Best way to implement file access in C#

Question

Scenario - I need to access an HTML template to generate a e-mail from my Business Logic Layer. It is a class library contains a sub folder that contains the file. When I tried the following code in a unit test:

string FilePath = string.Format(@"{0}\templates\MyFile.htm", Environment.CurrentDirectory);
string FilePath1 = string.Format(@"{0}\templates\MyFile.htm", System.AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory);

It was using the C:\WINNT\system32\ or the ASP.NET Temporary Folder directory.

What is the best to access this file without having to use an app.config or web.config file?

[This is using a WCF Service]

[Related question (console app instead of class library)](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/97312/how-do-i-find-out-what-directory-my-console-app-is-running-in-with-c) — John Sheehan, Oct 24 '08 at 20:23

swilliams · Answer 1 · 2008-10-24T20:19:47.580

6

You're running this from an ASP.Net app right? Use Server.MapPath() instead.

Also take a look at System.IO.Path.Combine() for concatenating paths.

[Edit] Since you can't use System.Web, try this:

System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location

Or GetEntryAssembly().

edited Oct 24 '08 at 20:19

answered Oct 24 '08 at 19:35

swilliams

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It is being used by a WCF Service. – Michael Kniskern Oct 24 '08 at 19:36
Hmm, my WCF experience is very limited, do you have access to the Server property? There should be something similar regardless. – swilliams Oct 24 '08 at 19:38
No, unless I add the System.Web namespace reference – Michael Kniskern Oct 24 '08 at 19:49

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 24 '08 at 20:19

1

I belive you are looking for

System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(Application.ExecutablePath);

answered Oct 24 '08 at 20:19

Krzysztof Kozmic

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This will only work with the System.Windows.Form namespace. I am using a class library – Michael Kniskern Oct 24 '08 at 23:37

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 08 '10 at 04:36

I got this working on my site! I haven't been working on just this for the last 2 years!!!

I added this inside my system.serviceModel block of the web.config. It seems to make all the paths relative to where your service is installed.

  <system.serviceModel>
<serviceHostingEnvironment aspNetCompatibilityEnabled="true">

better late than never?

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 24 '08 at 19:37

0

Use

System.Web.HttpServerUtility.MapPath( "~/templates/myfile.htm" )

answered Oct 24 '08 at 19:37

harpo

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This is actually implemented in a class library file that is reference within the WCF Service. I can not use any System.Web because it is not an ASP.NET application – Michael Kniskern Oct 24 '08 at 20:02
Just because it's an ASP.NET application doesn't mean you can't use System.Web – John Sheehan Oct 24 '08 at 20:23

Best way to implement file access in C#

4 Answers4