Develop Reference

How to search for a file extension (.xls) and change it's name? C#

The product I'm using is a Beijer HMI, currently i can generate a report and save it to a known location (my desktop - C:\Users\mrdav\Desktop).
I need to be able to search on my desktop for a file extension .xls and change its name.
When the report is generated by the HMI, it uses the date and time which means when the file is generated the name will be different every time.
On the press of a button i need to search my desktop for the .xls file and change its name to a variable.
// This is my variable with my program
string NewName = Globals.Tags.Tag1.Value;
The code that is generated needs to sit within the below example.
public partial class Screen1
{
void Button1_Click(System.Object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
// Code to be added here...
}
}
Hopefully someone can help, I’m using windows compact framework so limited on functionality.
Any questions please let me know.
Thanks in advance,
Dave

Here is an example how you can do that:
DirectoryInfo dir = new DirectoryInfo(sExportPath);
FileInfo[] Files = dir.GetFiles("*.csv");
foreach(FileInfo file in Files )
{
// rename file
System.IO.File.Move(file.FullName, GenerateNewFileName());
}
//elsewhere in the class
private string GenerateNewFileName()
{
//here is where you implement creating or getting the filename that you want your file to be renamed to. An example might look like the below
string serialNumber = GetSerialNumber(); //Get the serial number that you talked about in the question. I've made it a string, but it could be an int (it should be a string)
return Path.ChangeExtension(serialNumber,".xls"); //to use path you will need a using statement at the top of your class file 'using System.IO'
}

This seems to work...but i know its not as tidy as it could be.
Any suggestions?
Thanks to all that helped, got there in the end!
void Button_Click(System.Object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
try
{
// Location for new file
string NewFileName = #"c:\users\mrdav\desktop\testfolder\";
// Add varibale name to new file
NewFileName += Globals.Tags.Tag1.Value;
// add .xls extention to new file
NewFileName += ".xls";
//show new file name to check all ok
MessageBox.Show (NewFileName);
//search for .xls in known directory
DirectoryInfo di = new DirectoryInfo(#"c:\users\mrdav\desktop");
FileInfo[] Files = di.GetFiles("*.xls");
// if files exist with .xls extention
foreach(FileInfo file in Files )
{
// show full file name
MessageBox.Show (file.FullName);
//rename old file to new file name and move to new folder
File.Move(file.FullName, NewFileName);
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show (ex.ToString());
}
}

C# - Saving a '.txt' File to the Project Root

I have written some code which requires me to save a text file. However, I need to get it to save to my project root so anyone can access it, not just me.
Here's the method in question:
private void saveFileToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
try
{
string fileName = Microsoft.VisualBasic.Interaction.InputBox("Please enter a save file name.", "Save Game");
if (fileName.Equals(""))
{
MessageBox.Show("Please enter a valid save file name.");
}
else
{
fileName = String.Concat(fileName, ".gls");
MessageBox.Show("Saving to " + fileName);
System.IO.File.WriteAllText(saveScene.ToString(), AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory + #"\" + fileName);
}
}
catch (Exception f)
{
System.Diagnostics.Debug.Write(f);
}
}
Many people told me that using AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory would contain the dynamic location of where the app was stored. However, when I execute this, nothing happens and no file is created.
Is there another way of doing this, or am I just using it completely wrong?

File.WriteAllText requires two parameters:
The first one is the FileName and the second is the content to write
File.WriteAllText(AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory + #"\" + fileName,
saveScene.ToString());
Keep in mind however that writing to the current folder could be problematic if the user running your application has no write permission for the folder. (And in latest OS writing to the Program Files is very limited). If it is possible, change this location to the ones defined in Environment.SpecialFolder enum
I wish also to suggest using the System.IO.Path class when you need to build paths and not a string concatenation where you use the very 'OS specific' constant "\" to separate paths.
In your example I would write
string destPath = Path.Combine(AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory,fileName);
File.WriteAllText(destPath, saveScene.ToString());

