Building full path to file, which is inside a folder inside the directory of the executing program

Question

Inside the directory of the .exe, there is a folder called exports. I have a method that takes parameters for a directory and filename.

In this case, I want to give the directory as this exports folder. The following is the current code:

public void saveFile(string dir, string filename)
{
    ExcelPackage pck = new ExcelPackage();

    // creating a spreadsheet...

    // now save the file
    System.IO.FileInfo file = new System.IO.FileInfo(System.IO.Path.Combine(dir, filename) + ".xlsx");
    pck.Save(file);
    pck.Dispose();
}

// usage of the above method
saveFile(System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location + @"\exports", "myFileName");

This yields an exception: "The given path's format is not supported". How to solve this?

Soo.. why did you use path.combine inside the method but not outside the method? — Caius Jard, Jul 26 '20 at 05:44
I think I just found the problem by debugging for the result of that. It is actually "...\Debug\myApp.exe\exports\myFileName.xlsx". It is including the filename of the executable as part of the path. — Al2110, Jul 26 '20 at 05:45
Check the update to my answer btw, it might save you your next couple of headaches! — Caius Jard, Jul 26 '20 at 05:54

Caius Jard · Accepted Answer · 2020-07-26T05:54:16.590

System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location gives the full path to the file or exe, including the exe name

You cannot then tack a folder name on after it without first removing the exe name

Try using Path.GetDirectoryName to remove the filename from the path:

var folder = Path.GetDirectoryName(System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location);
folder = Path.Combine(folder, "exports");

It is always a good idea to Directory.CreateDirectory(folder) before you try to write a file to a folder path you've built. If the folder exists it's a non op, if it doesn't then it will create it. It can create multiple subfolders in one go

Bear in mind also that when installed properly in Program Files, an application doesn't automatically have the right to save files into a subfolder under Program Files. Your code here that saves data alongside the program will likely fail when the program is installed to Program Files

Building full path to file, which is inside a folder inside the directory of the executing program

1 Answers1