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Inside Macintosh: Files /

Chapter 2 - File Manager / File Manager Reference

High-Level HFS Routines / Creating and Deleting Files and Directories

HDelete

You can use the HDelete function to delete a file or directory.

FUNCTION HDelete (vRefNum: Integer; dirID: LongInt; 
                  fileName: Str255): OSErr;

vRefNum

A volume specification (a volume reference number, a working directory reference number, or 0 for the default volume).

dirID

The directory ID of the parent of the file or directory to delete.

fileName

The name of the file or directory to delete.

DESCRIPTION

The HDelete function removes a file or directory. If the specified target is a file, both forks of the file are deleted. In addition, if a file ID reference for the specified file exists, that reference is removed.

A file must be closed before you can delete it. Similarly, you cannot delete a directory unless it's empty. If you attempt to delete an open file or a nonempty directory, HDelete returns the result code fBsyErr. HDelete also returns the result code fBsyErr if the directory has an open working directory associated with it.

RESULT CODES

noErr	0	No error
nsvErr	-35	No such volume
ioErr	-36	I/O error
bdNamErr	-37	Bad filename
fnfErr	-43	File not found
wPrErr	-44	Hardware volume lock
fLckdErr	-45	File is locked
vLckdErr	-46	Software volume lock
fBsyErr	-47	File busy, directory not empty, or working directory control block open
dirNFErr	-120	Directory not found or incomplete pathname
afpAccessDenied	-5000	User does not have the correct access