How can search a directory recursively?

The following function receives as parameters a file specification
(like for example 'C:\My Documents\*.xls' or 'C:\*' if you want to
search the entire hard disk) and optionally a set of attributes
(exactly as Delphi's FindFirst function), and it returs a StringList
with the full pathnames of the found files. You should free the
StringList after using it.


  interface

  function FindFile(const filespec: TFileName; attributes: integer
     = faReadOnly Or faHidden Or faSysFile Or faArchive): TStringList;

  implementation

  function FindFile(const filespec: TFileName;
                    attributes: integer): TStringList;
  var
    spec: string;
    list: TStringList;

  procedure RFindFile(const folder: TFileName);
  var
    SearchRec: TSearchRec;
  begin
    // Locate all matching files in the current
    // folder and add their names to the list
    if FindFirst(folder + spec, attributes, SearchRec)=0 then begin
      try
        repeat
          if (SearchRec.Attr and faDirectory = 0) or
             (SearchRec.Name<>'.') and (SearchRec.Name<>'..') then
            list.Add(folder + SearchRec.Name);
        until FindNext(SearchRec) <> 0;
      except
        FindClose(SearchRec);
        raise;
      end;
      FindClose(SearchRec);
    end;
    // Now search the subfolders
    if FindFirst(folder + '*', attributes
        Or faDirectory, SearchRec) = 0 then
    begin
      try
        repeat
          if ((SearchRec.Attr and faDirectory) <> 0) and
             (SearchRec.Name<>'.') and (SearchRec.Name<>'..') then
            RFindFile(folder + SearchRec.Name + '\');
        until FindNext(SearchRec) <> 0;
      except
        FindClose(SearchRec);
        raise;
      end;
      FindClose(SearchRec);
    end;
  end; // procedure RFindFile inside of FindFile

  begin // function FindFile
    list := TStringList.Create;
    try
      spec := ExtractFileName(filespec);
      RFindFile(ExtractFilePath(filespec));
      Result := list;
    except
      list.Free;
      raise;
    end;
  end;


Sample call
-----------

You can try this function placing a ListBox and a button on a form
and adding this code to the OnClick event of the button:

  procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
  var
    list: TStringList;
  begin
    list := FindFile('C:\Delphi\*.pas');
    ListBox1.Items.Assign(list);
    list.Free;
  end;