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# wxFileDialog (wx v2.5)

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This class represents the file chooser dialog.

The path and filename are distinct elements of a full file pathname. If path is ?wxEmptyString, the current directory will be used. If filename is ?wxEmptyString, no default filename will be supplied. The wildcard determines what files are displayed in the file selector, and file extension supplies a type extension for the required filename.

The typical usage for the open file dialog is:

The typical usage for the save file dialog is instead somewhat simpler:

Remark: All implementations of the `wxFileDialog` provide a wildcard filter. Typing a filename containing wildcards (, ?) in the filename text item, and clicking on Ok, will result in only those files matching the pattern being displayed. The wildcard may be a specification for multiple types of file with a description for each, such as: It must be noted that wildcard support in the native Motif file dialog is quite limited: only one file type is supported, and it is displayed without the descriptive test; "BMP files (.bmp)|.bmp" is displayed as ".bmp", and both "BMP files (.bmp)|.bmp|GIF files (.gif)|.gif" and "Image files|.bmp;.gif" are errors. On Mac macOS in the open file dialog the filter choice box is not shown by default. Instead all given wildcards are appplied at the same time: So in the above example all bmp, gif and png files are displayed. To enforce the display of the filter choice set the corresponding `wxSystemOptions` before calling the file open dialog: But in contrast to Windows and Unix, where the file type choice filters only the selected files, on Mac macOS even in this case the dialog shows all files matching all file types. The files which does not match the currently selected file type are greyed out and are not selectable.

## Styles

This class supports the following styles:

- wxFD_DEFAULT_STYLE: Equivalent to `wxFD_OPEN`.

- wxFD_OPEN: This is an open dialog; usually this means that the default button's label of the dialog is "Open". Cannot be combined with `wxFD_SAVE`.

- wxFD_SAVE: This is a save dialog; usually this means that the default button's label of the dialog is "Save". Cannot be combined with `wxFD_OPEN`.

- wxFD_OVERWRITE_PROMPT: For save dialog only: prompt for a confirmation if a file will be overwritten.

- wxFD_NO_FOLLOW: Directs the dialog to return the path and file name of the selected shortcut file, not its target as it does by default. Currently this flag is only implemented in wxMSW and wxOSX (where it prevents aliases from being resolved). The non-dereferenced link path is always returned, even without this flag, under Unix and so using it there doesn't do anything. This flag was added in wxWidgets 3.1.0.

- wxFD_FILE_MUST_EXIST: For open dialog only: the user may only select files that actually exist. Notice that under macOS the file dialog with `wxFD_OPEN` style always behaves as if this style was specified, because it is impossible to choose a file that doesn't exist from a standard macOS file dialog.

- wxFD_MULTIPLE: For open dialog only: allows selecting multiple files.

- wxFD_CHANGE_DIR: Change the current working directory (when the dialog is dismissed) to the directory where the file(s) chosen by the user are.

- wxFD_PREVIEW: Show the preview of the selected files (currently only supported by wxGTK).

- wxFD_SHOW_HIDDEN: Show hidden files. This flag was added in wxWidgets 3.1.3

See:

- Overview cmndlg

- ?wxFileSelector()

This class is derived, and can use functions, from:

- `wxDialog`

- `wxTopLevelWindow`

- `wxWindow`

- `wxEvtHandler`

wxWidgets docs: wxFileDialog

# Summary

## Types

wxFileDialog()

## Functions

destroy(This)

Destroys the object

getDirectory(This)

Returns the default directory.

getFilename(This)

Returns the default filename.

getFilenames(This)

Fills the array `filenames` with the names of the files chosen.

getFilterIndex(This)

Returns the index into the list of filters supplied, optionally, in the wildcard parameter.

getMessage(This)

Returns the message that will be displayed on the dialog.

getPath(This)

Returns the full path (directory and filename) of the selected file.

getPaths(This)

Fills the array `paths` with the full paths of the files chosen.

getWildcard(This)

Returns the file dialog wildcard.

new(Parent)

Equivalent to `new(Parent, [])`.

new/2

Constructor.

setDirectory(This, Directory)

Sets the default directory.

setFilename(This, Setfilename)

Sets the default filename.

setFilterIndex(This, FilterIndex)

Sets the default filter index, starting from zero.

setMessage(This, Message)

Sets the message that will be displayed on the dialog.

setPath(This, Path)

Sets the path (the combined directory and filename that will be returned when the dialog is dismissed).

setWildcard(This, WildCard)

Sets the wildcard, which can contain multiple file types, for example: "BMP files (*.bmp)|*.bmp|GIF files (*.gif)|*.gif".

