create file in userfiles folder (c#, winforms)

Question

Hi, I'm trying to create a text file in my winforoms application. It is working fine but it is creating in its default location (like in bin folder). But i want to save that created text file in my userfiles folder. How can i do it?

this is my trail

FileInfo fileusername = new FileInfo("userinfo.txt");
StreamWriter namewriter = fileusername.CreateText();
namewriter.Write(txtUsername.Text);
namewriter.Close();

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Just add the path to the filename, like FileInfo fileusername = new FileInfo(@"c:\Users\MyUser\Documents\userinfo.txt");

Answer 2

You can use Environment.GetFolderPath to get the path to the user data folder:

string fileName = Path.Combine(
    Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData),
    "userinfo.txt");

Look into the documentation of the Environment.SpecialFolder enum in order to find the folder that best suits your needs.

Answer 3

Hello, use this template:

String path = Environment.GetFolderPath( Environment.SpecialFolder.Personal );

OR

String path = Environment.GetFolderPath( Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments );

Answer 4

You can use Environment.SpecialFolder to create a filepath that points to my documents:

string filePath = System.IO.Path.Combine(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData.ToString(), "userinfo.txt");

Answer 5

You can use the Evironment.GetFolderPath() function together witrh the Environment.SpecialFolder enumeratrion.

use:

String filePath = Path.Combine(
    Evironment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments),
    "userinfo.txt");

to create the file name in the current users My Documents folder.

Answer 6

From the looks of it you simply want to create your text file in a custom directory. My advice would be to create a constant for the path (perhaps saving it in the app.config file).

<appSettings>
    <add key="UserInfo" value="/Settings/UserInfo.txt" /> 
</appSettings>

Use a relative path to your exe so regardless of where you install your application the settings will always be saved to "PathToExe/Settings/UserInfo.txt".

Then you would do something like:

string UserInfoPath = ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["UserInfo"];
if (String.IsNullOrEmpty(UserInfoPath))
{
    // perhaps use a default value or raise an exception
}

FileInfo fileusername = new FileInfo(Path.Combine(Application.StartUpPath, UserInfoPath));
StreamWriter namewriter = fileusername.CreateText();
namewriter.Write(txtUsername.Text);
namewriter.Close();

However, you may come across a permissions issues using this approach, it is usually a better idea to store things like this either in the Registry or in the AppData directory.