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Upload functionality not working. ASP.NET Page

so basically I am trying to piggy-back from this article https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/5357ed/importingreadingexporting-of-csv-file-in-Asp-Net/ so I can add upload functionality into my asp.net page and then customized my gridview to something else. Mainly, I have followed the same code and gave it a run to see if everything is fine but I am getting an error with the file path in btn_import_Click. It blows because it cannot find the directory. which is line 85 from the example.
"System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException: 'Could not find a part of the path 'C:\inetpub\wwwroot\dir\dir\upload'.'"
I would really wish it would point to the physical location of the actual file since my users will have different machines and we all won't be using the same machine nor directories when they would have that .csv file.
If you guys could shine a light I would really appreciate it. I have done this in Java with no problem but I am having a hard time with this ASP.NET Project. Thank you in advance!
Chiriqui

I am confused here.
that file path name is the web server path name. So some web server being hosted some place?
That has ZERO to do with the users local file system.
You cannot get, see, determine ANY path names on the client side computer running the browser.
When you up-load a file, you ONLY get the file name.
You cannot grab, get, determine, OR EVEN SET the file name from the client side.
I mean, if you hit my web site to view a cat picture?
The while you looking at the cat picture, my code can't start looking around on YOUR computer, and say grab a file called passwords.txt, or some files called my banking files.
When you up-load, then you NOW have the file, and can save it any place you want on that web server computer. But, as such, these path names, and even the file name you choose to use have ZERO to do with any folder name, or file name on the client computer side. the web works this way for reasons of security.
You have ZERO knowledge of path names, file names, or ANYTHING that is on the client side computer.
So a file upload control?
It lets the USER pick the file - not you, not your code behind, and not your JavaScript code. You can NEVER control, set, get, change, or even in code determine the drive letter, the folder, or even the file name. The user client side MUST and will choose the file. It is then up-loaded.
At that point, you are free to save the file in any folder. In that example, they used a folder called "upload". You can create and name and choose ANY folder name you want in place of the name "upload" folder. However, that folder is on the server side, and has ZERO to do with ANY name, and ANY folder on the client side.
You NEVER get passed the folder name when the user up-loads a file. You ONLY get a file name, and the file data. Nothing more, and nothing less is EVER set to your sever.
And what happens if they are using a Android phone, or a iPhone? They don't even have standard windows path names.
Now, the way this works might often be a bit confusing, since during development, your ONE computer is running both your code, has your file system, and has the web server all running on one computer.
However, once you publish that web site, then the code, the web server, and the folders and files used can ONLY be from the web server side. You have no information about the client side file system. Not even path names can be used, or even known about.
You get a file name, and you get the file data. At that point, you can save to any folder on your web server. but as such, these file names, path names, folder names are 100% under your control, and the end user has ZERO clue about what folders you as the developer choose to use for your web server.
So, the path name of "uploads" is NOT on the client side computer, but is a path name ONLY on the web server side of things.
So, it is thus confusing you state this:
the actual file since my users will have different machines and we all won't be using the same machine nor directories when they would have that .csv file.
But you can't know that location in your web server code. The user has to go and select that file, and the up-load to YOUR computer running your web server. Where you decide to save that file is YOUR choice, and not the end user choice.
You can NEVER look at, see, or know what folders the end user has. The ONLY task the end user is allowed with file-upload is to select a file on THEIR computer. However, when they do that, and up-load?
Then on your code behind and web server side of things?
You ONLY get a file name (no path information), and you ONLY get the file data. You can't change even the file name they select. After your server and code gets that file, then you can save the file into any folder on the web server. And you can even change the name of the file you save.
But, you can't change what file they selected, and you can't change were it comes from, and you can't even in JavaScript change or touch or modify the file the user chooses. As I stated, this is for reasons of security.
You have ZERO information about where the file was located. The ONLY information you get is a file name, and the file data. Zero additional information about that file the user picked can be had, or even determined by you.
You don't have ANY knowledge of the file path names, and folder names used client side. The only task a user is allowed is to pick a file. When the file picker is launched in the browser, the user (not you) can select a file from ANY folder. When they select that file, then the file name and data is sent to the server. But NOT the path name - only the file and data.
You have zero knowledge about the users path names. And your code and assumptions thus have to be based on this simple fact and limitation.
Edit: upload a file, process to grid
Ok, so all we doing here is upload a file (csv), and then we process each row of the file, and then we display it say in a gridview.
We thus assume we have a folder in our project called UpLoadFiles.
So, the markup on the page could be this
A FileUpLoad control.
A button to up-load the selected file, and then process to grid
A gridview control.
So, say this markup:
<asp:FileUpload ID="FileUpload1" runat="server" />
<asp:Button ID="cmdUpLoad" runat="server" Text="Process csv" CssClass="btn" OnClick="cmdUpLoad_Click"/>
<asp:GridView ID="GridView1" runat="server" CssClass="table"></asp:GridView>
Ok, so user selects file with Fileupload, and hits the button.
our code could be this:
We save the file (to folder UpLoadFiles).
We then convert the csv file to a datatable.
We then process some rows. In this example, we take any City column, and and Province column that is missing a value - and toss in our text.
We then send to the above grid viewe.
The code for the button thus looks like this:
-- we used the MicrosoftVisual basic csv parser
So, set a reference to this:
And now then
using Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO;
using System.Data;
Ok, and our button code:
protected void cmdUpLoad_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
// save file to up-loads folder
string sFileLocal = Server.MapPath(#"~/UpLoadFiles/" + FileUpload1.FileName);
FileUpload1.SaveAs(sFileLocal);
// process csv file
TextFieldParser MyParse = new TextFieldParser(sFileLocal);
MyParse.TextFieldType = FieldType.Delimited;
MyParse.SetDelimiters(new string[] { "," });
MyParse.HasFieldsEnclosedInQuotes = true;
DataTable rstData = new DataTable();
foreach (string cCol in MyParse.ReadFields())
{
rstData.Columns.Add(cCol);
}
while (!MyParse.EndOfData)
{
string[] OneRow = MyParse.ReadFields();
rstData.Rows.Add(OneRow);
}
// example process each row of data
foreach (DataRow OneRow in rstData.Rows)
{
if (OneRow["City"].ToString() == "")
OneRow["City"] = "No City";
if (OneRow["Province"].ToString() == "")
OneRow["Province"] = "No Province";
}
// Now display results in a grid
GridView1.DataSource = rstData;
GridView1.DataBind();
}
and our output looks like this:

