Member Function Documentation

QFile::QFile(const QString & name)

Constructs a new file object to represent the file with the given name.

QFile::QFile(QObject * parent)

Constructs a new file object with the given parent.

QFile::QFile(const QString & name, QObject * parent)

Constructs a new file object with the given parent to represent the file with the specified name.

QFile::~QFile()

Destroys the file object, closing it if necessary.

[virtual] bool QFile::atEnd() const

Reimplemented from QIODevice::atEnd().

Returns true if the end of the file has been reached; otherwise returns false.

For regular empty files on Unix (e.g. those in /proc), this function returns true, since the file system reports that the size of such a file is 0. Therefore, you should not depend on atEnd() when reading data from such a file, but rather call read() until no more data can be read.

[virtual] void QFile::close()

Reimplemented from QIODevice::close().

Calls QFile::flush() and closes the file. Errors from flush are ignored.

See also QIODevice::close().

bool QFile::copy(const QString & newName)

Copies the file currently specified by fileName() to a file called newName. Returns true if successful; otherwise returns false.

Note that if a file with the name newName already exists, copy() returns false (i.e. QFile will not overwrite it).

The source file is closed before it is copied.

See also setFileName().

[static] bool QFile::copy(const QString & fileName, const QString & newName)

This is an overloaded function.

Copies the file fileName to newName. Returns true if successful; otherwise returns false.

If a file with the name newName already exists, copy() returns false (i.e., QFile will not overwrite it).

See also rename().

[static] QString QFile::decodeName(const QByteArray & localFileName)

This does the reverse of QFile::encodeName() using localFileName.

See also setDecodingFunction() and encodeName().

[static] QString QFile::decodeName(const char * localFileName)

This is an overloaded function.

Returns the Unicode version of the given localFileName. See encodeName() for details.

[static] QByteArray QFile::encodeName(const QString & fileName)

By default, this function converts fileName to the local 8-bit encoding determined by the user's locale. This is sufficient for file names that the user chooses. File names hard-coded into the application should only use 7-bit ASCII filename characters.

See also decodeName() and setEncodingFunction().

FileError QFile::error() const

Returns the file error status.

The I/O device status returns an error code. For example, if open() returns false, or a read/write operation returns -1, this function can be called to find out the reason why the operation failed.

See also unsetError().

[static] bool QFile::exists(const QString & fileName)

Returns true if the file specified by fileName exists; otherwise returns false.

bool QFile::exists() const

This is an overloaded function.

Returns true if the file specified by fileName() exists; otherwise returns false.

See also fileName() and setFileName().

QString QFile::fileName() const

Returns the name set by setFileName() or to the QFile constructors.

See also setFileName() and QFileInfo::fileName().

bool QFile::flush()

Flushes any buffered data to the file. Returns true if successful; otherwise returns false.

int QFile::handle() const

Returns the file handle of the file.

This is a small positive integer, suitable for use with C library functions such as fdopen() and fcntl(). On systems that use file descriptors for sockets (i.e. Unix systems, but not Windows) the handle can be used with QSocketNotifier as well.

If the file is not open, or there is an error, handle() returns -1.

This function is not supported on Windows CE.

On Symbian, this function returns -1 if the file was opened normally, as Symbian OS native file handles do not fit in an int, and are incompatible with C library functions that the handle would be used for. If the file was opened using the overloads that take an open C library file handle / file descriptor, then this function returns that same handle.

See also QSocketNotifier.

[virtual] bool QFile::isSequential() const

Reimplemented from QIODevice::isSequential().

Returns true if the file can only be manipulated sequentially; otherwise returns false.

Most files support random-access, but some special files may not.

See also QIODevice::isSequential().

bool QFile::link(const QString & linkName)

Creates a link named linkName that points to the file currently specified by fileName(). What a link is depends on the underlying filesystem (be it a shortcut on Windows or a symbolic link on Unix). Returns true if successful; otherwise returns false.

This function will not overwrite an already existing entity in the file system; in this case, link() will return false and set error() to return RenameError.

