QFile::exists(name) verifies PATH to name, but not only FILE name existence

[greglik]

On my Windows platform, I have noticed that QFile::exists(name) returns true in case "name" is a directory name, but not a file.
So, it means this method verifies PATH existence, but not a file existence. This is not what is in manual.
Am I missing something here?

[jefftee]

I see what you are referring to. Not sure if it's a bug in the code or incorrect doc. Either way, use QFileInfo and you can check both the existence and isFile or isDir, etc.

[greglik]

Yes,
thanks
I know that
But instead of using to calls (isDir() and isFile()), I can use just one QFile.exists() in order to learn if path is does not exist.
But I am afraid it will not work always, because it is AGAINST the manual, which said QFile.exists() will return false if FILE does not exists. So, the fact that it returns TRUE if DIRECTORY exists it could be a bug or platform dependence or may be bad overload somewhere...
That is my question: is it expected behavior from QFile.exists() return true on DIRECTORY existence and return false on FILE or DIRECTORY absence - practically verifies path existence instead of file existence.

[jefftee]

It makes sense on some level that passing a directory name (or file name) to QFile::exists() returns true if the item exists. If you wanted to guarantee that the item exists *and* is a file, you'd have to do as I suggested in my first post.

If you feel that this is a bug, I'd recommend that you submit a bug report.

Good luck.

[Steve Kessell]

10 years later (from the above) and the documentation still stumps me. It would be nice to know that if I have a file "c" (no extension) in directory "a/b/", path = "a/b/c", will .isDir() return true or false? Will .isFile() or .exists() return true or false. It is not clear from the documentation I have scanned, and AI gives me confusing answers - a confusing mix of "just checks the syntax, not the actual disk presence" etc. Some simple examples in the documentation would be brilliant.
Anyway, just a note. Will continue looking :-).

[d_stranz]

It isn't clear to me what you are asking here. Are you saying you might have a situation where you have both a file named "c" in the directory "a/b/" and a subdirectory named "c" in the same directory (i.e. "a/b/c/")? Is that even possible in any OS?

If "c" is a file in "a/b/", then QFileInfo::isDir() will return false, QFileInfo::isFile() will return true, and both QFileInfo::exists() and QFile::exists() will return true.

If "c" is a subdirectory in "a/b/", then QFileInfo::isDir() will return true, QFileInfo::isFile() will return false, and both QFileInfo::exists() and QFile::exists() will return false.

If "c" is a symbolic link to either a file or subdirectory, then the same rules apply as if it were an actual file or directory. Note that the behaviour of QFileInfo::isSymLink() and QFileInfo::isSymbolicLink() is different on Windows.

QFile derives from QFileDevice so it represents only file objects, not directories.