C++ - polling directories every few minutes

[Ron2K]

Hi,

I'm attempting to write a C++ application that has to keep a watch on certain directories (by polling them every minute or 2). Any idea on how I would do this? My MSDN and Google searches weren't very helpful.

[Kronos]

C++ flavour?

[Ron2K]

Visual C++ (2005)

[Kronos]

I take it you're not using the .NET Framework for this?

[Ron2K]

No.

[Kronos]

OK, I have only done it in .NET.

In Native apps you're going to have to use the API to get a directory listing, and then you can compare it to a saved list.

OR

Just make sure that after you've processed a file, delete it from the directory, so that you know that any files in the directory have to be processed.

I don't know the exact API calls though, so I can't be much help there now.

[SBSP]

I don't think you will just find something specific to your question.

You gonna have to manually think of a solution.

First of all the poll interval find a way to code a loop interval in a sperate thread
Then why not google on something that retrieves the contents of a folder structure with the files in it, go with dates (modified, created ect)

I think in c++ there is a scandir command or something that allowes you to do it.

[Ron2K]

Thanks for the suggestions - I just found something, and I'm on to it...

[Kronos]

You can take care of the polling action through multithreading, and an endless while loop.

Simply Start a new worker thread that runs through an endless loop and then sleep it when there is no work to do, untill the next poll.

[Ron2K]

This is what I've decided to use - after some more searching, I found an article on using timers with the MFC:

http://www.functionx.com/visualc/controls/timer.htm

Now, I'm going to activate the timer, and every time it sends the WM_TIMER message I'll check the directory.

Thanks for all the suggestions though.