[ Operating System | Reference Manual | Alphabetic Index ]
exists(+File)
Succeeds if the file File (with absolute or relative pathname) exists.
File can be a directory.
- File
- Atom or string.
Description
   Used to see if the file File exists.  File can be a directory.
   exists(File) is equivalent to get_file_info(File, mode, _).
Modes and Determinism
Fail Conditions
Fails if the file File (with absolute or relative pathname) does not exist
Exceptions
- (4) instantiation fault 
- File is not instantiated.
- (5) type error 
- File is neither an atom nor a string.
Examples
Success:
   [eclipse]: sh('ls myfile').
   myfile
   [eclipse]: exists(myfile).
   yes.
   [eclipse]: sh('ls /home/user/workdir').
   myfile
   [eclipse]: exists('/home/user/workdir').
   yes.
Fail:
   [eclipse]: sh('ls nofile').
   nofile not found
   [eclipse]: exists(nofile).
   no.
Error:
   exists(File).                          (Error 4).
   exists([file]).                        (Error 5).
See Also
existing_file / 4, get_file_info / 3, sh / 1, system / 1, delete / 1, mkdir / 1