Is it possible to create a file with hidden attribute set?

[hanness]

I have a program that creates a lot of temporary files to store the output of command line programs run via a SHELL command. If the user runs the program from their desktop, this results in a lot of temporary files getting created on the desktop.

Is there any way to create a file as hidden right at the time of creation? I know that I could shell an "ATRRIB" command after creation, but I'm just wondering if there is any way to create the file so that it is hidden immediately at the time of creation.

[SMcNeill]

Why note just create the files in your temp directory; that's what it's there for?  Usually it's C:/TEMP or C:/TMP, though that's not 100% guaranteed.

[TerryRitchie]

For windows Vista and later it's located at:

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp

You can also create the files and then shell this command to hide them:

ATTRIB +H filename.ext

The to unhide them for deleting later on:

ATTRIB -H filename.ext

If you give all your files that you want to hide the same extension, such as .TMP then you can:

ATTRIB +H *.tmp

[Pete]

No. There is no direct way in QB64 to create file attributes upon save.

Pete

[Dav]

Under windows you could use kernel32 to get/set file attributes.  Here's some code I had for a QB64 file manager I never finished.  It seemed to work OK, what little I have tried it.

- Dav

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. '==============
2. 'API-ATTRIB.BAS
3. '==============
4. 'Get/Set File Attribues using kernel32 functions.
5. 'THIS IS FOR QB64 IN WINDOWS ONLY!
6. 'Coded by Dav, APR/2020
7.  
8. DECLARE DYNAMIC LIBRARY "kernel32"
9.     'If GetFileAttibutesA fails it returns -1
10.     'More info: http://allapi.mentalis.org/apilist/GetFileAttributes.shtml
11.     FUNCTION GetFileAttributesA& (lpFileName$)
12.     'If SetFileAttributesA fails it returns 0
13.     'More info: http://allapi.mentalis.org/apilist/SetFileAttributes.shtml
14.     FUNCTION SetFileAttributesA& (lpFileName$, BYVAL dwFileAttributes AS LONG)
15.     'You can use getLastError to get extended error information
16.     FUNCTION GetLastError& ()
17. END DECLARE
18.  
19. CONST FILE_ATTRIBUTE_READONLY = 1
20. CONST FILE_ATTRIBUTE_HIDDEN = 2
21. CONST FILE_ATTRIBUTE_SYSTEM = 4
22. CONST FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY = 16
23. CONST FILE_ATTRIBUTE_ARCHIVE = 32
24. CONST FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL = 128
25. CONST FILE_ATTRIBUTE_TEMPORARY = 256
26. CONST FILE_ATTRIBUTE_COMPRESSED = 2048
27.  
28.  
29. 'Filename must be null terminated.
30. 'Take a look at qb64.exe file...
31.  
32. PRINT GetFileAttributesA("qb64.exe" + CHR$(0))
33.  
34. 'It should show 32, which means ARCHIVE attribute
35.  
36.  

[hanness]

Thanks for the suggestions. It was more just a question out of curiosity to know if it was possible.