List all files and directories in a directory + subdirectories

Question

string[] allfiles = Directory.GetFiles("path/to/dir", "*.*", SearchOption.AllDirectories);

where *.* is pattern to match files

If the Directory is also needed you can go like this:

 foreach (var file in allfiles){
     FileInfo info = new FileInfo(file);
 // Do something with the Folder or just add them to a list via nameoflist.add();
 }

Directory.GetFileSystemEntries exists in .NET 4.0+ and returns both files and directories. Call it like so:

string[] entries = Directory.GetFileSystemEntries(path, "*", SearchOption.AllDirectories);

Note that it won't cope with attempts to list the contents of subdirectories that you don't have access to (UnauthorizedAccessException), but it may be sufficient for your needs.

public static void DirectorySearch(string dir)
{
    try
    {
        foreach (string f in Directory.GetFiles(dir))
        {
            Console.WriteLine(Path.GetFileName(f));
        }
        foreach (string d in Directory.GetDirectories(dir))
        {
            Console.WriteLine(Path.GetFileName(d));
            DirectorySearch(d);
        }
    }
    catch (System.Exception ex)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
    }
}

Note: the function shows only names without relative paths.

Use the GetDirectories and GetFiles methods to get the folders and files.

Use the SearchOption AllDirectories to get the folders and files in the subfolders also.

I am afraid, the GetFiles method returns list of files but not the directories. The list in the question prompts me that the result should include the folders as well. If you want more customized list, you may try calling GetFiles and GetDirectories recursively. Try this:

List<string> AllFiles = new List<string>();
void ParsePath(string path)
{
    string[] SubDirs = Directory.GetDirectories(path);
    AllFiles.AddRange(SubDirs);
    AllFiles.AddRange(Directory.GetFiles(path));
    foreach (string subdir in SubDirs)
        ParsePath(subdir);
}

Tip: You can use FileInfo and DirectoryInfo classes if you need to check any specific attribute.

I use the following code with a form that has 2 buttons, one for exit and the other to start. A folder browser dialog and a save file dialog. Code is listed below and works on my system Windows10 (64):

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace Directory_List
{

    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        public string MyPath = "";
        public string MyFileName = "";
        public string str = "";

        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }    
        private void cmdQuit_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            Application.Exit();
        }    
        private void cmdGetDirectory_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            folderBrowserDialog1.ShowDialog();
            MyPath = folderBrowserDialog1.SelectedPath;    
            saveFileDialog1.ShowDialog();
            MyFileName = saveFileDialog1.FileName;    
            str = "Folder = " + MyPath + "\r\n\r\n\r\n";    
            DirectorySearch(MyPath);    
            var result = MessageBox.Show("Directory saved to Disk!", "", MessageBoxButtons.OK);
                Application.Exit();    
        }    
        public void DirectorySearch(string dir)
        {
                try
            {
                foreach (string f in Directory.GetFiles(dir))
                {
                    str = str + dir + "\\" + (Path.GetFileName(f)) + "\r\n";
                }    
                foreach (string d in Directory.GetDirectories(dir, "*"))
                {

                    DirectorySearch(d);
                }
                        System.IO.File.WriteAllText(MyFileName, str);

            }
            catch (System.Exception ex)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
            }
        }
    }
}

You could use FindFirstFile which returns a handle and then recursively cal a function which calls FindNextFile.This is a good aproach as the structure referenced would be filled with various data such as alternativeName,lastTmeCreated,modified,attributes etc

But as you use .net framework, you would have to enter the unmanaged area.