs,
                        Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.RecycleOption.SendToRecycleBin,
                        Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.UICancelOption.ThrowException);

I have found this here .

Answer 7

You can DllImport SHFileOperation to do this.

Answer 8

I use this extension method, then I can just use a DirectoryInfo or FileInfo and delete that.

public static class NativeMethods
{
    [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
        struct SHFILEOPSTRUCT
    {
        public IntPtr hwnd;
        [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.U4)]
        public int wFunc;
        public string pFrom;
        public string pTo;
        public short fFlags;
        [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
        public bool fAnyOperationsAborted;
        public IntPtr hNameMappings;
        public string lpszProgressTitle;
    }
    private const int FO_DELETE = 0x0003;
    private const int FOF_ALLOWUNDO = 0x0040;           // Preserve undo information, if possible. 
    private const int FOF_NOCONFIRMATION = 0x0010;      // Show no confirmation dialog box to the user      


    [DllImport("shell32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
    static extern int SHFileOperation(ref SHFILEOPSTRUCT FileOp);

    static bool DeleteFileOrFolder(string path)
    {


        SHFILEOPSTRUCT fileop = new SHFILEOPSTRUCT();
        fileop.wFunc = FO_DELETE;
        fileop.pFrom = path + '\0' + '\0';            
        fileop.fFlags = FOF_ALLOWUNDO | FOF_NOCONFIRMATION;


        var rc= SHFileOperation(ref fileop);
        return rc==0;
    }

    public static bool ToRecycleBin(this DirectoryInfo dir)
    {
        dir?.Refresh();
        if(dir is null || !dir.Exists)
        {
            return false;
        }
        else
            return DeleteFileOrFolder(dir.FullName);
    }
    public static bool ToRecycleBin(this FileInfo file)
    {
        file?.Refresh();

        if(file is null ||!file.Exists)
        {
            return false;
        }
        return DeleteFileOrFolder(file.FullName);
    }
}

a sample how to call it could be this:

private void BtnDelete_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    if(MessageBox.Show("Are you sure you would like to delete this directory?", "Delete & Close", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo, MessageBoxIcon.Question) == DialogResult.No)
        return;

    var dir= new DirectoryInfo(directoryName);
    dir.ToRecycleBin();

}