reading contents of text file into string 1

[lfc77]

How do I read the contents of a text file into a string?


Thanks,

lfc77

 

[seanbo]

use these three lines:

FileStream fs = new FileStream("MyFile.txt", FileMode.Open); //i think this explains itself

StreamReader sr = new StreamReader(fs); //you can initiate StreamReader with a string, and cut out instancing FileStream, but i don't - though i can't remember why.

string myFile = sr.ReadToEnd(); //myFile is now equal to the contents of MyFile.txt

 

[lfc77]

Why do I get the error that the file cannot be found in
C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32? I am writing a web application in ASP.NET and I
thought that the default path was that of my web app (i.e.
C:\INETPUB\

http://WWWROOT

etc?

 

[seanbo]

to be absolutly sure of the location of a file, in respects to your program, first create the file from your program. use FileMode.CreateNew, and make sure you file has an interesting name; then save it to the location you would like to load from. leave your program, then track that file down - you'll soon work out where it is.

 

[lfc77]

Won't CreateNew create a new blank file? I need to open a particular text file and read its contents.

 

[seanbo]

the errors you're getting are because you don't know where your file is. you create a new file so that you can give your self a reference point - an idea of where your program is trying to read files from.

 

[lfc77]

I know exactly where my file is - I cut and pasted it into my web app folder as all other path references I have used in ASP.NET have required me to use this path. The file that I am trying to read from is C:\inetpub\

http://wwwroot\my_chat2_net\secure\email_files\email.txt.

Yet for some reason, the error I am getting indicates that my code is trying to find the file C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\email_files\email.txt.

How can I specify that I want my code to look in the right directory?

 

[lfc77]

Is there an AppPath or something like it in C#?

 

[seanbo]

System.Environment.SpecialFolder.whatever

 

[lfc77]

Can I reset System.Environment.SpecialFolder to my web app folder?

 

[seanbo]

SpecialFolder is a class. the folder values are within it. i should imagine they're read only.

 

[Larsson]

There is a Path class; System.IO.Path
Path has many intressting methods, take a look.

 

[AHint]

You could try:

string filePath = System.AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory +
"email_files\email.txt"; //you may need to change the part in quotes depending on where you run your app from - ie: "secure\email_files\email.txt"

FileStream fs = new FileStream(filePath, FileMode.Open);

StreamReader sr = new StreamReader(fs);

string myFile = sr.ReadToEnd();

Setting filePath picks up the path of the app you are running and then looks for the files you specify. Also means that nothing is hardcoded so if you are planning to publish anywhere else it will still function.

Hope this works...

Alex