# Types

# wxFileDialog()

    -type wxFileDialog() :: wx:wx_object().

# Functions

# destroy(This)

    -spec destroy(This :: wxFileDialog()) -> ok.

Destroys the object

# getDirectory(This)

    -spec getDirectory(This) -> unicode:charlist() when This :: wxFileDialog().

Returns the default directory.

# getFilename(This)

    -spec getFilename(This) -> unicode:charlist() when This :: wxFileDialog().

Returns the default filename.

Note: This function can't be used with dialogs which have the `wxFD_MULTIPLE` style, use `getFilenames/1` instead.

# getFilenames(This)

    -spec getFilenames(This) -> [unicode:charlist()] when This :: wxFileDialog().

Fills the array `filenames` with the names of the files chosen.

This function should only be used with the dialogs which have `wxFD_MULTIPLE` style, use `getFilename/1` for the others.

Note that under Windows, if the user selects shortcuts, the filenames include paths, since the application cannot determine the full path of each referenced file by appending the directory containing the shortcuts to the filename.

# getFilterIndex(This)

    -spec getFilterIndex(This) -> integer() when This :: wxFileDialog().

Returns the index into the list of filters supplied, optionally, in the wildcard parameter.

Before the dialog is shown, this is the index which will be used when the dialog is first displayed.

After the dialog is shown, this is the index selected by the user.

# getMessage(This)

    -spec getMessage(This) -> unicode:charlist() when This :: wxFileDialog().

Returns the message that will be displayed on the dialog.

# getPath(This)

    -spec getPath(This) -> unicode:charlist() when This :: wxFileDialog().

Returns the full path (directory and filename) of the selected file.

Note: This function can't be used with dialogs which have the `wxFD_MULTIPLE` style, use `getPaths/1` instead.

# getPaths(This)

    -spec getPaths(This) -> [unicode:charlist()] when This :: wxFileDialog().

Fills the array `paths` with the full paths of the files chosen.

This function should only be used with the dialogs which have `wxFD_MULTIPLE` style, use `getPath/1` for the others.

# getWildcard(This)

    -spec getWildcard(This) -> unicode:charlist() when This :: wxFileDialog().

Returns the file dialog wildcard.

# new(Parent)

    -spec new(Parent) -> wxFileDialog() when Parent :: wxWindow:wxWindow().

Equivalent to `new(Parent, [])`.

# new/2

    -spec new(Parent, [Option]) -> wxFileDialog()
                 when
                     Parent :: wxWindow:wxWindow(),
                     Option ::
                         {message, unicode:chardata()} |
                         {defaultDir, unicode:chardata()} |
                         {defaultFile, unicode:chardata()} |
                         {wildCard, unicode:chardata()} |
                         {style, integer()} |
                         {pos, {X :: integer(), Y :: integer()}} |
                         {sz, {W :: integer(), H :: integer()}}.

Constructor.

Use `wxDialog:showModal/1` to show the dialog.

# setDirectory(This, Directory)

    -spec setDirectory(This, Directory) -> ok when This :: wxFileDialog(), Directory :: unicode:chardata().

Sets the default directory.

# setFilename(This, Setfilename)

    -spec setFilename(This, Setfilename) -> ok
                         when This :: wxFileDialog(), Setfilename :: unicode:chardata().

Sets the default filename.

In wxGTK this will have little effect unless a default directory has previously been set.

# setFilterIndex(This, FilterIndex)

    -spec setFilterIndex(This, FilterIndex) -> ok when This :: wxFileDialog(), FilterIndex :: integer().

Sets the default filter index, starting from zero.

# setMessage(This, Message)

    -spec setMessage(This, Message) -> ok when This :: wxFileDialog(), Message :: unicode:chardata().

Sets the message that will be displayed on the dialog.

# setPath(This, Path)

    -spec setPath(This, Path) -> ok when This :: wxFileDialog(), Path :: unicode:chardata().

Sets the path (the combined directory and filename that will be returned when the dialog is dismissed).

# setWildcard(This, WildCard)

    -spec setWildcard(This, WildCard) -> ok when This :: wxFileDialog(), WildCard :: unicode:chardata().

Sets the wildcard, which can contain multiple file types, for example: "BMP files (*.bmp)|*.bmp|GIF files (*.gif)|*.gif".

Note that the native Motif dialog has some limitations with respect to wildcards; see the Remarks section above.