This sample shows how to create, read, write, copy and delete a file, how to retrieve file properties, and how to track a file or folder so that your app can access it again. This sample uses Windows.Storage and Windows.Storage.AccessCache API.
The sample demonstrates these tasks:
-
Create a file in the Pictures library
Uses one of the StorageFolder.CreateFileAsync methods to create the file.
-
Get a file's parent folder
Uses the StorageFile.GetParentAsync method to get the parent folder of the file that was created in the Picture folder. The app has the Pictures library capability, so it can access the folder where the file was created.
-
Write and read text in a file
Uses the FileIO.WriteTextAsync and FileIO.ReadTextAsync methods to write and read the file. For a walkthrough of this task, see Quickstart: reading and writing a file (HTML or XAML).
-
Write and read bytes in a file
Uses the FileIO.WriteBufferAsync and FileIO.ReadBufferAsync methods to write and read the file. For a walkthrough of this task, see Quickstart: reading and writing a file (HTML or XAML).
-
Write and read a file using a stream
Uses the following API to write and read the file using a stream.
- StorageFile.OpenTransactedWriteAsync method
- DataWriter class
- DataReader class
For a walkthrough of this task, see Quickstart: reading and writing a file (HTML or XAML).
-
Display file properties
Uses the StorageFile.GetBasicPropertiesAsync method and the StorageFile.Properties property to get the properties of the file.
-
Track a file or folder so that you can access it later (persisting access)
Uses the StorageApplicationPermissions.FutureAccessList and StorageApplicationPermissions.MostRecentlyUsedList properties to remember a file or folder so that it can be accessed later.
For a walkthrough of this task, see How to track recently used files and folders (HTML or XAML).
Note that the "Add to system MRU" feature crashes on Phone. We apologize for the inconvenience.
-
Copy a file
Uses one of the StorageFile.CopyAsync methods to copy the file.
-
Compare two files to see if they're the same
Uses the StorageFile.IsEqual method to compare two files.
-
Delete a file
Uses one of the StorageFile.DeleteAsync methods to delete the file.
-
Try to get a file without getting an error
Uses the StorageFolder.TryGetItemAsync method to get a file without raising an exception.
Note The Windows universal samples require Visual Studio 2015 to build and Windows 10 to execute.
To obtain information about Windows 10, go to Windows 10
To obtain information about Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 and the tools for developing Windows apps, go to Visual Studio 2015
Note* If you want to learn about accessing files using a file picker, see Quickstart: Accessing files with file pickers (HTML or XAML).
Programmatic file search sample
File and folder thumbnail sample
Windows.Storage.AccessCache namespace
Windows.Storage.FileProperties
Windows.Storage.Streams namespace
Client: Windows 10
Server: Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview
Phone: Windows 10
- If you download the samples ZIP, be sure to unzip the entire archive, not just the folder with the sample you want to build.
- Start Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 and select File > Open > Project/Solution.
- Starting in the folder where you unzipped the samples, go to the Samples subfolder, then the subfolder for this specific sample, then the subfolder for your preferred language (C++, C#, or JavaScript). Double-click the Visual Studio 2015 Solution (.sln) file.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+B, or select Build > Build Solution.
The next steps depend on whether you just want to deploy the sample or you want to both deploy and run it.
- Select Build > Deploy Solution.
- To debug the sample and then run it, press F5 or select Debug > Start Debugging. To run the sample without debugging, press Ctrl+F5 or select Debug > Start Without Debugging.