Unreliable File Deletion

[Mark Waddingham]

On 2021-03-28 18:11, R.H. via use-livecode wrote:
> @ Peter Reid
> 
> Your message found my attention.
> Also I am working on Windows 10 and have the same problem using LC 
> 9.6.1
> Indy version.
> 
> The similar or same problem as you have: I want to delete the text 
> file.
> The command I issue is "detele file <pathname>". The error it returns:
> "Can't delete file".

All cases of people reporting bugs with 'delete file' on Windows that I 
have seen fall into one of two cases:

1) The path they give to 'delete file' is wrong.

2) The file they are trying to delete is open by the app, or by another 
app.

In terms of (1) - its easy to determine - log the path you are using, or 
use 'there is a file <tFilePath>' (but make sure the file you are 
checking for / logging *is* actually the same path as being passed to 
'delete file').

In terms of (2) - Windows and UNIX-derived OSes have a critical 
difference when it comes to filesystems - in UNIX land you can delete a 
file which another process has open, on Windows you can't. (Note: It is 
possible for multiple processes on Windows to open the same file, if 
none have requested exclusive access, but the file cannot be 
deleted/renamed/moved until it is not open by any process).

>> ... // Delete temp file
> ... delete file ("binfile:"&tFilePath)
> ... put the result into tResult
> ... if "can't delete that file" is in tResult then
> 
> ...... myMSG tHInfo & "File could not be deleted." &CR& tFilePath --> 
> My
> message handler

This script falls into category (1) above - you are giving delete file a 
binfile URL. The 'delete file' command requires a normal file path, not 
a URL of any kind.

Warmest Regards,

Mark.

-- 
Mark Waddingham ~ mark at livecode.com ~ http://www.livecode.com/
LiveCode: Everyone can create apps