no need for the extra + #"\" just do:
AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory + fileName
and replace the parameters
saveScene.ToString()
and
AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory + fileName
your code should be:
private void saveFileToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
try
{
string fileName = Microsoft.VisualBasic.Interaction.InputBox("Please enter a save file name.", "Save Game");
if (fileName.Equals(""))
{
MessageBox.Show("Please enter a valid save file name.");
}
else
{
fileName = String.Concat(fileName, ".gls");
MessageBox.Show("Saving to " + fileName);
System.IO.File.WriteAllText(AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory + fileName, saveScene.ToString());
}
}
catch (Exception f)
{
System.Diagnostics.Debug.Write(f);
}
}
you can read on File.WriteAllText here:
Parameters
path Type: System.String
The file to write to.
contents Type: System.String
The string to write to the file.

Instead of using AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory you can just do it this way:
File.WriteLine("data\\Mytxt.txt", "Success!");
When you don't add anything, the basedirectory is automatically assumed.

Save a browsed file to a pre-defined folder using c#

I am working on a WinForm Application using c#. I am using a button to browse for an image file (.jpeg or .bmp). When the user browses the file and clicks ok, on the click of another "Proceed or Update" button, I want that the browsed file should be renamed and saved to a predefined directory where all image files will be saved by default, without much user interaction!
How can I achieve this? I have used openFileDialog for browsing the file, but dont know what else to do.

//detination filename
string newFileName = #"C:\NewImages\NewFileName.jpg";
// if the user presses OK instead of Cancel
if (openFileDialog1.ShowDialog() == DialogResult.OK)
{
//get the selected filename
string filename = openFileDialog1.FileName;
//copy the file to the new filename location and overwrite if it already exists
//(set last parameter to false if you don't want to overwrite)
System.IO.File.Copy(filename, newFileName, true);
}
More information on the Copy method.

First you have to implement a copy function that can make unique file names:
private void CopyWithUniqueName(string source,
string targetPath,
string targetFileName)
{
string fileName = Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(targetFileName);
string extension = Path.GetExtension(targetFileName);
string target = File.Exists(Path.Combine(targetPath, targetFileName);
for (int i=1; File.Exists(target); ++i)
{
target = Path.Combine(targetPath, String.Format("{0} ({1}){2}",
targetFileName, i, extension));
}
File.Copy(source, target);
}
Then you can use it, suppose defaultTargetPath is the default target file where to copy images and defaultFileName is the default file name for images:
void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
if (openFileDialog1.ShowDialog() != DialogResult.OK)
return;
CopyWithUniqueName(openFileDialog1.FileName,
defaultTargetPath, defaultFileName);
}
In case of multiple selection:
foreach (string fileName in openFileDialog1.FileNames)
{
CopyWithUniqueName(fileName,
defaultTargetPath, defaultFileName);
}
You'll get this (suppose defaultFileName is "Image.png"):
Source Target
A.png Image.png
B.png Image (1).png
C.png Image (2).png

You can do that with the File.Copy()-method. Just put the predefined directory and the new filename as the destination parameter.
For more info see here

