mkdir/ exist conflict in for-loop

I have code that checks for existance of folders and then creates them if needed, e.g.:

for k=1:16
  this_folder = sprintf('valid_path_info'); %on a network drive
  if ~exist(this_folder,'dir')
    mkdir(this_folder)
  end
end

When I start, none of the folders exist. For most of the cases (15/16 for the above example), the folders get created as expected. However, one of the cases reports (in debugger):

dir_exists = exist(this_folder); % returns 0, as expected
mkdir(this_folder)% fails and returns a warning that the directory already exists

Has anyone come across this or know of a good workaround?

For reference, I'm running Matlab 2011B on a Windows7 pc

Answer 1

[Sean de Wolski]

Hidden directory maybe?

winopen(pwd)

And then view hidden files/folders or whatever it is.

Answer 2

[Image Analyst]

Try it with the 'dir' option like this:

dir_exists = exist(this_folder, 'dir');

[Jon]

I believe that this is not a Matlab issue but a Windows/ network issue.

Here are the results of my quick testing:

dir_exists = exist(this_folder); % returns 0, as expected
dir_not_exists = ~exist(this_folder); % also returns 0

Since I was checking for non-existance, it then tried to create the folder, which apparently existed in some partial state. I got the same results when I used a command prompt in Windows, so my ultimate workaround was simply to create a new directory :-|

[Sean de Wolski]

Jon, please add this as an answer and accept it so this question is closed and so future people can see that it worked for you!