Note: To create a valid link on Windows, linkName must have a .lnk file extension.

Note: Symbian filesystem does not support links.

See also setFileName().

[static] bool QFile::link(const QString & fileName, const QString & linkName)

This is an overloaded function.

Creates a link named linkName that points to the file fileName. What a link is depends on the underlying filesystem (be it a shortcut on Windows or a symbolic link on Unix). Returns true if successful; otherwise returns false.

See also link().

uchar * QFile::map(qint64 offset, qint64 size, MemoryMapFlags flags = NoOptions)

Maps size bytes of the file into memory starting at offset. A file should be open for a map to succeed but the file does not need to stay open after the memory has been mapped. When the QFile is destroyed or a new file is opened with this object, any maps that have not been unmapped will automatically be unmapped.

Any mapping options can be passed through flags.

Returns a pointer to the memory or 0 if there is an error.

Note: On Windows CE 5.0 the file will be closed before mapping occurs.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.4.

See also unmap() and QAbstractFileEngine::supportsExtension().

[virtual] bool QFile::open(OpenMode mode)

Reimplemented from QIODevice::open().

Opens the file using OpenMode mode, returning true if successful; otherwise false.

The mode must be QIODevice::ReadOnly, QIODevice::WriteOnly, or QIODevice::ReadWrite. It may also have additional flags, such as QIODevice::Text and QIODevice::Unbuffered.

Note: In WriteOnly or ReadWrite mode, if the relevant file does not already exist, this function will try to create a new file before opening it.

See also QIODevice::OpenMode and setFileName().

bool QFile::open(FILE * fh, OpenMode mode)

This is an overloaded function.

Opens the existing file handle fh in the given mode. Returns true if successful; otherwise returns false.

Example:

#include <stdio.h>

void printError(const char* msg)
{
    QFile file;
    file.open(stderr, QIODevice::WriteOnly);
    file.write(msg, qstrlen(msg));        // write to stderr
    file.close();
}

When a QFile is opened using this function, close() does not actually close the file, but only flushes it.

Warning:

1. If fh does not refer to a regular file, e.g., it is stdin, stdout, or stderr, you may not be able to seek(). size() returns 0 in those cases. See QIODevice::isSequential() for more information.
2. Since this function opens the file without specifying the file name, you cannot use this QFile with a QFileInfo.

Note: For Windows CE you may not be able to call resize().

Note for the Windows Platform

fh must be opened in binary mode (i.e., the mode string must contain 'b', as in "rb" or "wb") when accessing files and other random-access devices. Qt will translate the end-of-line characters if you pass QIODevice::Text to mode. Sequential devices, such as stdin and stdout, are unaffected by this limitation.

You need to enable support for console applications in order to use the stdin, stdout and stderr streams at the console. To do this, add the following declaration to your application's project file:

CONFIG += console

See also close() and qmake Variable Reference.

bool QFile::open(FILE * fh, OpenMode mode, FileHandleFlags handleFlags)

This is an overloaded function.

Opens the existing file handle fh in the given mode. Returns true if successful; otherwise returns false.

Example:

#include <stdio.h>

void printError(const char* msg)
{
    QFile file;
    file.open(stderr, QIODevice::WriteOnly);
    file.write(msg, qstrlen(msg));        // write to stderr
    file.close();
}

When a QFile is opened using this function, behaviour of close() is controlled by the AutoCloseHandle flag. If AutoCloseHandle is specified, and this function succeeds, then calling close() closes the adopted handle. Otherwise, close() does not actually close the file, but only flushes it.

Warning:

1. If fh does not refer to a regular file, e.g., it is stdin, stdout, or stderr, you may not be able to seek(). size() returns 0 in those cases. See QIODevice::isSequential() for more information.
2. Since this function opens the file without specifying the file name, you cannot use this QFile with a QFileInfo.

Note: For Windows CE you may not be able to call resize().

Note for the Windows Platform

fh must be opened in binary mode (i.e., the mode string must contain 'b', as in "rb" or "wb") when accessing files and other random-access devices. Qt will translate the end-of-line characters if you pass QIODevice::Text to mode. Sequential devices, such as stdin and stdout, are unaffected by this limitation.