Please don't chew me up. As I said, I am more familiar with Java at this point and some Asp.NET as far as doing this.
I found my issue based on another example:
https://findnerd.com/list/view/How-to-read-CSV-file-in-asp-net/19762/
If you look on line 11 from the above link, they are using the following:
string path = Path.GetFullPath(filename.PostedFile.FileName);
This was it for me. I had it as
string path = Server.MapPath("~/Files/") + Path.GetFileName(filename.PostedFile.FileName);
All I know that Server.MapPath did not work but Path.GetFullPath did. My program reads the file and the saves it to a DataTable. Then I bind the data table to the datasource of the gridview and voilá, I see the data from the csv file.
I wanted to come back and put an answer in case it's pertinent to another person running with the same situation. If someone else would be kind to explain the difference between Server.MapPath and Path.GetFullPath would be nice. That would add more explanation to this topic.
Thank you all and Regards! ^_^

How do I set the path to a file I am trying to open to be opened while hosted instead of depending on localhost directories wtih ASP.net?

I'm building a website that handles 2 files (simple ones like .txt) and I'm struggling to see how I can write the path in a way that it works when eventually I host the website.
Currently, I'm using this line of code just to make it work while I am working around it:
File.ReadAllLines(#"C:\Users\pinky\source\repos\PAP\PAP\files\filename.txt");
But when I try to change it for the following bit of code:
File.ReadAllLines("/files/filename.txt");
It stops working. And the strange thing is, it only stops working for the specific page I changed the path of the files.
If I try to debug it, it gives an error 404 and asks me if I have the path of the page right (which it is). What can I do to change this?

Ok, so, in your web site, you have the root, and then some folders.
And we assume that files is one of those folders.
Lesson #1:
When a user (or you) wants to use a URL, then of course URL's are
www.mywebsite/Files/dogs.png
So, keep in mind that say in HTML markup, a src etc. Then a path name is always assumed to be from the root of your site onwards.
However, despite the above CODE BEHIND still will ALWAYS STILL use a valid windows FULL PATHNAME to the file.
So, you use a built in function called server.MapPath
MapPath will take the web based url, and convert to a full internal windows path name.
So, your code would be like this:
string strIntenalFileName = Server.MapPath("/files/data.txt");
string MyText = File.ReadAllText(strIntenalFileName);
TextBox1.Text = MyText;
So just keep in mind that say we want to set a image control to have a picture from above.
Well, then we do this:
Image1.ImageUrl = "/files/dogs.png";
But, if you need in code behind to read the file, then we have to put above expression though Server.MapPath() to translate for code behind.
So, just remember WHEN dealing with web controls, HTML markup, the of course the URL and path name is web based. But, for code behind to directly interface and use the file, then code behind needs that "plane jane" and full legal windows path name.
So, for your example, wrap the string in Server.MapPath(" your web based path goes here").
you in effect can't really know the root path name of the web hosting server, but with above, you really don't care.
Often however, one does get "messed" up. Since for the above image, I shoved in the web based url for SCR. But, if I was to read the picture and say stream the picture bytes to the web control, then I would of course first convert/get a full windows path name.
The above is not really all that confusing, but keeping this "web url", "web markup" and that of direct file use in code behind is still a VERY good concept to keep alive in your mind when dealing with files.
Now, the above is a simple tip - but one that I wish was hammered home to me.
So:
web expresions, markup = web path name from web root.
code behind:
Still always MUST be a full plane jane windows file name!
So, in your case, to get the text file, we could (and you should try this), is type in this:

