CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#wpf
Shai UI
Shai UI

Reputation: 51908

How to read a text file in project's root directory?

I want to read the first line of a text file that I added to the root directory of my project. Meaning, my solution explorer is showing the .txt file along side my .cs files in my project.

So, I tried to do:

TextReader tr = new StreamReader(@"myfile.txt");
string myText = tr.ReadLine();

But this doesn't work since it's referring to the Bin Folder and my file isn't in there... How can I make this work? :/

Thanks

Upvotes: 108

Views: 226504

Answers (7)

Mojtaba Nava
Mojtaba Nava

Reputation: 878

In this code you access to root directory project:

 string _filePath = Path.GetDirectoryName(System.AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory);

then:

StreamReader r = new StreamReader(_filePath + "/cities2.json"))

Upvotes: 2

Bruno Carvalho
Bruno Carvalho

Reputation: 501

private string _filePath = Path.GetDirectoryName(System.AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory);

The method above will bring you something like this:

"C:\Users\myuser\Documents\Visual Studio 2015\Projects\myProjectNamespace\bin\Debug"

From here you can navigate backwards using System.IO.Directory.GetParent:

_filePath = Directory.GetParent(_filePath).FullName;

1 time will get you to \bin, 2 times will get you to \myProjectNamespace, so it would be like this:

_filePath = Directory.GetParent(Directory.GetParent(_filePath).FullName).FullName;

Well, now you have something like "C:\Users\myuser\Documents\Visual Studio 2015\Projects\myProjectNamespace", so just attach the final path to your fileName, for example: 

_filePath += @"\myfile.txt";
TextReader tr = new StreamReader(_filePath);

Hope it helps.

Upvotes: 19

Mangesh
Mangesh

Reputation: 3997

You can use the following to get the root directory of a website project:

String FilePath;
FilePath = Server.MapPath("/MyWebSite");

Or you can get the base directory like so:

AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory

Upvotes: 37

Shuhel Ahmed
Shuhel Ahmed

Reputation: 963

You have to use absolute path in this case. But if you set the CopyToOutputDirectory = CopyAlways, it will work as you are doing it.

Upvotes: 4

dance2die
dance2die

Reputation: 36895

From Solution Explorer, right click on myfile.txt and choose "Properties"

From there, set the Build Action to content and Copy to Output Directory to either Copy always or Copy if newer

enter image description here

Upvotes: 169

brunnerh
brunnerh

Reputation: 184326

You can have it embedded (build action set to Resource) as well, this is how to retrieve it from there:

private static UnmanagedMemoryStream GetResourceStream(string resName)
{
    var assembly = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly();
    var strResources = assembly.GetName().Name + ".g.resources";
    var rStream = assembly.GetManifestResourceStream(strResources);
    var resourceReader = new ResourceReader(rStream);
    var items = resourceReader.OfType<DictionaryEntry>();
    var stream = items.First(x => (x.Key as string) == resName.ToLower()).Value;
    return (UnmanagedMemoryStream)stream;
}

private void Button1_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
    string resName = "Test.txt";
    var file = GetResourceStream(resName);
    using (var reader = new StreamReader(file))
    {
        var line = reader.ReadLine();
        MessageBox.Show(line);
    }
}

(Some code taken from this answer by Charles)

Upvotes: 15

Ethan Cabiac
Ethan Cabiac

Reputation: 4993

Add a Resource File to your project (Right Click Project->Properties->Resources). Where it says "strings", you can switch to be "files". Choose "Add Resource" and select your file.

You can now reference your file through the Properties.Resources collection.

Upvotes: 34

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