You need to enable support for console applications in order to use the stdin, stdout and stderr streams at the console. To do this, add the following declaration to your application's project file:

CONFIG += console

See also close() and qmake Variable Reference.

bool QFile::open(int fd, OpenMode mode)

This is an overloaded function.

Opens the existing file descriptor fd in the given mode. Returns true if successful; otherwise returns false.

When a QFile is opened using this function, close() does not actually close the file.

The QFile that is opened using this function is automatically set to be in raw mode; this means that the file input/output functions are slow. If you run into performance issues, you should try to use one of the other open functions.

Warning: If fd is not a regular file, e.g, it is 0 (stdin), 1 (stdout), or 2 (stderr), you may not be able to seek(). In those cases, size() returns 0. See QIODevice::isSequential() for more information.

Warning: For Windows CE you may not be able to call seek(), setSize(), fileTime(). size() returns 0.

Warning: Since this function opens the file without specifying the file name, you cannot use this QFile with a QFileInfo.

See also close().

bool QFile::open(int fd, OpenMode mode, FileHandleFlags handleFlags)

This is an overloaded function.

Opens the existing file descriptor fd in the given mode. Returns true if successful; otherwise returns false.

When a QFile is opened using this function, behaviour of close() is controlled by the handleFlags argument. If AutoCloseHandle is specified, and this function succeeds, then calling close() closes the adopted handle. Otherwise, close() does not actually close the file, but only flushes it.

The QFile that is opened using this function is automatically set to be in raw mode; this means that the file input/output functions are slow. If you run into performance issues, you should try to use one of the other open functions.

Warning: If fd is not a regular file, e.g, it is 0 (stdin), 1 (stdout), or 2 (stderr), you may not be able to seek(). In those cases, size() returns 0. See QIODevice::isSequential() for more information.

Warning: For Windows CE you may not be able to call seek(), setSize(), fileTime(). size() returns 0.

Warning: Since this function opens the file without specifying the file name, you cannot use this QFile with a QFileInfo.

See also close().

bool QFile::open(const RFile & f, OpenMode mode, FileHandleFlags handleFlags = DontCloseHandle)

This is an overloaded function.

Opens the existing file object f in the given mode. Returns true if successful; otherwise returns false.

When a QFile is opened using this function, behaviour of close() is controlled by the handleFlags argument. If AutoCloseHandle is specified, and this function succeeds, then calling close() closes the adopted handle. Otherwise, close() does not actually close the file, but only flushes it.

Warning: If the file handle is adopted from another process, you may not be able to use this QFile with a QFileInfo.

See also close().

Permissions QFile::permissions() const

Returns the complete OR-ed together combination of QFile::Permission for the file.

See also setPermissions() and setFileName().

[static] Permissions QFile::permissions(const QString & fileName)

This is an overloaded function.

Returns the complete OR-ed together combination of QFile::Permission for fileName.

[virtual] qint64 QFile::pos() const

Reimplemented from QIODevice::pos().

[virtual protected] qint64 QFile::readData(char * data, qint64 len)

Reimplemented from QIODevice::readData().

[virtual protected] qint64 QFile::readLineData(char * data, qint64 maxlen)

Reimplemented from QIODevice::readLineData().

bool QFile::remove()

Removes the file specified by fileName(). Returns true if successful; otherwise returns false.

The file is closed before it is removed.

See also setFileName().

[static] bool QFile::remove(const QString & fileName)

This is an overloaded function.

Removes the file specified by the fileName given.

Returns true if successful; otherwise returns false.

See also remove().

bool QFile::rename(const QString & newName)

Renames the file currently specified by fileName() to newName. Returns true if successful; otherwise returns false.

If a file with the name newName already exists, rename() returns false (i.e., QFile will not overwrite it).

The file is closed before it is renamed.

See also setFileName().

[static] bool QFile::rename(const QString & oldName, const QString & newName)

This is an overloaded function.

