topic Re: Request for change in vL.FileExist function. in Archived Groups

Request for change in vL.FileExist function.

vadimtsushko — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 17:59:49 GMT

Hi all.

I've recently found that vL.FileExist function is unsufficiently robust in QDF.

Consider that snippet from QVD-Generator-Example of 1.Example container (QDF version 1.4.0).

// Folder for output QVDs use
// Use QlikView Deployment Framework Variable $(vG.QVDPath)
LET vL.QVDPath = '$(vG.QVDPath)';

// Check if folder exists by using function call vL.FileExist
call vL.FileExist ('$(vL.QVDPath)*')
if vL.FileExist = 'false' then; trace '### DF Did not find $(vL.QVDPath), exit script'; sleep 5000 ;exit script; endif;

Apparently we should be calm about QVD folder existence after that check. But if I deliberately remove 2.QVD folder from 1.Example container script still moves futher.

Some debugging shows that if I physically remove 2.QVD directory, vG.QVDPath variable becomes empty and effectively we call vL.FileExist function with parameter '*' - and that always return true. That is not good, because function would return same falsely positive result if I for example misspell path variable:

call vL.FileExist ('$(vG.QvdPath)');

or even

call vL.FileExist ('$(vG.ABRACADABRA));

would return true.

On the other hand we cannot simply omit trailing star when check for QDF paths, because they all have a trailing '\' and vL.FileExist always return false on directory path with trailing '\'.

So my proposal is twofold:

1. Change vL.FileExist so that it remove trailing '\' from parameter if it present.

2. Change examples and docs to discurage using * in vL.FileExist paramteter.

Proposed variant of function with added lines 2-4


sub vL.FileExist (vL.Root)
  if Right('$(vL.Root)',1) = '\' then
    LET vL.Root = Left(vL.Root,Len(vL.Root)-1);
  endif
  if IsNull(filesize('$(vL.Root)')) = -1  then
  SET vL.FileExist='false';
    else
  SET vL.FileExist='true';
  endif
  set vL.Root=;
end sub;

vG.QVDPathvG.QVDPath

Re: Request for change in vL.FileExist function.

Magnus_Berg — Mon, 19 May 2014 06:28:05 GMT

Thanks Vadim, we will validate and add your addition

Best Regards

Magnus

Re: Request for change in vL.FileExist function.

Magnus_Berg — Mon, 19 May 2014 07:23:59 GMT

Thanks again Vadim, I have validated your modification but found out that the biggest problem with this example is the trailing *.

This will create a false true if a variable is null for example:
call vL.FileExist ('$(NullVariable)*);

Will return true as the function will search for * in the current app location (relative path).

I've added a warning into development guide and will remove * in all examples.

Best regards

Magnus

Re: Re: Request for change in vL.FileExist function.

vadimtsushko — Mon, 19 May 2014 07:40:53 GMT

Magnus, I believe this is interrelated problem.

For example you cannot simply remove * from that QVD-Generator-Example.qvw because

call vL.FileExist ('$(vL.QVDPath)')

would return false even in normal situation when 2.QVD folder actually exists. Because vG.QVDPath variable ends with '\'.

So it should be firstly function change and then change in all examples and docs.

Re: Request for change in vL.FileExist function.

Magnus_Berg — Mon, 19 May 2014 07:50:32 GMT

Agree, did that as well

The fix is out now (still 1.4.0).

Cheers