How may I store a file path in my program's app.config file?

Question

I have written a C# program for saving and reading PDF files. The program saves the output files to the local computer's bin folder. I want my program to access files from a different computer.

I have heard about keeping a file path stored in the app.config of my program, but I don't know how to do this.

I think you asked same question before. what's the thing you are not getting? http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7606955/how-implement-usercontrol-in-winforms-mvp-pattern — RATHI, Dec 11 '12 at 19:12

score 36 · Answer 1 · edited Feb 19 '21 at 10:23

36

You can store the file path in an app.config file by using this format:

<configuration>
 <appSettings>
  <add key="Path" value="\\ComputerName\ShareName"/>
 </appSettings>
</configuration>

You can then read the app settings stored there using the ConfigurationManager class. You'll have to add a reference to System.Configuration in your project, and reference it in the code.

After that, your path can be read by accessing ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["Path"] - it will be a string.

edited Feb 19 '21 at 10:23

Amal K

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answered Dec 11 '12 at 20:36

Scott Chapman

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As addition to your answer, when you need to put path to folder in value it could be in format like: "C:\Temp\Folder" (no need to escape backslash sign like "C:\\Temp\\Folder") – Reven Nov 09 '17 at 13:30

score 7 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 19 '21 at 12:40

I'm a complete noob but I recently had the same issue so here is what I came up with.

The solution is three separate steps:

As stated in the answer above, you add a key value to app.config that points to your path:

 <configuration>
   <appSettings>
     <add key="Path" value="C:\text.txt"/>
   </appSettings>
 </configuration>

You need the using statement:
```
using System.Configuration;
```

Besides these two, you also need a reference to the assembly.

Right click on References in Solution Explorer.
Click Add Reference.
Click on Assemblies and type Configuration in the search box.
Put a check mark on System.Configuration.

The message

ConfigurationManager does not exist in the current context.

should be gone and you have your file path!

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 16 '21 at 19:56

First: Create or Add app.config to your solution:

<configuration>
   <appSettings>
     <add key="Path" value="C:\text.txt"/>
   </appSettings>
 </configuration>

Last: Inside your winForm wirte these code:

string str= System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["Source"];
            MessageBox.Show(str);
MessageBox.Show(str);

That is allllll

How may I store a file path in my program's app.config file?

3 Answers3