Working with Path Class in .Net (C#)

Path class is static class and has collection of static methods and fields. Path class is available in System.IO namespace. Path provides the location of file or folder located on disk. Path class used to perform operations like getting file name and extension part of the URL, combining two strings into single path, getting temp directory path etc. Let's have a look on major operations using Path.

string path = @"d:\temp\test.txt";

Console.WriteLine("File Name: {0}",Path.GetFileName(path));

Console.WriteLine("Full Path: {0}",Path.GetFullPath(path));

Console.WriteLine("Extension: {0}",Path.GetExtension(path));

Console.WriteLine("Directory Name: {0}",Path.GetDirectoryName(path));

Console.WriteLine("Path Root: {0}",Path.GetPathRoot(path));

Console.WriteLine("File Name w/o extn: {0}",Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(path));

Console.WriteLine("Has Extn: {0}",Path.HasExtension(path));

Console.WriteLine("Temp Path: {0}", Path.GetTempPath());

Console.WriteLine("Directory Seperator: {0}", Path.AltDirectorySeparatorChar);

Console.WriteLine("Volume Seperator: {0}", Path.VolumeSeparatorChar);

Console.WriteLine("Combine : {0}", Path.Combine("Dir1","File1.txt"));

Output –

File Name: test.txt

Full Path: d:\temp\test.txt

Extension: .txt

Directory Name: d:\temp

Path Root: d:\

File Name w/o extn: test

Has Extn: True

Temp Path: C:\Users\msureja\AppData\Local\Temp\

Directory Seperator: /

Volume Seperator: :

Combine : Dir1\File1.txt

See Also - 

Working with File Class in .Net (C#)

Working with Directory Class in .Net (C#)

StreamReader and StreamWriter in .Net (C#)

Working with Directory Class in .Net (C#)

Directory class is static class provides static methods to do normal directory related operations such as Copy, Paste, Move, Rename, Delete etc. It is available in System.IO namespace.  Below code demonstrates some basic majorly used methods of directory class.

//Creates temp directory if not exist

if (!Directory.Exists(@"d:\temp"))

    Directory.CreateDirectory(@"d:\temp");

//set/get current directory

Directory.SetCurrentDirectory(@"d:\temp");

Console.WriteLine(Directory.GetCurrentDirectory());

//gets root of directory

Console.WriteLine(Directory.GetDirectoryRoot(@"d:\temp"));

//gets creation and last modified time of directory

Console.WriteLine(Directory.GetCreationTime(@"d:\temp"));

Console.WriteLine(Directory.GetLastWriteTime(@"d:\temp"));

           

//enumerates all files available in temp directory          

foreach (string file in Directory.EnumerateFiles(@"d:\temp"))

    Console.WriteLine(file);

//enumerates all directories available in temp directory

foreach (string directory in Directory.EnumerateDirectories(@"d:\temp"))

    Console.WriteLine(directory);

//enumerates all logical drives

foreach (string drive in Directory.GetLogicalDrives())

    Console.WriteLine(drive);

//deletes an empty directory. if not empty throws an exception

Directory.Delete(@"d:\temp");

Enumerate files and folders using DirectoryInfo

DirectoryInfo class provides some basic features to create, copy, move, rename and delete operations. It also provides some basic information like directory name, full path, attribute, root name etc. Let’s have a look on below code which loop through all the files and directories in specific directory.

DirectoryInfo di = new DirectoryInfo(@"d:\temp");

Console.WriteLine(di.FullName);

//gets all files in temp directory

foreach (FileInfo file in di.GetFiles())

    Console.WriteLine(file.Name);

//gets all directories in temp directory

foreach (DirectoryInfo dir in di.GetDirectories())

    Console.WriteLine(dir.Name);

How to get Special Folders?

Special folders are defined under Environment.SpecialFolder enum. This enum is available in System.Environment class. Let’s see how to get path for special folders like MyDocuments, MyPictures, Desktop, ProgramFiles, System, Windows etc.

Console.WriteLine("My Documents - {0}", Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments));

Console.WriteLine("My Videos - {0}", Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyVideos));

Console.WriteLine("Windows - {0}", Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Windows));

Console.WriteLine("ProgramFiles - {0}", Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles));

Console.WriteLine("System - {0}", Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.System));

Output –

My Documents - D:\Users\mitesh\Documents

My Videos - D:\Users\mitesh\Videos

Windows - C:\WINDOWS

ProgramFiles - C:\Program Files

System - C:\WINDOWS\system32

//Enumerates all SpecialFolders available in Enviroment.SpecialFolder enum

foreach (var specialFolder in Enum.GetValues(typeof(Environment.SpecialFolder)))

    Console.WriteLine(specialFolder);

Output –

Desktop

Programs

MyDocuments

Favorites

Startup

Recent

SendTo

StartMenu

…

…

…

See Also - 
Working with File Class in .Net (C#)
Performance Counters in .Net
Semaphore in Threading

Working with File Class in .Net (C#)

File class is static class provides static methods to do normal file related operations. It is available in System.IO namespace. File class used to do some file related operations like Copy, Paste, Move, Replace, Delete etc. Let’s have a look on below code.

string filePath = @"D:\Temp\Test.txt";

//Checkes whether Test.txt file is exists or not

if (File.Exists(filePath))

{

    //Copies Test.txt file to TestCopy.txt.

