File and Serial I/O Classes Summary

The following pages provide detailed information on the properties and methods for the various classes that implement both file and serial port input and output communications.

The File Class is designed specifically for managing disk files and disk file directories. The StreamReader and StreamWriter Classes apply to both file and serial communications.

The tables below summarize the properties and methods for each Class, which are described in greater detail in the following sections.

File and Serial I/O Classes Properties & Methods, 1
File Class Member	Type	Description
File.ComputeCRC	Shared Function	Returns a CRC check code computed by reading though a file. Used to verify that a file has not been corrupted.
File.ComputeLength	Shared Function	Returns the length of a file computed by reading through a file and counting the bytes. Used to verify that a file has not been corrupted.
File.Copy	Shared Method	Copies a single file on devices like the flash disk and ROMDISK.
File.CreateDirectory	Shared Method	Creates a file directory and the path to the directory.
File.DeleteDirectory	Shared Method	Deletes a single, empty file directory.
File.DeleteFile	Shared Method	Deletes a single file.
File.GetDirectories	Shared Method	Returns an array of strings containing the names of directories in a directory.
File.GetFiles	Shared Method	Returns an array of strings containing the names of files in a directory.
File.Length	Shared Function	Efficiently returns the length of a file based on its directory entry.

Table 19-63: File and Serial I/O Classes Properties & Methods, 2
StreamReader Member	Type	Description
New StreamReader	Constructor Method	Opens a file or serial port device for reading.
streamreader_obj.Close	Method	Closes the file or device associated with a StreamReader Object.
streamreader_obj.Peek	Method	Returns the next byte from an input stream without removing it from the stream.
streamreader_obj.Read	Method	Returns the next byte from an input stream and removes it from the stream.
streamreader_obj.ReadLine	Method	Reads a line from the input stream terminated by LF, CR, or CR-LF.

Table 19-64: File and Serial I/O Classes Properties & Methods, 3
StreamWriter Member	Type	Description
New StreamWriter	Constructor Method	Opens a file or serial port device for writing.
streamwriter_obj.AutoFlush	Property	Sets or gets the property that controls whether or not output is buffered.
streamwriter_obj.Close	Method	Closes the file or device associated with a StreamWriter Object.
streamwriter_obj.Flush	Method	Immediately writes any buffered data for a StreamWriter Object.
streamwriter_obj.NewLine	Property	Sets or gets the property that controls how lines are terminated by the WriteLine method.
streamwriter_obj.Write	Method	Writes a number or a String to an output device or file.
streamwriter_obj.WriteLine	Method	Writes a number or a String to an output device or file, followed by the NewLine line terminator.