Folder object

Represents a file-system folder or directory in a platform-independent manner. All properties and methods resolve file system aliases automatically and act on the original file unless otherwise noted.


Folder object constructors

To create a Folder object, use the Folder function or the new operator. The constructor accepts full or partial path names, and returns the new object.

Folder( [path] ); // Can return a File object
new Folder( [path] ); // Always returns a Folder object

path

Optional. The absolute or relative path to the folder associated with this object, specified in URI format; see Specifying paths. The value stored in the object is the absolute path.

The path need not refer to an existing folder. If not supplied, a temporary name is generated.

If the path refers to an existing file:

  • The Folder function returns a File object instead of a Folder object.

  • The new operator returns a Folder object for a nonexisting folder with the same name.

Warning

In After Effects on MacOS, if path.length is more than 1002, After Effects crashes. This has been reported on MacOS 10.11.6 and After Effects 13.8 and 14.0.


Folder class properties

These properties are available as static properties of the Folder class. It is not necessary to create an instance to access them.

appData

Folder

A Folder object for the folder that contains application data for all users. Read only.

  • In Windows, the value of %PROGRAMDATA% (by default, C:\ProgramData)

  • In Mac OS, /Library/Application Support

appPackage

String

The Folder object for the folder that contains the bundle of the running application. Read only.

  • In Windows, for example: C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe ExtendScript Toolkit CC\

  • In Mac OS, for example: /Applications/Adobe ExtendScript Toolkit CC/ExtendScript Toolkit.app

commonFiles

Folder

A Folder object for the folder that contains files common to all programs. Read only.

  • In Windows, the value of %CommonProgramFiles% (by default, C:\Program Files\Common Files)

  • In Mac OS, /Library/Application Support

current

Folder

A Folder object for the current folder. Assign either a Folder object or a string containing the new path name to set the current folder.

desktop

Folder

A Folder object for the folder that contains the user’s desktop. Read only.

  • In Windows, C:\Users\[username]\Desktop

  • In Mac OS, ~/Desktop

fs

String

The name of the file system. Read only. One of Windows, Macintosh, or Unix.

myDocuments

Folder

A Folder object for the user’s default document folder. Read only.

  • In Windows, C:\Users\[username]\Documents

  • In Mac OS, ~/Documents

startup

Folder

A Folder object for the folder containing the executable image of the running application. Read only.

system

Folder

A Folder object for the folder containing the operating system files. Read only.

  • In Windows, the value of %windir% (by default, C:\Windows)

  • In Mac OS, /System

temp

Folder

A Folder object for the default folder for temporary files. Read only.

trash

Folder

  • In Mac OS, a Folder object for the folder containing deleted items.

  • In Windows, where the Recycle Bin is a database rather than a folder, value is null.

Read only.

userData

Folder

A Folder object for the folder that contains application data for the current user. Read only.

  • In Windows, the value of %APPDATA% (by default, C:\Users\[username]\Appdata\Roaming)

  • In Mac OS, ~/Library/Application Support


Folder class functions

These functions are available as a static methods of the Folder class. It is not necessary to create an instance in order to call them.

decode()

Folder.decode( uri )

uri

String. The encoded string to decode. All special characters must be encoded in UTF-8 and stored as escaped characters starting with the percent sign followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, the string "my%20file" is decoded as "my file".

Special characters are those with a numeric value greater than 127, except the following:

``/ - _ . ! ~ * ' ( )``

Decodes the specified string as required by RFC 2396.

Returns the decoded string.


encode()

Folder.encode( name )

name

String. The string to encode.

Encodes the specified string as required by RFC 2396. All special characters are encoded in UTF-8 and stored as escaped characters starting with the percent sign followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, the string "my file" is encoded as "my%20file".

Special characters are those with a numeric value greater than 127, except the following:

``/ - _ . ! ~ * ' ( )``

Returns the encoded string.


isEncodingAvailable()

Folder.isEncodingAvailable( name )

name

String. The encoding name. Typical values are “ASCII,” “binary,” or “UTF-8.” See File- and Folder-supported encoding names.

Checks whether a given encoding is available.

Returns true if your system supports the specified encoding, false otherwise.


selectDialog()

Folder.selectDialog( [prompt] )

prompt

Optional. A string containing the prompt text, if the dialog allows a prompt.

