How to load an XML document using a relative path in VB.net?

Question

In VB.net when loading in XML documents using System.Xml.Xmldocument is there a way that I can specify a relative path to the file?

path = "file.xml"
xmld.Load(path)

The XML doc I'm trying to load is in the same directory as the VB class. But I'm having trouble accessing it without using a full path to the XML doc.

Answer 1

Import only System.Xml and try...

Dim xmlDoc As XmlDocument = New XmlDocument
 xmlDoc.Load(Server.MapPath("Divide.xml"))

Divide.xml will obviously be replaced by your xml file's name.
From MSDN, Server.MapPath is as follows..

Specifies the relative or virtual path to map to a physical directory. If Path starts with either a forward (/) or backward slash (), the MapPath method returns a path as if Path were a full, virtual path. If Path doesn't start with a slash, the MapPath method returns a path relative to the directory of the .asp file being processed.

Answer 2

Application.StartupPath()

will point to the executing location of the application. If the final build location for your XML file will be in a directory different than this, I recommend creating a small file manager class that will point to the proper location of the file. That way you can simply call:

xmlDoc.Load(myFileMan.FilePath())

and let the manager resolve the proper path based on a debug/release build and any other potential mitigating factors on it.