Dir Function problem

[Lochnagar]

Hi,

I'm currently taking my first steps into using VBA to manipulate files, and have hit a stumbling block with the Dir function. The code below is a what I'm playing with,

Sub ffile()
ActiveCell = fileExists("fname")
End Sub

Function fileExists(fname) As String
fileExists = Dir(fname)
End Function

...basically, I understand that the Dir function (in this instance) returns the file name of the file from "fname" string if it exists, however, what I'm confused about is if you add ' <>"" ' to the end of the 'fileExists = Dir(fname)' line i.e. 'fileExists = Dir(fname) <>"" ' it returns True or False depending on whether the file exists or not.

I'm struggling to understand why this is the case and was hoping, if it is not too much trouble, if someone could help shed some light as to what this ' <>"" ' additional terms brings/means.

Any help will be hugely appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Lochnagar

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

The Dir function returns the name of the file if it exists or "" if it doesn't exist. So the expression Dir(fname) <> "" returns True if the file exists, otherwise False. That result is being assigned to the variable fileExists.

 

[Lochnagar]

ah right, I get it now. Brilliant, thanks Andrew.

Lochnagar