Opens the built-in platform-specific file-browsing dialog, and creates a new File or Folder object for the selected file or folder. Differs from the object method selectDlg() in that it does not preselect a folder.

If the user clicks OK, returns a File or Folder object for the selected file or folder. If the user cancels, returns null.


Folder object properties

These properties are available for Folder objects.

absoluteURI

String

The full path name for the referenced folder in URI notation. Read only.

alias

Boolean

When true, the object refers to a file system alias or shortcut. Read only.

created

Date

The creation date of the referenced folder, or null if the object does not refer to a folder on disk. Read only.

displayName

String

The localized name of the referenced folder, without the path. Read only.

error

String

A message describing the most recent file system error; see File access error messages. Typically set by the file system, but a script can set it. Setting this value clears any error message and resets the error bit for opened files. Contains the empty string if there is no error.

exists

Boolean

When true, this object refers to a folder that currently exists in the file system. Read only.

fsName

String

The platform-specific name of the referenced folder as a full path name. Read only.

fullName

String

The full path name for the referenced folder in URI notation. Read only.

localizedName

String

A localized version of the folder name portion of the absolute URI for the referenced file, without the path specification. Read only.

modified

Date

The date of the referenced folder’s last modification, or null if the object does not refer to a folder on disk. Read only.

name

String

The folder name portion of the absolute URI for the referenced file, without the path specification. Read only.

parent

Folder

The Folder object for the folder that contains this folder, or null if this object refers to the root folder of a volume. Read only.

path

String

The path portion of the absolute URI for the referenced folder, without the folder name. Read only.

relativeURI

String

The path name for the referenced folder in URI notation, relative to the current folder. Read only.


Folder object functions

These functions are available for Folder objects.


changePath()

folderObj.changePath( path )

path

A string containing the new path, absolute or relative to the current parent folder.

Changes the path specification of the referenced folder.

Returns true on success.


create()

folderObj.create()

Creates a folder at the location given by this object’s path property.

Returns true if the folder was created successfully.


execute()

folderObj.execute ()

Opens this folder in the platform-specific file browser (as if it had been double-clicked in the file browser).

Returns true immediately if the folder was opened successfully.


getFiles()

folderObj.getFiles( [mask] )

mask

Optional. A search mask for file names. A string that can contain question mark (?) and asterisk (*) wild cards. Default is “*”, which matches all file names.

Can also be the name of a function that takes a File or Folder object as its argument. It is called for each file or folder found in the search; if it returns true, the object is added to the return array.

Note

In Windows, all aliases end with the extension .lnk; ExtendScript strips this from the file name when found, in order to preserve compatibility with other operating systems. You can search for all aliases by supplying the search mask "*.lnk", but note that such code is not portable.

Retrieves the contents of this folder, filtered by the supplied mask.

Returns an array of File and Folder objects, or null if this object’s referenced folder does not exist.


getRelativeURI()

folderObj.getRelativeURI( [basePath] )

basePath

Optional. A string containing the base path for the relative URI. Default is the current folder.

Retrieves the path for this folder relative to the specified base path or the current folder, in URI notation.

Returns a string containing the relative URI.


remove()

folderObj.remove()

Deletes the empty folder associated with this object from disk, immediately, without moving it to the system trash. Folders must be empty before they can be deleted. Does not resolve aliases; instead, deletes the referenced alias or shortcut file itself.

Note

Cannot be undone. It is recommended that you prompt the user for permission before deleting.

Returns true if the folder is deleted successfully.


rename()

folderObj.rename( newName )

newName

The new folder name, with no path.

Renames the associated folder. Does not resolve aliases; instead, renames the referenced alias or shortcut file itself.

Returns true on success.


resolve()

folderObj.resolve()

If this object references an alias or shortcut, this method resolves that alias

Returns a new Folder object that references the file-system element to which the alias resolves, or null if this object does not reference an alias, or if the alias cannot be resolved.


selectDlg()

folderObj.selectDlg( prompt )

prompt

A string containing the prompt text, if the dialog allows a prompt.

Opens the built-in platform-specific file-browsing dialog, and creates a new File or Folder object for the selected file or folder. Differs from the class method selectDialog() in that it preselects this folder.

If the user clicks OK, returns a File or Folder object for the selected file or folder. If the user cancels, returns null.