Listing all files in a directory and sub-directories C#

Question

I want to find and add all the file names in a specific directory and all its sub-directories and add them to a list in C#. I have tried using DirectoryInfo but it only gives back files in current directory and not inside its sub-folders. Any simple method for implementing this?

You need to create a recursive method in order to extract full directory's structure — H. Herzl, Dec 16 '16 at 07:14
`var list = Directory.EnumerateFiles(@"C:\MyFiles\", "*", SearchOption.AllDirectories).ToList();` — Dmitry Bychenko, Dec 16 '16 at 07:15

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Dec 16 '16 at 07:23

2

SearchOption.AllDirectories might do the trick for you as it includes the current directory and all its subdirectories in a search operation. This option includes reparse points such as mounted drives and symbolic links in the search.

//Add System.IO then
String[] allfiles = Directory.GetFiles("DirectorytoSearch", "*", SearchOption.AllDirectories);

and to convert them to list

List<string> allfiles = Directory.GetFiles("DirectorytoSearch", "*",SearchOption.AllDirectories).ToList();

edited Dec 16 '16 at 07:23

sujith karivelil

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answered Dec 16 '16 at 07:14

Mohit S

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Better put `*` as a wild card instead of `*.*` (what if a file doesn't have extension?) – Dmitry Bychenko Dec 16 '16 at 07:18
Yup!! @DmitryBychenko Thats a good idea. Thanks :) – Mohit S Dec 16 '16 at 07:19
Directory.GetFiles() returns a string[] which does not have a .ToList() option. – Pul_P Dec 16 '16 at 07:40
@Pul_P: You can either choose line 1 or line 2. ToList() could be done to any array object. and same here – Mohit S Dec 16 '16 at 07:44
@Mohit, was missing the using System.Linq. Thanks. – Pul_P Dec 16 '16 at 07:54
Is there a way to return only the file names as well? – Pul_P Dec 16 '16 at 08:13
Yes!! y not you can use [`Path.GetFileName`](http://stackoverflow.com/a/12524416/3796048) – Mohit S Dec 16 '16 at 08:17
"This option includes reparse points such as .... symbolic links". That is not my experience. Using this actually throws `DirectoryNotFoundException` when symbolic links are present – derekantrican Jun 17 '20 at 21:22

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 16 '16 at 07:16

if you need to store them in the list here are the code:

 string[] entries = Directory.GetFileSystemEntries(folderPath, "*", SearchOption.AllDirectories);
List<string> filesPaths = entries.ToList();

where "*" is the search criteria for example if you need only xml files listed you change it to "*.xml"

Listing all files in a directory and sub-directories C#

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