File Copy in C#.Net

I'm trying to build a copier so that you use the openFileDialog to chose a file and then the folderBrowserDialog to choose the location to copy it to.
The problem I'm having is that when I use File.Copy(copyFrom,copyTo) it gives me an exception that I can't copy to a directory.
Is there anyway around this, or am I just missing something stupid and noobish. I've tryed useing openFD for choosing both locations and have just tried using the folderBD to see if it made a difference.
I know there should be if statements there to catch the exceptions but this is a rough draft of the code to get working 1st.
Thanks in advance for the help, code attached.
// Declare for use in all methods
public string copyFrom;
public string copyTo;
public string rootFolder = #"C:\Documents and Settings\cmolloy\My Documents";
private void btnCopyFrom_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
// uses a openFileDialog, openFD, to chose the file to copy
copyFrom = "";
openFD.InitialDirectory = rootFolder;
openFD.FileName = "";
openFD.ShowDialog();
// sets copyFrom = to the file chosen from the openFD
copyFrom = openFD.FileName;
// shows it in a textbox
txtCopyFrom.Text = copyFrom;
}
private void btnCopyTo_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
//uses folderBrowserDialog, folderBD, to chose the folder to copy to
copyTo = "";
this.folderBD.RootFolder = System.Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments;
this.folderBD.ShowNewFolderButton = false;
folderBD.ShowDialog();
DialogResult result = this.folderBD.ShowDialog();
// sets copyTo = to the folder chosen from folderBD
copyTo = this.folderBD.SelectedPath;
//shows it in a textbox.
txtCopyTo.Text = copyTo;
}
private void btnCopy_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
// copys file
File.Copy(copyFrom, copyTo);
MessageBox.Show("File Copied");

You have to append the file name to the directory path. Do this:
string destinationPath = Path.Combine(copyTo, Path.GetFileName(copyFrom));
File.Copy(copyFrom, destinationPath);
(with this you'll copy selected file to another directory with the same name of the original one and it'll throw an exception if the same file already exist in that directory)
Edit
Side note: do not hard code the path in your source code, use this:
rootFolder = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments)
to get the path of current user's documents folder.

Do this:
File.Copy(copyFrom, Path.Combine(copyTo, Path.GetFileName(copyFrom)));

File.Copy needs to know the full path of the new file you want, including the file name. If you just want to use the same file name, you can use this to append the file name to the path:
copyTo = Path.Combine(copyTo, Path.GetFileName(copyFrom));

How to copy a file to another path?

I need to copy a file to another path, leaving the original where it is.
I also want to be able to rename the file.
Will FileInfo's CopyTo method work?

Have a look at File.Copy()
Using File.Copy you can specify the new file name as part of the destination string.
So something like
File.Copy(#"c:\test.txt", #"c:\test\foo.txt");
See also How to: Copy, Delete, and Move Files and Folders (C# Programming Guide)

Yes. It will work: FileInfo.CopyTo Method
Use this method to allow or prevent overwriting of an existing file. Use the CopyTo method to prevent overwriting of an existing file by default.
All other responses are correct, but since you asked for FileInfo, here's a sample:
FileInfo fi = new FileInfo(#"c:\yourfile.ext");
fi.CopyTo(#"d:\anotherfile.ext", true); // existing file will be overwritten

I tried to copy an xml file from one location to another. Here is my code:
public void SaveStockInfoToAnotherFile()
{
string sourcePath = #"C:\inetpub\wwwroot";
string destinationPath = #"G:\ProjectBO\ForFutureAnalysis";
string sourceFileName = "startingStock.xml";
string destinationFileName = DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyyMMddhhmmss") + ".xml"; // Don't mind this. I did this because I needed to name the copied files with respect to time.
string sourceFile = System.IO.Path.Combine(sourcePath, sourceFileName);
string destinationFile = System.IO.Path.Combine(destinationPath, destinationFileName);
if (!System.IO.Directory.Exists(destinationPath))
{
System.IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(destinationPath);
}
System.IO.File.Copy(sourceFile, destinationFile, true);
}
Then I called this function inside a timer_elapsed function of certain interval which I think you don't need to see. It worked. Hope this helps.

