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Reading a setting file on server

I am writing a web service which currently needs to read some settings from a json file on server.
string allSettingsTxt = File.ReadAllText(settingsPath);
List<MySetting> list = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<List<MySetting>(allSettingsTxt);
I tried giving following for the path
string settingPath = Path.Combine(AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory, #"..\MyCurrentDir\setting.json");
But this path wont resolve on the actual deployment, I believe it has to be something like http://servername/settings/setting.json ??
Where can I store such json file
what path I should use to access it?

I'm not totally sure if I understand correctly what you are trying to achieve.
I assume you want to get the path of the settings file which is relative to your executable file.
This is what I do often in my own code:
var configFile = Path.Combine(Path.GetDirectoryName(Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location), "config.xml");
In this case, config.xml is expected to be in the same directory as the .EXE.
So this would be
var settingPath = Path.Combine(Path.GetDirectoryName(Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location), #"..\MyCurrentDir\setting.json");
in your case.
Also see https://dailydotnettips.com/different-ways-of-getting-path/ for some explanations.

Cannot read settings using ConfigurationManager [duplicate]

I have a WinForms .exe with an App.config that has a bunch of User Scoped Settings that are set at runtime and saved.
I want to be able to use the WinForms app to change and save the settings and then click on button to do some work based on the those settings.
I also want to read the user settings in the same .config file from a sep. console app so I can schedule to work to be done as a scheduled task.
What is the best way to be able to do this?
Update:
I tried the reccommendation of using ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration as described in some of the answers like so.
Configuration config = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration("F:\\Dir\\App.exe");
but when I try to retrieve a User Setting like so.
string result = config.AppSettings.Settings["DB"].ToString();
I get a Null reference error.
From code in the exe however the following correctly returns the DB name.
Properties.Settings.Default.DB
Where am I going wrong?
Update 2:
So based on some of the answers below I now can use the following to retrieve the raw XML of the section of the user.config file I am interested in from sep. ConsoleApp.
System.Configuration.ExeConfigurationFileMap fileMap = new ExeConfigurationFileMap();
fileMap.ExeConfigFilename = #"D:\PathHere\user.config";
Configuration config = ConfigurationManager.OpenMappedExeConfiguration(fileMap,ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
System.Configuration.DefaultSection configSection = (System.Configuration.DefaultSection)config.GetSection("userSettings");
string result = configSection.SectionInformation.GetRawXml();
Console.WriteLine(result);
But I am still unable to just pull the value for the specific element I am interested in.

this should do it :
var clientSettingsSection = (System.Configuration.ClientSettingsSection)(ConfigurationManager.GetSection("userSettings/YourApplicationName.Properties.Settings"));
var setting = clientSettingsSection.Settings.Get("yourParamName_DB_");
string yourParamName_DB = ((setting.Value.ValueXml).LastChild).InnerText.ToString();

You can use the ConfigurationManager class to open the configuration file of another executable.
Configuration conf = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(exeFilePath);
// edit configuration settings
conf.Save();

See ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration

If you are setting these values per user basis you may need to use the ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel) method instead of the current method you are using now.

ExeConfigurationFileMap fileMap = new ExeConfigurationFileMap();
fileMap.ExeConfigFilename = Environment.CurrentDirectory + "\\MyApp.exe.config";
//i have config in the same directory as my another app
System.Configuration.Configuration config = ConfigurationManager.OpenMappedExeConfiguration(fileMap, ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
var settingsSection = (System.Configuration.ClientSettingsSection)config.GetSection("userSettings/MyApp.Properties.Settings");
var setting = settingsSection.Settings.Get("MySetting");
var param = ((setting.Value.ValueXml).LastChild).InnerText.ToString();

If you know the path to the config file try:
System.Configuration.Configuration config = System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration("configPath");
string myValue = config.AppSettings.Settings[ "myValue" ].Value;

Writing appSetting to separate *.config file

I have a self-hosted web api project, which appSettings are stored in separate location. I've achieved this by using file=""
<appSettings file="D:\myLocation\api.config">
</appSettings>
Then I'm able to read my settings using this code:
var value = ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["MyKey"];
But when I try to re-write the value, using this code:
var config = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
config.AppSettings.Settings["MyKey"].Value = "someNewValue"
config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Modified);
ConfigurationManager.RefreshSection("appSettings");
I'm getting original app.config file updated, instead of updating my separate stored file.
Is there any way of updating external appSettings file programmatically? Or maybe there are other best practices of storing settings separately?
Please, ask, if you need more information!
Thank you in advance!
Update
Just to prevent comments and answers like "wouldn't it be easier..." - this service is going to work on specific system with Enhanced Write Filter applied. This means, I won't be able to make any persistent changes on the partition. That's why I'm looking for a way to store settings in separate file located on separate partition without EWF. This scenario puts strict limits on how I can resolve the issue. Thank you for understanding!

Why not open the external config file as a regular Xml file and write your changes? This way you dont have to worry about anything else.

Specify the name of the config section like this:
config.AppSettings.SectionInformation.ConfigSource = "api.config";

Use below.
var configFile = new FileInfo("D:\WebsiteABC\Web.config");
var vdm = new VirtualDirectoryMapping(configFile.DirectoryName, true, configFile.Name);
var wcfm = new WebConfigurationFileMap();
wcfm.VirtualDirectories.Add("/", vdm);
configuration = WebConfigurationManager.OpenMappedWebConfiguration(wcfm, "/");
configuration.AppSettings.SectionInformation.ConfigSource = "AppSettings.config";

C# applicationSettings: how to update app.config?

