PathFileExistsA function (shlwapi.h)

Determines whether a path to a file system object such as a file or folder is valid.

Syntax

BOOL PathFileExistsA(
  [in] LPCSTR pszPath
);

Parameters

[in] pszPath

Type: LPCTSTR

A pointer to a null-terminated string of maximum length MAX_PATH that contains the full path of the object to verify.

Return value

Type: BOOL

TRUE if the file exists; otherwise, FALSE. Call GetLastError for extended error information.

Remarks

This function tests the validity of the path.

A path specified by Universal Naming Convention (UNC) is limited to a file only; that is, \server\share\file is permitted. A UNC path to a server or server share is not permitted; that is, \server or \server\share. This function returns FALSE if a mounted remote drive is out of service.

Examples

#include <windows.h>
#include <iostream.h>
#include "Shlwapi.h"

void main(void)
{
    // Valid file path name (file is there).
    char buffer_1[ ] = "C:\\TEST\\file.txt"; 
    char *lpStr1;
    lpStr1 = buffer_1;
    
    // Invalid file path name (file is not there).
    char buffer_2[ ] = "C:\\TEST\\file.doc"; 
    char *lpStr2;
    lpStr2 = buffer_2;
    
    // Return value from "PathFileExists".
    int retval;
    
    // Search for the presence of a file with a true result.
    retval = PathFileExists(lpStr1);
    if(retval == 1)
    {
        cout << "Search for the file path of : " << lpStr1 << endl;
        cout << "The file requested \"" << lpStr1 << "\" is a valid file" << endl;
        cout << "The return from function is : " << retval << endl;
    }
    
    else
    {
        cout << "\nThe file requested " << lpStr1 << " is not a valid file" << endl;
        cout << "The return from function is : " << retval << endl;
    }
    
    // Search for the presence of a file with a false result.
    retval = PathFileExists(lpStr2);
    
    if(retval == 1)
    {
        cout << "\nThe file requested " << lpStr2 << "is a valid file" << endl;
        cout << "Search for the file path of : " << lpStr2 << endl;
        cout << "The return from function is : " << retval << endl;
    }
    else
    {
        cout << "\nThe file requested \"" << lpStr2 << "\" is not a valid file" << endl;
        cout << "The return from function is : " << retval << endl;
    }
}

OUTPUT
==============
Search for the file path of : C:\TEST\file.txt
The file requested "C:\TEST\file.txt" is a valid file
The return from function is : 1

The file requested "C:\TEST\file.doc" is not a valid file
The return from function is : 0

Requirements