Send a File to the Recycle Bin

Question

Currently I\'m using the following function

file.Delete();

But how can I use this function to send a file to the recycle bin instead of jus

Answer 1

I use this extension method, then I can just use a DirectoryInfo or FileInfo and delete that.

public static class NativeMethods
{
    [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
        struct SHFILEOPSTRUCT
    {
        public IntPtr hwnd;
        [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.U4)]
        public int wFunc;
        public string pFrom;
        public string pTo;
        public short fFlags;
        [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
        public bool fAnyOperationsAborted;
        public IntPtr hNameMappings;
        public string lpszProgressTitle;
    }
    private const int FO_DELETE = 0x0003;
    private const int FOF_ALLOWUNDO = 0x0040;           // Preserve undo information, if possible. 
    private const int FOF_NOCONFIRMATION = 0x0010;      // Show no confirmation dialog box to the user      


    [DllImport("shell32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
    static extern int SHFileOperation(ref SHFILEOPSTRUCT FileOp);

    static bool DeleteFileOrFolder(string path)
    {


        SHFILEOPSTRUCT fileop = new SHFILEOPSTRUCT();
        fileop.wFunc = FO_DELETE;
        fileop.pFrom = path + '\0' + '\0';            
        fileop.fFlags = FOF_ALLOWUNDO | FOF_NOCONFIRMATION;


        var rc= SHFileOperation(ref fileop);
        return rc==0;
    }

    public static bool ToRecycleBin(this DirectoryInfo dir)
    {
        dir?.Refresh();
        if(dir is null || !dir.Exists)
        {
            return false;
        }
        else
            return DeleteFileOrFolder(dir.FullName);
    }
    public static bool ToRecycleBin(this FileInfo file)
    {
        file?.Refresh();

        if(file is null ||!file.Exists)
        {
            return false;
        }
        return DeleteFileOrFolder(file.FullName);
    }
}

a sample how to call it could be this:

private void BtnDelete_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    if(MessageBox.Show("Are you sure you would like to delete this directory?", "Delete & Close", MessageBoxButtons.YesNo, MessageBoxIcon.Question) == DialogResult.No)
        return;

    var dir= new DirectoryInfo(directoryName);
    dir.ToRecycleBin();

}

Answer 2

The following solution is simpler than the other ones:

using Shell32;

static class Program
{
    public static Shell shell = new Shell();
    public static Folder RecyclingBin = shell.NameSpace(10);

    static void Main()
    {
        RecyclingBin.MoveHere("PATH TO FILE/FOLDER")
    }
}

You can use other functionalities of the recycle bin using this library.

First, don't forget to add the library "Microsoft Shell Controls And Automation" (from the COM menu), to be able to use the Shell32 namespace. It will be dynamically linked to your project, instead of being compiled along with your program.