Visual Basic 2008 Recipes: A Problem-Solution Approach

5.20. Monitor the File System for Changes

Problem

You need to react when a file system change is detected in a specific path (such as a file modification or creation).

Solution

Use the System.IO.FileSystemWatcher component, specify the path or file you want to monitor, and handle the Error, Created, Deleted, Renamed, and Changed events as needed.

How It Works

When linking together multiple applications and business processes, it's often necessary to create a program that waits idly and becomes active only when a new file is received or changed. You can create this type of program by scanning a directory periodically, but you face a key trade-off. The more often you scan, the more system resources you waste. The less often you scan, the longer ...