How do I convert StreamReader to a string?

Question

I altered my code so I could open a file as read only. Now I am having trouble using File.WriteAllText because my FileStream and StreamReader are not converted to a string.

This is my code:

static void Main(string[] args)
{
    string inputPath = @"C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\"
                     + @"Microsoft\Windows NT\MSFax\ActivityLog\OutboxLOG.txt";
    string outputPath = @"C:\FAXLOG\OutboxLOG.txt";

    var fs = new FileStream(inputPath, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read,
                                      FileShare.ReadWrite | FileShare.Delete);
    string content = new StreamReader(fs, Encoding.Unicode);

    // string content = File.ReadAllText(inputPath, Encoding.Unicode);
    File.WriteAllText(outputPath, content, Encoding.UTF8);
}

`StreamReader` is not a `string`. Using the `File.ReadAllText` method you have commented out would get a `string`. — Samuel Slade, Dec 22 '11 at 16:29
It looks like you are just copying the contents of a file to another directory. Why not make a copy of the file directly into the output directory? — docmanhattan, Dec 22 '11 at 16:30
Hey, glad you was able to decypher my comment on your last post...do a `using` on your FileStream...also you need to try/catch anytime you're doing disk IO...as you have already seen, there are lots of potential problems. Other than that, these StreamReader.ReadToEnd() answers are what you need. — rfmodulator, Dec 22 '11 at 16:33
@docmanhattan What it really looks like is a learning excercise. :) — rfmodulator, Dec 22 '11 at 16:34

score 66 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:00

66

use the ReadToEnd() method of StreamReader:

string content = new StreamReader(fs, Encoding.Unicode).ReadToEnd();

It is, of course, important to close the StreamReader after access. Therefore, a using statement makes sense, as suggested by keyboardP and others.

string content;
using(StreamReader reader = new StreamReader(fs, Encoding.Unicode))
{
    content = reader.ReadToEnd();
}

edited May 23 '17 at 12:00

Community

1
1

answered Dec 22 '11 at 16:28

Adam

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I'd recommend using a `using` statement for streams. – albertjan Dec 22 '11 at 16:28
and using Path.Combine(...) instead of string concatenation, I know. I removed the noise from my answer leaving only the line that changed – Adam Dec 22 '11 at 16:31
3

Because my answer has been accepted, I've extended it to include a using statement as in @keyboardP's answer. – Adam Dec 22 '11 at 16:51

score 13 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 22 '11 at 16:29

13

string content = String.Empty;

using(var sr = new StreamReader(fs, Encoding.Unicode))
{
     content = sr.ReadToEnd();
}

File.WriteAllText(outputPath, content, Encoding.UTF8);

answered Dec 22 '11 at 16:29

keyboardP

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+1 for adding the using statement to dispose the StreamReader – Jason Dec 22 '11 at 16:30

score 4 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 22 '11 at 16:30

4

Use StreamReader.ReadToEnd() method.

answered Dec 22 '11 at 16:30

Sergei B.

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How do I convert StreamReader to a string?

3 Answers3

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