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What’s New in vuFileTools

Version: 5.0 (Build 207)

Release date: 2026-03-20

This page highlights new items in the Version 5 cycle and links to their reference topics.

What’s New in Build 207

Build 207 adds two new run-related functions and improves the documentation for the run, shell, and print families with linked comparison tables that now also appear on the related function pages.

New Functions in Build 207

Function Description
vuRunExWait Runs the specified file with optional parameters and working folder support, and can optionally wait until the launched process completes.
vuRunExDelayWait Runs the specified file with optional parameters and working folder support after a specified delay, and can optionally wait until the launched process completes.

Run Function Comparison

Function Separate File/Params Working Folder Delay Wait Best Use
vuRun No No No Yes Simple or legacy command-line launch
vuRunEx Yes Yes No No Preferred modern launch with separate parameters
vuRunExWait Yes Yes No Yes Modern launch with separate parameters and wait
vuRunExDelay Yes Yes Yes No Modern delayed launch
vuRunExDelayWait Yes Yes Yes Yes Modern delayed launch with wait
vuRunExists No No No No Launch only if the target file already exists
vuRunExistsEx No No Poll for file No Wait for a file to appear, then launch it

Shell Function Comparison

Function Separate File/Params Working Folder Delay Wait Best Use
vuShell No No No No Simple ShellExecute launch
vuShellEx Yes Yes No No Preferred shell launch with separate parameters
vuShellDelay No No Yes No Simple delayed shell launch
vuShellExDelay Yes Yes Yes No Delayed shell launch with separate parameters
Function Wait for File Named Printer Show Control Best Use
vuPrintExists No No No Print a file if it already exists
vuPrintExistsEx Yes No No Wait for a file to appear, then print it
vuPrintToExists No Yes No Print to a specific printer if the file exists
vuPrintToExistsEx Yes Yes No Wait for a file to appear, then print to a specific printer
vuPrintExistsShow No No Yes Print an existing file with an explicit show mode

When you open any of the related function pages above, you will also see the same comparison table there so it is easier to find related functions and choose the one that best matches your scenario.

What’s New in Build 206

Build 206 added the new password visibility helper feature for Clarion applications.

Function Description
vuPasswordInit Retrofits a standard Clarion password entry control with a more modern UI using a single function call. Automatically creates the show/hide eye button, uses icons compiled into the DLL, supports cue text, preserves the native Clarion control, and allows normal paste behavior so the field works more like modern password entry controls users expect.
vuPasswordToggle Toggles a managed password control between visible-text mode and normal masked mode. Ideal for wiring a Show Password button or eye icon.

Earlier Version 5 Additions (Build 205)

Function Description
vuCloseApp Requests an application shutdown from code with three modes: cooperative close (Mode 0), cooperative plus safety-net forced terminate (Mode 1), and immediate hard kill (Mode 2). Useful for closing apps reliably even when HALT/STOP hooks or save prompts interfere.
vuCloseAppEx Extended shutdown helper that adds a configurable safety-net delay (Mode 1) and an optional user warning countdown before initiating the close request. Ideal for shared EXE update scenarios where you want to warn users, attempt a clean exit, and still guarantee shutdown.
vuInternetPresent Reports whether Windows currently believes that Internet connectivity is available. Uses WinINet heuristics rather than testing a specific host.
vuInternetCanReachUrl Tests whether a specific URL can be reached within a caller specified timeout. Useful for verifying connectivity to a particular service endpoint.
vuIsNTFSCompressed Checks whether the specified file or folder is NTFS-compressed. Works with both individual files and directories.
vuSetNTFSCompression Enables or disables NTFS compression on the specified file or folder.
vuPrimaryLinkSpeed Retrieves the speed of the primary network connection, in megabits per second (Mbps).
vuIsNetworkSlow Determines whether the primary network connection is slower than a specified threshold. Uses the speed reported by vuPrimaryLinkSpeed().
vuCreateHardLink Creates a hard link to an existing file on NTFS volumes.
vuCreateSymbolicLink_File Creates a symbolic link (soft link) that points to a file. Requires elevated privileges.
vuCreateSymbolicLink_Dir Creates a symbolic link (soft link) that points to a directory. Requires elevated privileges.
vuCreateJunction Creates an NTFS junction point, which acts as a directory reparse point to another folder.
vuAddStartupShortcut Creates a shortcut (.lnk file) in the Windows Startup folder so that the specified program runs automatically when Windows starts.
vuRemoveStartupShortcut Removes a shortcut (.lnk file) from the Windows Startup folder.
vuEnumerateStartupItems Begins enumeration of startup items in the Windows Startup folder.
vuGetStartupItem Retrieves information about the current startup item during enumeration.
vuGetStartupFolder Returns the path to the current user’s Startup folder.
vuRunExists Launches a file or application only if it already exists.
vuRunExistsEx Waits for a file to appear, then launches it.
vuPrintExists Prints a file if it already exists.
vuPrintExistsEx Waits for a file to appear, then prints it.
vuRunDelay Runs a file or application after a specified delay.
vuRunEx Runs a file or application with separate parameter and working folder support.
vuRunExDelay Delays the launch, then runs a file or application with separate parameter and working folder support.
vuShellEx Shell launches a file or application with separate parameter and working folder support.
vuShellDelay Delays a simple shell launch.
vuShellExDelay Delays a shell launch with separate parameter and working folder support.
vuPrintToExists Prints an existing file to a specified printer.
vuPrintToExistsEx Waits for a file to appear, then prints it to a specified printer.
vuPrintExistsShow Prints an existing file using an explicit show mode.
vuGetDriveSpace Retrieves total and available space for the specified drive.
vuGetVolumeLabel Returns the volume label for the specified drive.
vuExtractFileNameEx Extracts the file name from a full path, with extended options.
vuExplorerFileType Retrieves the file type description shown in Windows Explorer.
vuIsElevated Checks if the current process is running with elevated (administrator) privileges.
vuElevationType Determines the type of elevation in effect (full, limited, or none).
vuIsFolderCompressed Checks whether the specified folder is compressed at the NTFS level.
vuCreateCompressedFolder Creates a new NTFS-compressed folder.
vuSetFolderCompression Enables or disables NTFS compression on a folder.
vuFileExists Checks whether a specified file exists.
vuFileExistsEx Extended version of vuFileExists, with support for more advanced checks.
vuEnumerateFolderA Begins enumeration of files and folders within a specified directory (ANSI version).
vuGetEnumeratedEntryA Retrieves information about the current entry during enumeration (ANSI version).
vuStartDriveEnum Begins enumeration of system drives.
vuGetNextDrive Retrieves information about the next drive in the enumeration.
vuEndDriveEnum Ends drive enumeration and releases associated resources.
vuGetNextDriveAuto Retrieves the next drive in enumeration automatically.
vuStartDriveEnumEx Begins extended drive enumeration with more detail.
vuGetNextDriveEx Retrieves the next drive in the extended enumeration.
vuEndDriveEnumEx Ends extended drive enumeration.
vuGetNextDriveExAuto Retrieves the next drive automatically from extended enumeration.
vuGetDriveList Returns a list of all system drives.
vuGetDriveListEx Extended version of vuGetDriveList, with more detailed drive information.
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