Deletes a file
Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac OS, and Web
Signature
(vl-file-delete filename)
- filename
-
Type: String
Name of the file to be deleted. If you do not specify a full path name, vl-file-delete searches the AutoCAD default drawing directory.
Return Values
Type: T or nil
T if successful; nil if delete failed.
Release Information
- AutoCAD R14 and later on Windows
- AutoCAD 2011 and later on Mac OS
Releases:
History
- filename argument previously accepted an ASCII text string, but now accepts a Unicode text string.
- LISPSYS system variable controls which AutoLISP engine is used and the behavior of the function.
- 0 - ASCII character support (legacy behavior)
- 1 or 2 - Unicode character support
Note: After the value of the LISPSYS system variable has been changed, AutoCAD must be restarted for the change to take affect.
AutoCAD 2021
Examples
- Windows
-
Delete newauto.bat:
(vl-file-delete "newauto.bat") nil
Nothing was deleted because there is no newauto.bat file in the AutoCAD default drawing directory.
Delete the newauto.bat file in the c:\ directory:
(vl-file-delete "c:/newauto.bat") T
The delete was successful because the full path name identified an existing file.
- Mac OS
-
Delete newstart.sh:
(vl-file-delete "newstart.sh") nil
Nothing was deleted because there is no newstart.sh file in the AutoCAD default drawing directory.
Delete the newstart.sh file in the / <root> directory:
(vl-file-delete "/newstart.sh") T
The delete was successful because the full path name identified an existing file.