---
name: "TIFFCreateDirectory"
section: "3tiff"
platform: "linux"
package: "libtiff-dev"
version: "4.7.0-3+deb13u3"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/TIFFCreateDirectory"
---

# TIFFCreateDirectory(3tiff)

routines to create a directory and retrieve information about directories

## NAME

TIFFCreateDirectory - routines to create a directory and retrieve information about directories

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <tiffio.h>
```

- **int TIFFCreateDirectory(TIFF \*tif)**

  - **int TIFFFreeDirectory(TIFF \*tif)**

  - **int TIFFUnlinkDirectory(TIFF \*tif, tdir\_t dirn)**

  ## DESCRIPTION

The following routines create or release a directory.

*TIFFCreateDirectory()* setup for a directory in a open TIFF file. The newly created directory will not exist on the file till *TIFFWriteDirectory()*, *TIFFCheckpointDirectory()*, *TIFFFlush()* or *TIFFClose()* is called. *TIFFWriteDirectory()* also creates a new directory, frees the **\*tif** structure and sets up a new one.

*TIFFFreeDirectory()* releases allocated storage associated with a directory, especially custom-fields. However, the main part of the directory is not touched. Routine *TIFFCleanup()* calls *TIFFFreeDirectory()* to release the directory part of the *tif* structure.

*TIFFUnlinkDirectory()* unlink the specified directory from the directory chain. The parameter *dirn* specifies the subfile/directory as an integer number, with the first directory numbered one (1). This is different to *TIFFSetDirectory()* or *TIFFCurrentDirectory()* where the first directory starts with zero (0).

Directory query functions *TIFFCurrentDirectory()*, *TIFFCurrentDirOffset()*, *TIFFLastDirectory()* and *TIFFNumberOfDirectories()* retrieve information about directories in an open TIFF file. Be aware that until a directory is not written to file AND read back, the query functions won't retrieve the correct information!

## NOTES

Be aware:

- •

  that until a directory is not written to file AND read back, the query functions won't retrieve the correct information!

- •

  that the newly created directory will not exist on the file till *TIFFWriteDirectory()*, *TIFFCheckpointDirectory()*, *TIFFFlush()* or *TIFFClose()* has been called.

- •

  that *TIFFCreateDirectory()* and *TIFFWriteDirectory()* create a new directory, free the **\*tif** structure and set up a new one.

- •

  that unlike *TIFFWriteDirectory()*, *TIFFCheckpointDirectory()* does not free up the directory data structures in memory.

After **libtiff** version 4.6.0 *TIFFCreateDirectory()* also releases the directory part of the *tif* structure by calling *TIFFFreeDirectory()*, which should have been called by the user application before creating a new directory.

## DIAGNOSTICS

All error messages are directed to the *TIFFErrorExtR()* routine. Likewise, warning messages are directed to the *TIFFWarningExtR()* routine.

## SEE ALSO

*libtiff* (3tiff), *TIFFCustomDirectory* (3tiff), *TIFFquery* (3tiff), *TIFFSetDirectory* (3tiff), *TIFFWriteDirectory* (3tiff)

## AUTHOR

LibTIFF contributors

## COPYRIGHT

1988-2022, LibTIFF contributors