Opening pdf files using Process.Start

Question

I am trying to open PDF files in Adobe reader using C#'s Process.Start().

When I provide a path without white spaces it works fine, but paths and pdf files containing white spaces don't open.

This is my code:

Button btn = (Button)sender;
ProcessStartInfo info = new ProcessStartInfo();
info.FileName = "AcroRd32";
string s = btn.Tag.ToString();
//btn.Tag Contains the full file path 
info.Arguments = s;
Process.Start(info); 

If it is C:\\Users\\Manish\\Documents\\ms_Essential_.NET_4.5.pdf it works fine but if it is F:\\Tutorials\\C#\\Foundational\\Microsoft Visual C# 2012 Step By Step V413HAV.pdf Adobe Reader gives an error saying there was an error in opening the document file can't be found.

I have read through many questions related to this topic in SO but it won't work. As I can't figure out how to apply @ prefix in my string s.

Any ideas how to fix this?

Answer 1

Just a little trick there is a default PDF reader set on the client: just use the file name as FileName if the process. Usually you don't care which program to use, so then this solution just works:

Process.Start(pdfFileName);

This doesn't need special quoting too, so it instantly fixes your problem.

Answer 2

Try to wrap the arguments around quotes:

info.Arguments = "\"" + s + "\"";

Answer 3

Using the character @ before the string value should work:

var path = @"F:\Tutorials\C#\Foundational\Microsoft Visual C# 2012 Step By Step V413HAV.pdf";

Answer 4

You should enquote the path provided in the argument list. This will cause it to view the path as a single argument instead of multiple space separated arguments:

info.Arguments = "\"" + s + "\"";