Creating Then Deleting File Causes IOException

Question

An application needs to create a file in a directory, do something in the directory, and then delete the file. For example, the source code below:

File.Create("textfile.txt");
// Do something here
File.Delete("textfile.txt");

If "something" is a process that only needs a very short amount of time, File.Delete will throw IOException (file is being used by another process). According to another SO post: Cannot delete directory with Directory.Delete(path, true), calling Thread.Sleep(0) should allow the previous process to finish. However, even with

File.Create("textfile.txt");
// Do something here
Thread.Sleep(0);
File.Delete("textfile.txt");

the same IOException is still be thrown.

The solution I got is a while-loop that try to delete the file repeatedly until it's deleted. But I'm wondering if theres' a better solution.

Thanks for the very fast answers (and pointing out it's on MSDN. I'm certainly not feeling very bright right now). Gonna go with @usr because he's the first. But please accept the +1 as my thanks. — Jim
– Jim, Commented Aug 8, 2012 at 10:58

Daniel Earwicker · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-08 10:55:01Z

21

The File.Create method will create a file-stream, which you will need to dispose of correctly. I suggest the following code:

using(FileStream fs = File.Create("textfile.txt"))
{
    // Do something here.
}
File.Delete("textfile.txt");

Note that this code is exactly as suggested in the MSDN documentation...

edited Aug 8, 2012 at 10:55

Daniel Earwicker

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answered Aug 8, 2012 at 10:53

RB.

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usr · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-08 10:52:13Z

16

File.Create returns you a FileStream which represents an open handle to that file. Wrap the result of that call in a using-block to close the handle deterministically.

answered Aug 8, 2012 at 10:52

usr

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Comments

Matthew Watson · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-08 10:59:40Z

4

Also note: If you do not want to write anything into the file, you can avoid the "using" in two ways:

(1) File.WriteAllText("textfile.txt", string.Empty);
(2) File.Create("textfile.txt").Dispose();

In case (2) it is safe to avoid the using because you are doing nothing that could throw an exception between creating it and disposing it.

answered Aug 8, 2012 at 10:59

Matthew Watson

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logicnp · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-08 10:53:48Z

3

File.Create returns a FileStream which is an open handle to that file. Use this instead:

using(FileStream fs = File.Create("textfile.txt"))
{}

File.Delete("textfile.txt");

answered Aug 8, 2012 at 10:53

logicnp

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