How many ways are there to create a File Watcher? Well, here's three at least...

MECUM – .NET TECHNOLOGY BLOG - Daily Problems – How to Write a Filewatcher in Three Possible Ways

During my excessive web-sessions regarding .NET I often stumble over questions and articles regarding file monitoring applications. Either as stand-alone applications or in conjunction with Windows Services.

For years know this discussions goes on. With this post I want to show the three methods I have used over the last few years and also give a good usage-scenario for “File Watchers” on Windows.

• System.IO.FileSystemWatcher – The “Standard” Way
• Using WMI – Windows Messaging [Management] Instrumentation to Watch Directories
• The Third and Last Method to Write a FileWatcher – The Windows 7 API-Codepack

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I've known about the first two methods, but the third was new to me. Sure I've known about the Windows API Code Pack for years, just didn't know I could use it this way. I love our industry, there's something to learn every day|hour|minute...

 

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