How to search through multiple UNC paths for a partial file

Question

This is a lot, I know; trying to dig myself out of a hole at work.

Basically, I have many files across multiple servers that I need to get a hold of. Right now I'm running in to two problems, 1) I can't figure out the best way to search through multiple UNC paths. 2) I'm having to search by a partial name, it's possible that there is more than one file that matches, but I only want to use the file created in the last three days.

Here is my code so far. I'm not looking for someone to write it, but I would appreciate any logistical pointers.

        uncPath1 = "\\server\share\";
        string partial = "2002265467";
        DateTime date = Convert.ToDateTime("10/5/2015");

        DirectoryInfo a = new DirectoryInfo(uncPath1);
        FileInfo[] interactionlist = a.GetFiles("*" + partial + "*.*", SearchOption.AllDirectories);

        foreach (FileInfo f in interactionlist)
        {
            string fullname = f.FullName;

            Console.WriteLine(fullname);
            Console.Read();
        }

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 08 '15 at 23:31

You mentioned that you need to find only files made in the past 3 days. Instead of using Convert.ToDateTime and hard-coding the date in, you should use DateTime.Today.AddDays( -3 ) to get the date three days before the day the program is being run.

And of course, in your finding files method, compare the dates with something like:

DateTime time = DateTime.Today.AddDays( -3 );
if ( File.GetCreationTime( filePath ) > time ) {
    // Add the file
}

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:52

1) You want to make a basic function that looks for a filespec in a single folder. You already wrote that in your code above, you just need to turn it into a function with parameters UNC path and filespec. Have the function take a third parameter of List<FileInfo> to add found files to.

2) If you need to search subfolders, create a function that will search a UNC path's subfolders by calling the function you wrote in #1, then getting a list of all folders, and calling itself for each folder found (and in turn, those calls will call for sub-subfolders, etc.) This is called recursion. Have this function take a List and add all found files to the List, by passing it to your #1 function.

3) Get the root UNC paths you want to search into a List or Array and then call foreach on them passing them, the filespec, and the intially empty List to the #2 function.

So:

bool FindFiles(string uncPath, string fileSpec, List<FileInfo> found);
bool FildFilesSubfolders(string uncPath, string fileSpec, List<FileInfo> found);

string fileSpec = "whatever";
string[] uncPaths = { "abc", "def" };  // etc
List<FileInfo> found = new List<FileInfo>();
foreach (string nextPath in uncPaths)
{
    if (FindFilesSubfolders(nextPath, fileSpec, found))
        break;
}

foreach (FileInfo f in found)
{
    string fullname = f.FullName;
    Console.WriteLine(fullname);
    Console.Read();
}

One final thought: if you are searching subdirs and you are worried about two UNC paths that are essentially duplicates (e.g., c:\foo and c:\foo\foo2), you can use This method to check for paths within another path.

Edit: If you find something you are looking for and want to exit early, have the functions return a boolean meaning you found what you wanted to stop early. Then use break in your loops. I've edited the code.

Hi Ed, Thank you so much for you help, sorry about not responding last night, I went offline for sanity's sake. I did try to upvote the responses, but it says I can't until I have gained 15 reputation. I've implemented your suggestions, and..it worked! Thank you so much. I was wondering if you you could help one more time maybe? If a file is found, what's the best way to 'quit' searching through the uncPaths? I have four, and it is time consuming to search through all of them. — jPol34, Oct 09 '15 at 15:58
@jPol34, use a return code from your find functions and break out of your loops with a break on a true return (or in your original function, when anything is found). I've made an edit above. — Ed Bayiates, Oct 09 '15 at 18:16

How to search through multiple UNC paths for a partial file

2 Answers2