How to check if a file of certain type exists in folder?

Hi All,

How can I check if a .pdf file exists in a folder

I know I can use the Exist command if I know the full filename, but I don't have the file name

Thanks,

EDIT: I will need the output as true or false

Answer 1

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

any(size(dir([yourFolderName '/*.pdf' ]),1))

[Aadil]

Thanks but I forgot to mention I need a true or false output

[José-Luis]

~isempty( dir ( fullfile ( your_path , '*.pdf' ) ) );

True if there is at least one pdf.

False if there is no pdf.

[Aadil]

How does dir work?

It seems to find create an output array not matter what file extension I put:

>> dir('*.bollocks')

ans = 

10x1 struct array with fields:
    name
    date
    bytes
    isdir
    datenum

[Jan]

See "help dir". It looks for the files in the current folder, when no folder has been specified. See the "fullfile" in Jose-Luis example.

It seems, like you have 10 files matching the filters "*.bollocks" in the current folder.

[José-Luis]

That means you do have 10 files with the extension .bollocks in your working directory. I am not one to judge file names :P, but just to make sure, i tested in my machine and here is what i got.

bla = dir('*.youdontexist')

bla = 

0x1 struct array with fields:
    name
    date
    bytes
    isdir
    datenum

I would suggest you create an empty directory, make it your working directory and test again. If you have the same results, then we have an interesting problem.

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

 any(size(dir([yourFolderName '/*.pdf' ]),1))

[Aadil]

A quick restart of matlab seems to have sorted it out!

Looks like I was overworking matlab : D

[Aadil]

And all your answers worked so thanks to everyone

[Dev-iL]

It's probably better (in terms of different OS support) to use fullfile instead of constructing the path manually.

Answer 2

[Dr. Seis]

You could try doing something like:

dir_struct = dir( fullfile(your_path,'*pdf') );
if numel(dir_struct) == 0
  % then there are no files with extension "pdf"
else
  % there is a "pdf" file in your directory
  % dir_struct(1).name gives the file name of the first "pdf" file listed
end

[Aadil]

Ok i'll give this a go, Thanks

[Jan]

I assume you need '*.pdf' with the dot.

[Devalla lakshmipathirao]

Using the code by @Dr. Seis, how can i check if .pdf exists i.e, not based on number of elements but rather by checking the file name .