How do I specify a relative local file path in DOS?

Question

I am using c#.NET 2.0 to execute DOS commands to ftp a file. All works except for 1 thing, in the cmd file I call, it runs a PUT statement. Right now the put statement has a hardcoded local file path. I need to specify a dynamic path. I've tried

put %~dp0\myfile.DTL myfile.dtl

but it says it can't find the file.

Right now the .NET code calls a BAT file which only exist to call the CMD file. Interestingly, the BAT file DOES successfully use a relative path in its call to the CMD file:

ftp.exe -s:%~dp0\oit.cmd 

However, I can't get that relative path to wrok in the cmd file:

open <my host> 
<user name> 
<password> 
put <hardcoded path that needs to be relative path>localfilename remotefilename

I'll bever know where it will exist so I just need to grab whatever local directorey the file is in.

Answer 1

Use System.IO.Directory.GetCurrentDirectory() to get the current (working) folder.

Alternatively, if you want the path relative to your .EXE file, you can use System.Reflection.Assembly.GetEntryAssembly().CodeBase to get full path to your .EXE file, then use System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName() to get the directory name of that path.

After that, you can use System.IO.Path.Combine to get absolute path out of relative:

string absPath = Path.Combine( @"c:\working\folder", @"sub\folder\file.ext" );
// absPath == "c:\working\folder\sub\folder\file.ext

// Works with double-dot too:
string absPath2 = Path.Combine( @"c:\working\folder", @"..\up\file.ext" );
// absPath == "c:\working\up\file.ext

Answer 2

Relative is "." (dot).

Can you post the exact situation? What directory are you in, and where is the file?

Be careful with the "~" char ... it has a special meaning for DOS files (8.3 notation)