    File.Copy(filePath, @"D:\Temp\TestCopy.txt", true);

    //Moves Test.txt file to TestMove.txt.

    //Throws an exception if file already exists.

    File.Move(filePath, @"D:\Temp\TestMove.txt");

    //Replace TextMove.txt file with TextCopy.txt file with

    //provisional backup file TestBKP.txt.

    File.Replace(@"D:\Temp\TestMove.txt", @"D:\Temp\TestCopy.txt", @"D:\Temp\TestBKP.txt");      

    //Deletes TextBKP.txt file.

    //Throws an exception if file is readonly.

    File.Delete(@"D:\Temp\TestBKP.txt");

}

else

{

    //Creates new file named Test.txt

    File.Create(filePath);

}

Getting File Attributes

File class provides SetAttributes and GetAttributes methods to set attributes to file. The file attributes enum contains value like Archieve, Normal, Hidden, ReadOnly etc. We can change file attributes using Get/Set attributes method of File Class. Let’s have a look on below code.

//sets hidden attribute to Text.txt file.

File.SetAttributes(@"d:\temp\Test.txt", FileAttributes.Hidden);

//returns attributes of Test.txt

FileAttributes fileAttribute = File.GetAttributes(@"d:\temp\Test.txt");

if ((fileAttribute & FileAttributes.Hidden) == FileAttributes.Hidden)

    Console.WriteLine("This file is hidden");

else

    Console.WriteLine("this file is not hidden");

Getting Creation/Modification Times

File class provides methods to get creation time and modified time of file.

Method Name	Description
GetCreationTime	Gets creation time of specified file.
GetLastWriteTime	Gets last modified date time of specified file
GetLastAccessTime	Gets last accessed date time of specified file.
SetCreationTime	Sets creation date and time to file.
SetLastWriteTime	Sets last write date and time to file.
SetLastAccessTime	Sets last accessed date and time to file.

Let’s have a look on below code.

//Gets creation time of specified file.

DateTime createdTime = File.GetCreationTime(@"d:\temp\Test.txt");

Console.WriteLine(createdTime.ToString());

//Gets last modified date time of specified file.

DateTime modifiedTime = File.GetLastWriteTime(@"d:\temp\Test.txt");

Console.WriteLine(modifiedTime.ToString());

//Gets last accessed date time of specified file.

DateTime lastAccessTime = File.GetAccessTime(@"d:\temp\Test.txt");

Console.WriteLine(lastAccessTime.ToString());

//Sets creation date and time to file.

File.SetCreationTime(@"d:\temp\Test.txt", DateTime.Now);

//Sets last accessed date and time to file.

File.SetLastAccessTime(@"d:\temp\Test.txt", DateTime.Now.AddMinutes(5));

//Sets last write date and time to file.

File.SetLastWriteTime(@"d:\temp\Test.txt", DateTime.Now.AddMinutes(10));

Output –

20-01-2012 08:09:37 PM

20-01-2012 08:19:37 PM

20-01-2012 08:14:37 PM

Encrypt / Decrypt file

Encrypt method of file class can encrypt file or directory while Decrypt method of file class can decrypt file. Using Encrypt and Decrypt we can protect file or folder from unwanted access.

File.Encrypt(@"d:\temp\test.txt");

File.Decrypt(@"d:\temp\test.txt");

When file encrypted the file name appears as green color in window 7. When file decrypted it will be appear as normal.

FileInfo Class

FileInfo class provides method to get file related information such as length, name, directory name, extension etc. Let’s have a look on below code.

FileInfo fileInfo = new FileInfo(@"d:\temp\test.txt");

Console.WriteLine("Name - {0}", fileInfo.Name);

Console.WriteLine("Full Name - {0}", fileInfo.FullName);

Console.WriteLine("Directory Name - {0}", fileInfo.DirectoryName);

Console.WriteLine("File Length - {0}", fileInfo.Length);

Console.WriteLine("File Extension - {0}", fileInfo.Extension);

Console.WriteLine("File Attributes - {0}", fileInfo.Attributes);

Console.WriteLine("Created On - {0}", fileInfo.CreationTime);

Console.WriteLine("Modified On - {0}", fileInfo.LastWriteTime);

Output -

Name - test.txt

Full Name - d:\temp\test.txt

Directory Name - d:\temp

File Length - 9

File Extension - .txt

File Attributes - Archive

Created On - 20-01-2012 08:14:48 PM

Modified On - 20-01-2012 08:18:04 PM

See Also - 
FileStream in .Net (C#)

StreamReader and StreamWriter in .Net (C#)
BinaryReader and BinaryWriter in .Net (C#)

FileStream in .Net (C#)

FileStream class can be used to read / write data to files. FileStream class is derived from abstract Stream class. FileStream supports synchronous or asynchronous read/write operations. By default FileStream opens file synchronously. FileStream also supports random access using seek method. You can open file by passing string file name (path) to FileStream constructor. You can also specify FileMode and FileAccess along with filename. FileMode specifies how file should open while FileAccess specifies file should open for Read or Write or Both operations. 


