REBOL 3 Functions: request-file

Contents

Description

Opens the standard operating system file requester to allow the user to select one or more files.

Details

Normal usage for read or load

The line:

file: request-file

will open the file requester and return a single file name as a full file path. This is normally used to read or load files.

If the user clicks CANCEL or closes the file requestor, a NONE is returned.

For saving or writing files

To open the file requester to save a file:

file: request-file/save

This will change the text of the window to indicate that a save (write) will be done.

Specifying a default file or directory

A default name can be provided for the file:

file: request-file/file %test.txt

This also works with the /save option, and a full path can be provided, in which case the requester will show the directory where the file will be found.

In addition, just a directory can be used:

file: request-file/file %/c/data/files/

Be sure to include the terminating slash to indicate a directory. Otherwise it will be treated as a file.

Allowing multiple file selection

To allow the selection of multiple files at the same time:

files: request-file/multi

foreach file files [print file]

The result is returned as a block, and each file within the block is a full path.

Filtering file views

You can also provide file list filters to show only specific files. For example:

file: request-file/filter [
    "REBOL Scripts" "*.r"
    "Text files" "*.txt"
]

Setting the window title

The /title refinement lets you modify the window title for the file requester to help make it more clear to users.

file: request-file/save/title "Save your data file"
either file [save file data] [print "data not saved"]