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c#windowswinformsforms
Aldridge1991
Aldridge1991

Reputation: 1367

Windows Forms Application: Add file on app Install

My WF application requires of an excel file to work properly. Is there any way to add that file to the project and, when the user install my application, it automatically places itself in a default path?

Thanks

Upvotes: 0

Views: 1041

Answers (2)

RogerN
RogerN

Reputation: 3821

Add the file to your project and set its build action to "Copy if newer." After that, it ought to be deployed along with your binaries when the application is installed. However, note that this copy should be considered as read-only.

If you need to save changes to the file after installation then you copy it into the application data folder within the user's profile:

var appDataFolder = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.LocalApplicationData);
var writableFilePath = Path.Combine(appDataFolder, "MyApplication\\MyExcelFile.xlsx");
// ensure directory exists before copying to it:
System.IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(writableFilePath));

... and use this file instead of the read-only version whenever it already exists.

Upvotes: 0

Frank
Frank

Reputation: 4481

You can embed the file in your executable assembly:

  1. Add the file to the project.

  2. Select the file in the Solution Explorer and open Properties (F4).

  3. Set the "Build Action" to "Embedded Resource".

  4. In your code, load the resource stream and copy it to the target file stream:

    var assembly = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly();
using (var resourceStream = assembly.GetManifestResourceStream("YourNamespace.ExcelFile.xlsx"))
using (var targetStream = File.OpenWrite("targetFile.xlsx"))
{
    resourceStream.CopyTo(targetStream);
}

    Make sure that YourNamespace matches the namespace of the directory structure where you have put the Excel file in your project.

This Knowledge Base article has a detailed explanation of the procedure.

Upvotes: 1

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