Reading a files properties.

Reading a files properties.

• DumbLuck61

  For basic file properties, like creation date, file size etc. you can use information from : System.IO to get some info.

  (remember to include Imports System.IO at the top of your class)

  Add a OpenFileDialog and a button to your form and put this in the Click_Event:

  Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

  Dim fData As String

  Dim infoReader As System.IO.FileInfo

  OpenFileDialog1.ShowDialog()

  fData = OpenFileDialog1.FileName

  infoReader = My.Computer.FileSystem.GetFileInfo(fData)

  MsgBox("File was created on " & infoReader.CreationTime & " " & infoReader.Attributes.ToString)

  End Sub

  For extended info on a file, like an mp3 or video file, you will have to write a bit of serious code. Check this link in : MSHelp,

  ms-help://MS.VSCC.v80/MS.MSDN.v80/MS.SQLADD.v10.en/dnsse/html/sse_manmusiccoll.htm

  Here is just a portion of the code to access the mp3 metadata:

  Option Strict On

  Imports System.IO
  Imports System.Text

  Friend Class ID3v1Reader
  Private m_Artist As String
  Private m_Comment As String
  Private m_Genre As Byte = 255
  Private m_FileName As String
  Private m_Recording As String
  Private m_TrackSequence As Byte = 0
  Private m_TrackTitle As String
  Private m_Year As String

  Public Property Artist() As String
  Get
  Return Me.m_Artist
  End Get
  Set(ByVal Value As String)
  Me.m_Artist = Value
  End Set
  End Property
  Public Property Comment() As String
  Get
  Return Me.m_Comment
  End Get
  Set(ByVal Value As String)
  Me.m_Comment = Value
  End Set
  End Property
  Public Property Genre() As Byte
  Get
  Return Me.m_Genre
  End Get
  Set(ByVal Value As Byte)
  Me.m_Genre = Value
  End Set
  End Property
  Public Property FileName() As String
  Get
  Return Me.m_FileName
  End Get
  Set(ByVal Value As String)
  Me.m_FileName = Value
  Me.Reset()
  End Set
  End Property
  Public Property Recording() As String
  Get
  Return Me.m_Recording
  End Get
  Set(ByVal Value As String)
  Me.m_Recording = Value
  End Set
  End Property
  Public Property TrackSequence() As Byte
  Get
  Return Me.m_TrackSequence
  End Get
  Set(ByVal Value As Byte)
  Me.m_TrackSequence = Value
  End Set
  End Property
  Public Property TrackTitle() As String
  Get
  Return Me.m_TrackTitle
  End Get
  Set(ByVal Value As String)
  Me.m_TrackTitle = Value
  End Set
  End Property
  Public Property Year() As String
  Get
  Return Me.m_Year
  End Get
  Set(ByVal Value As String)
  Me.m_Year = Value
  End Set
  End Property
  Public Sub New()
  ' This is needed since there is a
  ' paramaterized constructor.
  ' This is so this class can be used
  ' for multiple files.
  End Sub
  Public Sub New(ByVal FileName As String)
  Me.FileName = FileName
  End Sub
  Public Sub Parse()
  Debug.Assert(Me.FileName IsNot Nothing)
  Debug.Assert(File.Exists(Me.FileName))

  Dim fs As FileStream = Nothing
  Dim ae As ASCIIEncoding
  Dim buffer(127) As Byte
  Dim tag As String
  Dim hdr As String

  Try
  fs = New FileStream(Me.FileName, _
  FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read)
  ae = New ASCIIEncoding

  fs.Seek(-128, SeekOrigin.End)
  fs.Read(buffer, 0, 128)

  tag = ae.GetString(buffer)
  hdr = tag.Substring(0, 3)

  If hdr = "TAG" Then
  Me.TrackTitle = SubStringNull(tag, 3, 30)
  Me.Artist = SubStringNull(tag, 33, 30)
  Me.Recording = SubStringNull(tag, 63, 30)
  Me.Year = SubStringNull(tag, 93, 4)
  Me.Comment = SubStringNull(tag, 97, 30)

  If buffer(125) = 0 Then
  Me.TrackSequence = buffer(126)
  Me.Genre = buffer(127)
  End If
  End If

  Catch ex As Exception
  MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, ex.Source, _
  MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)

  Finally
  If Not fs Is Nothing Then
  fs.Flush()
  fs.Close()
  End If
  End Try
  End Sub
  Private Sub Reset()
  Me.Artist = Nothing
  Me.Comment = Nothing
  Me.Genre = 255
  Me.Recording = Nothing
  Me.TrackSequence = 0
  Me.TrackTitle = Nothing
  Me.Year = Nothing
  End Sub
  Private Function SubStringNull( _
  ByVal s As String, ByVal start As Integer, _
  ByVal length As Integer) As String

  Dim subS As String = s.Substring(start, length)
  Return subS.TrimEnd(Convert.ToChar(0))
  End Function
  End Class
  

  And for video file info, check out Bob Powell's GDI+ FAQ at:

  http://www.bobpowell.net/discoverproperties.htm

  That one is a C# example. It can be converted to VB with a bit of work. Have fun!!

  james

  aka:Trucker

  
  

• ntalb

  Thank you, you have been very helpful.
  
  
• Reading a files properties.