You could also use File.Copy to copy and File.Move to rename it afterwords.
// Copy the file (specify true or false to overwrite or not overwrite the destination file if it exists.
File.Copy(mySourceFileAndPath, myDestinationFileAndPath, [true | false]);
// EDIT: as "astander" notes correctly, this step is not necessary, as File.Copy can rename already...
// However, this code could be adapted to rename the original file after copying
// Rename the file if the destination file doesn't exist. Throw exception otherwise
//if (!File.Exists(myRenamedDestinationFileAndPath))
// File.Move(myDestinationFileAndPath, myRenamedDestinationFileAndPath);
//else
// throw new IOException("Failed to rename file after copying, because destination file exists!");
EDIT
Commented out the "rename" code, because File.Copy can already copy and rename in one step, as astander noted correctly in the comments.
However, the rename code could be adapted if the OP desired to rename the source file after it has been copied to a new location.

string directoryPath = Path.GetDirectoryName(destinationFileName);
// If directory doesn't exist create one
if (!Directory.Exists(directoryPath))
{
DirectoryInfo di = Directory.CreateDirectory(directoryPath);
}
File.Copy(sourceFileName, destinationFileName);

File::Copy will copy the file to the destination folder and File::Move can both move and rename a file.

This is what I did to move a test file from the downloads to the desktop.
I hope its useful.
private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)//Copy files to the desktop
{
string sourcePath = #"C:\Users\UsreName\Downloads";
string targetPath = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Desktop);
string[] shortcuts = {
"FileCopyTest.txt"};
try
{
listbox1.Items.Add("Starting: Copy shortcuts to dektop.");
for (int i = 0; i < shortcuts.Length; i++)
{
if (shortcuts[i]!= null)
{
File.Copy(Path.Combine(sourcePath, shortcuts[i]), Path.Combine(targetPath, shortcuts[i]), true);
listbox1.Items.Add(shortcuts[i] + " was moved to desktop!");
}
else
{
listbox1.Items.Add("Shortcut " + shortcuts[i] + " Not found!");
}
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
listbox1.Items.Add("Unable to Copy file. Error : " + ex);
}
}

TO Copy The Folder I Use Two Text Box To Know The Place Of Folder And Anther Text Box To Know What The Folder To Copy It And This Is The Code
MessageBox.Show("The File is Create in The Place Of The Programe If you Don't Write The Place Of copy And You write Only Name Of Folder");// It Is To Help The User TO Know
if (Fromtb.Text=="")
{
MessageBox.Show("Ples You Should Write All Text Box");
Fromtb.Select();
return;
}
else if (Nametb.Text == "")
{
MessageBox.Show("Ples You Should Write The Third Text Box");
Nametb.Select();
return;
}
else if (Totb.Text == "")
{
MessageBox.Show("Ples You Should Write The Second Text Box");
Totb.Select();
return;
}
string fileName = Nametb.Text;
string sourcePath = #"" + Fromtb.Text;
string targetPath = #"" + Totb.Text;
string sourceFile = System.IO.Path.Combine(sourcePath, fileName);
string destFile = System.IO.Path.Combine(targetPath, fileName);
if (!System.IO.Directory.Exists(targetPath))
{
System.IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(targetPath);
//when The User Write The New Folder It Will Create
MessageBox.Show("The File is Create in "+" "+Totb.Text);
}
System.IO.File.Copy(sourceFile, destFile, true);
if (System.IO.Directory.Exists(sourcePath))
{
string[] files = System.IO.Directory.GetFiles(sourcePath);
foreach (string s in files)
{
fileName = System.IO.Path.GetFileName(s);
destFile = System.IO.Path.Combine(targetPath, fileName);
System.IO.File.Copy(s, destFile, true);
}
MessageBox.Show("The File is copy To " + Totb.Text);
}

Old Question,but I would like to add complete Console Application example, considering you have files and proper permissions for the given folder, here is the code
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
//path of file
string pathToOriginalFile = #"E:\C-sharp-IO\test.txt";
//duplicate file path
string PathForDuplicateFile = #"E:\C-sharp-IO\testDuplicate.txt";
//provide source and destination file paths
File.Copy(pathToOriginalFile, PathForDuplicateFile);
Console.ReadKey();
}
}
Source: File I/O in C# (Read, Write, Delete, Copy file using C#)

File.Move(#"c:\filename", #"c:\filenamet\filename.txt");