Microsoft Excel - fso.GetFolder(myDir).Files.Count - 1 'Why is -1 needed sometimes, not always

Folks:

Scenario: 2 departments, 1 macro for each:

Why is "-1" needed for one group of files and not the other? Because of Temporary files?:

File count accurate for Department 1 reports with:
but for Department 2, I had to remove the -1
The code used to derive filepath is the same for each, just different paths are indicated in each macro, i.e.:
versus
Online source indicates fso only counts visible, not hidden files, using shell object so that should be a non-factor.
Even so, I tested on folders with no hidden objects for both Department 1 and 2 reports.
I also tested on a folder with a hidden thumb.db file for Department 1 reports.

Even when I change the number of files from 1 to 2 to 3 in the Department 2 folder, it is only accurate w/o the -1 while Department 1 needs the -1.

Thank you,
Rowland

You never need the -1.  There is something up with that folder or at least one of the files in it.  I do not know specifically what the issue is but at least you now know it isn't the Scripting.FileSystemObject.

You could try copying all of the files to a new folder and check out the results.  Might help you identify the problem.

Thanks, Robbie:
It was a hidden file after all, a thumb.db in one folder but not the other. How do I subtract the vbhidden files.
Thank you, Rowland

FYI: I found the hidden file using a code from alphafrog at Mr Excel and the Immediate Window:
[CODE]

With CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject\")
    With .GetFolder("C:\DATA\Department1\Sourcefiles")
            Debug.Print
        Debug.Print .Name & "  File Count: " & .Files.Count
        For Each f In .Files
            c = c + 1
            Debug.Print c & " " & f.Name
        Next
    End With    
    c = 0
    With .GetFolder("C:\DATA\Sourcefiles\Department2\")
        Debug.Print
        Debug.Print .Name & "  File Count: " & .Files.Count
        For Each f In .Files
            c = c + 1
            Debug.Print c & " " & f.Name
        Next
    End With
End With
[/CODE]

Don't know that you can with the .Files collection.  Each file would have a .Attributes property you could look through.  The folder object also has an .Attributes property.

http://www.thevbprogrammer.com/Ch06/06-09-FSO.htm

Robbie et al: Found this solution to get the right count. Doesn't ignore hidden files but counts the xls, which is what works in this case, Thanks, Rowland:
[CODE]
Sub CountXLS()

Dim fso, count, src, folder, file
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

src = "C:\DATA\Sourcefiles\Department1"
     
Set folder = fso.GetFolder(src)
count = 0
For Each file In folder.Files
If LCase(fso.GetExtensionName(file)) = "xls" Then
count = count + 1
End If
Next

Debug.Print "Count: " & count

End Sub[/CODE]

site for code: http://www.visualbasicscript.com/How-to-count-files-in-directory-m445.aspx