File-Handling Functions Reference (AutoLISP)

The following table provides summary descriptions of the AutoLISP file-handling functions.

File-handling functions		Platforms
		Windows		Mac OS		Web
Function	Description	AutoCAD	AutoCAD LT	AutoCAD	AutoCAD LT	AutoCAD
(close file-desc)	Closes an open file	✓	✓	✓	--	✓
(findfile filename)	Searches the AutoCAD library path for the specified file	✓	✓	✓	--	✓
(findtrustedfile filename)	Searches the AutoCAD trusted file paths for the specified file	✓	✓	✓	--	✓
(open filename mode)	Opens a file for access by the AutoLISP I/O functions	✓	✓	✓	--	✓
(read-char [file-desc])	Returns the decimal ASCII code representing the character read from the keyboard input buffer or from an open file	✓	✓	✓	--	✓
(read-line [file-desc])	Reads a string from the keyboard or from an open file	✓	✓	✓	--	✓
(vl-directory-files [ directory pattern directories])	Lists all files in a given directory	✓	✓	✓	--	✓
(vl-file-copy "source-filename" "destination-filename" [append])	Copies or appends the contents of one file to another file	✓	✓	✓	--	✓
(vl-file-delete "filename")	Deletes a file	✓	✓	✓	--	✓
(vl-file-directory-p "filename")	Determines if a file name refers to a directory	✓	✓	✓	--	✓
(vl-file-rename "old-filename" "new-filename")	Renames a file	✓	✓	✓	--	✓
(vl-file-size "filename")	Determines the size of a file, in bytes	✓	✓	✓	--	✓
(vl-file-systime "filename")	Returns last modification time of the specified file	✓	✓	✓	--	--
(vl-filename-base "filename")	Returns the name of a file, after stripping out the directory path and extension	✓	✓	✓	--	✓
(vl-filename-directory "filename")	Returns the directory path of a file, after stripping out the name and extension	✓	✓	✓	--	✓
(vl-filename-extension "filename")	Returns the extension from a file name, after stripping out the rest of the name	✓	✓	✓	--	✓
(vl-filename-mktemp ["pattern" "directory" "extension"])	Calculates a unique file name to be used for a temporary file	✓	✓	✓	--	✓
(write-char num [file-desc])	Writes one character to the screen or to an open file	✓	✓	✓	--	✓
(write-line string [file-desc])	Writes a string to the screen or to an open file	✓	✓	✓	--	✓