Renames the file oldName to newName. Returns true if successful; otherwise returns false.

If a file with the name newName already exists, rename() returns false (i.e., QFile will not overwrite it).

See also rename().

bool QFile::resize(qint64 sz)

Sets the file size (in bytes) sz. Returns true if the file if the resize succeeds; false otherwise. If sz is larger than the file currently is the new bytes will be set to 0, if sz is smaller the file is simply truncated.

See also size() and setFileName().

[static] bool QFile::resize(const QString & fileName, qint64 sz)

This is an overloaded function.

Sets fileName to size (in bytes) sz. Returns true if the file if the resize succeeds; false otherwise. If sz is larger than fileName currently is the new bytes will be set to 0, if sz is smaller the file is simply truncated.

See also resize().

[virtual] bool QFile::seek(qint64 pos)

Reimplemented from QIODevice::seek().

For random-access devices, this function sets the current position to pos, returning true on success, or false if an error occurred. For sequential devices, the default behavior is to do nothing and return false.

Seeking beyond the end of a file: If the position is beyond the end of a file, then seek() shall not immediately extend the file. If a write is performed at this position, then the file shall be extended. The content of the file between the previous end of file and the newly written data is UNDEFINED and varies between platforms and file systems.

[static] void QFile::setDecodingFunction(DecoderFn function)

Sets the function for decoding 8-bit file names. The default uses the locale-specific 8-bit encoding.

Warning: This function is not reentrant.

See also setEncodingFunction() and decodeName().

[static] void QFile::setEncodingFunction(EncoderFn function)

Sets the function for encoding Unicode file names. The default encodes in the locale-specific 8-bit encoding.

Warning: This function is not reentrant.

See also encodeName() and setDecodingFunction().

void QFile::setFileName(const QString & name)

Sets the name of the file. The name can have no path, a relative path, or an absolute path.

Do not call this function if the file has already been opened.

If the file name has no path or a relative path, the path used will be the application's current directory path at the time of the open() call.

Example:

QFile file;
QDir::setCurrent("/tmp");
file.setFileName("readme.txt");
QDir::setCurrent("/home");
file.open(QIODevice::ReadOnly);      // opens "/home/readme.txt" under Unix

Note that the directory separator "/" works for all operating systems supported by Qt.

See also fileName(), QFileInfo, and QDir.

bool QFile::setPermissions(Permissions permissions)

Sets the permissions for the file to the permissions specified. Returns true if successful, or false if the permissions cannot be modified.

See also permissions() and setFileName().

[static] bool QFile::setPermissions(const QString & fileName, Permissions permissions)

This is an overloaded function.

Sets the permissions for fileName file to permissions.

[virtual] qint64 QFile::size() const

Reimplemented from QIODevice::size().

Returns the size of the file.

For regular empty files on Unix (e.g. those in /proc), this function returns 0; the contents of such a file are generated on demand in response to you calling read().

[static] QString QFile::symLinkTarget(const QString & fileName)

Returns the absolute path of the file or directory referred to by the symlink (or shortcut on Windows) specified by fileName, or returns an empty string if the fileName does not correspond to a symbolic link.

This name may not represent an existing file; it is only a string. QFile::exists() returns true if the symlink points to an existing file.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

QString QFile::symLinkTarget() const

This is an overloaded function.

Returns the absolute path of the file or directory a symlink (or shortcut on Windows) points to, or a an empty string if the object isn't a symbolic link.

This name may not represent an existing file; it is only a string. QFile::exists() returns true if the symlink points to an existing file.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.2.

See also fileName() and setFileName().

bool QFile::unmap(uchar * address)

Unmaps the memory address.

Returns true if the unmap succeeds; false otherwise.

This function was introduced in Qt 4.4.

See also map() and QAbstractFileEngine::supportsExtension().

void QFile::unsetError()

Sets the file's error to QFile::NoError.

See also error().

[virtual protected] qint64 QFile::writeData(const char * data, qint64 len)

Reimplemented from QIODevice::writeData().