What is the correct use of the Dir function second parameter? (VbNormal, vbHidden, etc)

[Jamualson]

I don't understand what the second parameter does. Seems no matter if I add multiple second parameters, nothing changes and code just works fine. But I don't understand why.

It would be awesome if I could see an example where I could test it to see the use of the second parameter in practice.

Thank you very much if you have an idea

This first part is ok:

Sub test()

If Dir("C:\Windows", vbNormal) = "" Then

    cells(1,1).value = "Doesn't exist."

End If

End Sub

But let's say I add a VbHidden or any other parameter (doesn't matter if its a folder or a file) --> nothing happens. If file exist, it won't launch, even if I set it to vbHidden or vbReadOnly. I would expect that it would not run since the specified file is neither Hidden neither ReadOnly.

Sub test2()

If Dir("C:\Folder\test.txt", vbNormal + vbReadOnly) = "" Then

    cells(1,1).value = "Doesn't exist."      'this part never happens. If file exists, it is handled as existing even if it's not hidden or not read only.

else

msgbox "Exists"     'always this part runs

End If

End Sub

 

[steve the fish]

So i just put an image file on my desktop and hid it. Right click properties, hidden.

Filename = Dir("C:\Users\steve\Desktop\*jpg", vbNormal)

Do While Filename <> ""
    MsgBox Filename
    Filename = Dir
Loop

That produced nothing. Then i removed the hidden checkbox and i get a message box on rerunning the code with the filename. Is that what you mean?