Below is the details about FileMode and FileAccess enum.

FileModes	Description
Open	Opens an existing file for writing.
OpenOrCreate	Opens an existing file if not found creates new.
Create	Creates new file, if exists it will be overwrite.
CreateNew	Creates new file, if already exists throws an error.
Append	Opens an existing file and seek to end. If not exists creates new file.

FileAccess	Description
Read	Allows only read from file.
Write	Allows only write to file.
ReadWrite	Allows read/write to file.

Below examples shows how we can use FileModes and FileAccesss with FileStream.

//Opens an existing file for read operations

FileStream fs = new FileStream(@"d:\temp\test.txt", FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read);

//Opens an existing file for write operations

FileStream fs = new FileStream(@"d:\temp\test.txt", FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Write);

//Opens an existing file for read/write operations

FileStream fs = new FileStream(@"d:\temp\test.txt", FileMode.Open, FileAccess.ReadWrite);

//creates new file, if exists it will be overwritten

FileStream fs = new FileStream(@"d:\temp\test.txt", FileMode.Create);

//Opens an existing file and seek to end. if not exists creates new file.

FileStream fs = new FileStream(@"d:\temp\test.txt", FileMode.Append);

Read/Write data using FileStream Read/Write methods.

//Write data

using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(@"d:\temp\test.txt", FileMode.Create, FileAccess.Write))

{

    string start = "Hello World!!!";

    byte[] byts = System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(start);

    fs.Write(byts, 0, byts.Length);

}

//Read data

using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(@"d:\temp\test.txt", FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read))

{

    byte[] byts = new byte[1024];

    while (fs.Read(byts, 0, byts.Length) > 0)

    {

        Console.WriteLine(System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetString(byts));

    }

}

Output –

See Also - 

StreamReader / StreamWriter in .Net (C#)
BinaryReader / BinaryWriter in .Net (C#)

Performance counters in .Net (C#)

BinaryReader and BinaryWriter in .Net (C#)

BinaryReader and BinaryWriter classes are available in System.IO namespace. BinaryReader and BinaryWriter classes are used to write primitive data types to file (primitive data types like int, decimal, float, double, long, short etc.). It also allows us to write strings and array of primitive data types along with primitive data types. The data stored inside file is not human readable because it’s stored in binary format. To store data in normal text you can use StreadReader and StreamWirter class instead. Please go through StreamReader and StreamWriter article for more information.

Read/Write text to file using BinaryReader and BinaryWriter

//writes data to test.bin file using binarywriter

using (BinaryWriter bw = new BinaryWriter(new FileStream(@"d:\Temp\test.bin", FileMode.Create)))

{

    for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++)

    {

        bw.Write(i);

    }

}

//reads data from test.bin file using binaryreader

using (BinaryReader br = new BinaryReader(new FileStream(@"d:\Temp\test.bin", FileMode.Open)))

{

    for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++)

    {

        br.ReadInt32();

    }

}

Output –

See Also - 
StreamReader / Stream Writer in .net (C#)
How to get CallStack programmatically?
How to read/write windows event logs?

StreamReader and StreamWriter in .Net (C#)

StreamReader and StreamWriter classes are available in System.IO namespace. StreamWriter class used to write text (string) in file. StreamWriter class inherits from abstract TextWriter class. StreamReader class used to read text (string) from file. StreamReader class inherits from abstract TextReader class. 


Below are some useful methods of StreamReader and StreamWriter class.

Methods	Description
StreamWriter.Write	Writes text to file.
StreamWriter.WriteLine	Writes text to file, followed by line terminator.
StreamReader.Read	Reads text from file.
StreamReader.ReadLine	Reads line from file.

Read/Write text to file using StreamWriter.WriteLine and StreamReader.ReadLine

string[] names = new string[] { "Mitesh", "Jayesh", "Pritesh", "Kalpesh" };

void ReadWriteText()

{

    //write names to test.txt file

    using (StreamWriter sw = new StreamWriter(@"d:\Temp\Test.txt"))

    {

        foreach (string name in names)

            sw.WriteLine(name);

    }

    //read names from test.txt file

    using (StreamReader sr = new StreamReader(@"d:\Temp\Test.txt"))

    {

        string name = string.Empty;

        while ((name = sr.ReadLine()) != null)

        {

            Console.WriteLine(name);

        }

    }

}

Output –

Read/Write text from file using StreamReader.ReadLine and StreamWriter.Write

void ReadWriteText()

{

//write string/charactors to test.txt file

using (StreamWriter sw = new StreamWriter(@"d:\Temp\Test.txt"))

{

    foreach (char character in "Hello World!")

        sw.Write(character);

}

//read string/charactors from test.txt file

using (StreamReader sr = new StreamReader(@"d:\Temp\Test.txt"))

{

    string name = string.Empty;

    while ((name = sr.ReadLine()) != null)

    {

        Console.WriteLine(name);

    }

}

}

Output –

See Also - 
Working with performance counters in C#

How to create stopwatch application in WPF?

Working with ThreadPool in C#