I am using .NET 4.0 and I would like to use the app.config file to store same parameter settings. I do the following. I use the Settings tab in the project properties to create my parameters.
This add the information in the app.config file like this:
<MyApp.Properties.Settings>
<setting name="param1" serializeAs="String">
<value>True</value>
</setting>
<MyApp.Properties.Settings>
In my view model (in my code) I can access to the information in this way:
bool myBool = MyApp.Properties.Default.param1;
When I try to change the value in the config file, I try this:
Properties.Settings.Default.param1 = false;
But this causes an error, that param1 is read-only.
So how can I update my config file from my code?

Here's my function to update or add an entry into the app.config for "applicationSettings" section. There might be a better way, but this works for me. If anyone can suggest a better method please share it, we'll always looking for something better.
static string APPNODE = System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetName().Name + ".Properties.Settings";
static DateTime now = DateTime.Now;
Utilities.UpdateConfig(APPNODE, "lastQueryTime", now.ToString());
static public void UpdateConfig(string section, string key, string value)
{
Configuration config = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
ClientSettingsSection applicationSettingsSection = (ClientSettingsSection)config.SectionGroups["applicationSettings"].Sections[section];
SettingElement element = applicationSettingsSection.Settings.Get(key);
if (null != element)
{
applicationSettingsSection.Settings.Remove(element);
element.Value.ValueXml.InnerXml = value;
applicationSettingsSection.Settings.Add(element);
}
else
{
element = new SettingElement(key, SettingsSerializeAs.String);
element.Value = new SettingValueElement();
System.Xml.XmlDocument doc = new System.Xml.XmlDocument();
element.Value.ValueXml = doc.CreateElement("value");
element.Value.ValueXml.InnerXml = value;
applicationSettingsSection.Settings.Add(element);
}
config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Modified);
ConfigurationManager.RefreshSection("applicationSettings");
}

Well, I read the link of Hari Gillala, in which one user suggested to edit directly the app.config file, that is a xml file.
So in project properties-->settings I create the parameters that I need. Then, to load a parameter in code I do the following:
_myViewModelProperty = MyApp.Properties.Settings.Default.MyParam1;
In this way, I can read easily the information of the config parameter. Is typed, so in disign time I can see if the asign is correct or not.
To update de config file, I edit the app.config file with the xml libraries of .NET.
System.Xml.XmlDocument xml = new System.Xml.XmlDocument();
xml.Load(AppDomain.CurrentDomain.SetupInformation.ConfigurationFile);
System.Xml.XmlNode node;
node = xml.SelectSingleNode("configuration/applicationSettings/MyApp.Properties.Settings/setting[#name='myparam1']");
node.ChildNodes[0].InnerText = myNewValue;
xml.Save(AppDomain.CurrentDomain.SetupInformation.ConfigurationFile);
In this way, I create a xml document (xml variable) and load the information of the app.config file. Then, I search for the node that I want to update, update its information (InnerText property) and finally I save the changes.
In this way, I can update the app.config. It is what I want, because in a portable application, only one user will use it, and I want that the configuration is applied in any computer in which I run the application.

You should use Properties.Settings to perform this action.
You can look at this documentation for more information.
//modify
Properties.Settings.Default.param1 = false;
//save the setting
Properties.Settings.Default.Save();
Note that if your settings have the Scope of User, which they must be to be writeable, then the properties are saved somewhere else and not in your local config file. See here for the details.
EDIT after discussion in comment and further searches:
My suggestion to achieve the desired result would be to switch to AppSettings.
That is because, after some searches, i found out that appsettings changes the .config file in the Application Data folder (running some tests on my machine confirm that).
Look at comment in the answer to this question .
I am not sure if there is some work around, but if you want your application to have a portable app.config file, i think the only way is to switch to AppSettings which i'm sure can save changes in the app.config found in the program folder.
EDIT 2: Possible solution
I found out a possible solution to make your app portable!
You can change the Provider used by Settings to save the application's settings creating a custom Provider.
The answer to this question provide a link to a code to make applicationsettings portable. I think you give it a try

Mark your setting as usersetting.
Detailed article: http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/25829/User-Settings-Applied

Modify Database connection string of web.config..?

Good day! I would like to ask, if you know how to modify the web.config.. Its located in a different folder.. I tried using this approach, Unfortunately i doesn't work..
// set Path to your config file
System.Configuration.ConfigurationFileMap fileMap = new ConfigurationFileMap(sWebConfig);
// open web.config
System.Configuration.Configuration configuration = System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.OpenMappedMachineConfiguration(fileMap);
// display message
Console.WriteLine("Updating wizardConnection string.. Please wait for a few minutes..");
// fetch WizardConnection database connection string
var Wizardsection = (ConnectionStringsSection)configuration.GetSection("WizardConnection");
// assign new value to wizardConnection.. Please make sure you have the correct database server. Just update server location, if need
Wizardsection.ConnectionStrings["WizardConnection"].ConnectionString = string.Format(#"server={0};database={1};integrated security=SSPI", sDatabaseServer, sDatabase);
configuration.Save();
Hope to hear from you soon..
Regards,
Link

Instead of updating web.config, you may use different web.config files for different build configurations. For instance, you may setup a new build configuration namely "Staging" and configure it to use a modified config file.
Have a look at Web.Config transformation

Actually what you are doing will change the config file which is copied to folder that contains binary(debug, release or any custom compiler configuration). That is sufficient to change the connection settings of the application. But, if you want to modify the web.config file, it will be nothing but modifying an external file, for which you will need File opertaions.

You should use webconfigurationmanager to open your webconfig.
Try this
var config = System.Web.Configuration.WebConfigurationManager.OpenWebConfiguration(Request.ApplicationPath);
config.ConnectionStrings.ConnectionStrings["ConnectString"].ConnectionString = string.Format(#"server={0};database={1};integrated security=SSPI", sDatabaseServer, sDatabase);
config.Save();