Find the directory of a file in C#

Question

I'm new to C# and I have been trying to play a sound using SoundPlayer class. So in my solution in visual studio (2015 community), I created a folder called Music and drag'n'dropped a wav file there. In properties, I found the file path and then used in the SoundPlayer constructor. Right now, it's on the desktop.

My problem is that I'll be moving the actual program (it's just console app) to another computer (with different user name...which I don't know). So is there a way C# can determine the new location (directory) for the file so that I don't get an error?

SoundPlayer spPlayer = new SoundPlayer (@"C:\Users\tvavr\Desktop\Dango\mr_sandman.wav");
spPlayer.Play();

This is the code that works. Now, how am I supposed to change that path?

Thx for your answers.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/20717407/how-to-read-the-text-file-from-the-application-directory-text-file, http://stackoverflow.com/questions/20717407/how-to-read-the-text-file-from-the-application-directory-text-file, http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7551319/c-accessing-files-added-to-project-folder, http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12335618/file-path-for-project-files — CodeCaster, Oct 04 '15 at 08:14
do you want to play sound where actually exist behind your program? — M.kazem Akhgary, Oct 04 '15 at 08:14
if you wanna play the same file always, you better play it from resources instead of playing it from a directory. This way you ensure that it always exists. Also you can construct a path for the new location using `Path.Combine` — Jalal Mostafa, Oct 04 '15 at 08:17

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 04 '15 at 08:15

1

use dynamic path as following :

SoundPlayer spPlayer = new SoundPlayer (Application.ExecutablePath +@"\mr_sandman.wav");

where Application.ExecutablePath will get your application folder dynamically

answered Oct 04 '15 at 08:15

Sam Jolan

67
5

3

Please don't use "dynamic" as a buzzword, and use `Path.Combine()` to combine paths. – CodeCaster Oct 04 '15 at 08:27

Kerry Kobashi · Answer 2 · 2015-10-04T09:07:53.553

This is a design decision that only you can answer. When you write console applications that require you to load a file, you have several options

Option #1: Have the path specified in the argument list of the program when it is executed

Assume the name of your program is playsong, you run it like this:

playsong C:/path-to-music-file/song.wav

You get the name of the song file from the argument list of Main. The first item in args is the filename:

static void Main(string[] args) {
  SoundPlayer spPlayer = new SoundPlayer(args[1]);
  spPlayer.Play();
}

Option #2: Access the song file by hard coded path

static void Main() {
  SoundPlayer spPlayer = new SoundPlayer("C:/playsong/songs/song.wav");
  spPlayer.Play();
}

Option #3: Access the song file relative to the program location

static void Main() {
  SoundPlayer spPlayer = new SoundPlayer(Application.ExecutablePath + "/songs/song.wav");
  spPlayer.Play();
}

If you later want to change this into a Graphical User Interface (GUI) program, you would bring up the OpenFileDialog box which lets the user choose the file.

Basilevs · Answer 3 · 2015-10-04T09:08:57.147

0

.NET has built-in tools to access locations like current user's desktop: System.Environment.SpecialFolder.Desktop

edited Oct 04 '15 at 09:08

answered Oct 04 '15 at 09:01

Basilevs

22,440
15
57
102

Find the directory of a file in C#

3 Answers3