C# Change File Location For Next Time Program Runs

I am relatively new to C#, however I do have some basic knowledge of code from courses in high school and university. However, there is one thing I have not been able to figure out over the years. I am currently making a Form Application for a database system that stores information in a List using Visual Studios 2010.
On my main form; when the save button is pressed, the information is then serialized into an XML file. When the information is loaded, the information is then deserialized and put into the List for use in the code. All this is working correctly.
This process of saving and loading is done based on a string which contains the file path. This string is the location of a folder on my desktop (I put it there for easy access), and I am able to change the string in the code to basically move where the information is stored.
However, I have a separate "Admin" form which is able to change this file path string. When the user clicks the button to change the file path, I get the input from a text box, check its formatting, move the current file to the new location and update the location for the save method so changes can be saved before the program is closed. From there, the program reacts the same way as if I had changed the string from inside the code.
The problem occurs when I close the program. I do not know how to tell the program when it runs again that the location has been changed from the default and look for the file in the new location. The program reacts just like the file was missing (like it should) when it looks in the default location.
So basically, how do I tell the program that the save location was changed from when it was last run so it knows to load the info from a new location?
I have tried looking for an answer since high school (about 2 years ago) and have not found a solution. As a result I usually just keep the save location as the default (which I set it to) and don't try to change it. But this time, its important that the save location can be customized. My experience with Visual Studios is limited, as everything I know is from messing around with the program and looking up stuff when needed.
If needed, I can post snippets of my code. Thank you in advance!

It seems like what you really want is to save some user-defined settings for recall at run-time. Here is a MSDN link describing some basic conventions for storing / retrieving these settings.
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb397750(v=vs.110).aspx
A *.config file would suffice (depending on the scale of the application).
Otherwise, you may want to go down the route of storing these settings in a database (if the scale is rather large, or if user-authentication is required for the application).
Here is another previous question dealing with this same subject (regarding App.config files):
What is App.config in C#.NET? How to use it?

I recommend using a config file where the .exe is, and write the location there, then read it in on program startup.
In particular .net provides this class which can manage your config file for you (assuming you have an app.config in your solution, otherwise create one)
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.configuration.configurationmanager.appsettings(v=vs.110).aspx

MS Word Customization can't find VSTO file

I've developed a customization in Visual Studio for Word 2010 and have the solution saved in network share (using a UNC path) and the actual Word document is saved in a folder in SharePoint.
Everything works fine, users can open the document and use the customisation and when they've gone through the steps the add-on requires they click a button which saves the completed document to a different location in SharePoint. Al good. When you however now open the newly saved document from SharePoint I get the following error message:
Cannot currently access the deployment manifest at this location:
"[URL to document path in SharePoint]". You muyst set the deployment
manifest location to a UNC share or a local path when
ClickOnceAddInDeploymentManager.RunFromFolder is true.
Have done some searches on these terms but getting nothing useful! Would appreciate any help you could offer!

Try this article:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/vstudio/bb772100(v=vs.110).aspx
Particularly the steps under the heading:
To put the document on a server that's running SharePoint
I don't think word trusts your document after you save it in a different location.

I figured out my problem, need to give a bit more background to explain the issue a bit better.
I'm using a number of Action Panes to create a wizard-like experience for the user. When the user hits "Next" on the first pane I have code (using ThisDocument.SaveAs2) so automatically do a Save As to a specific folder in SharePoint (actually the structure gets created on the fly before it being saved).
On the final pane when they hit Finish I was running the exact same code to Save As but to the exact same location and filename and this is what seems to have caused the problem. The bottom line is that the custom property _AssemblyLocation was changed somehow in this process to only have the filename of the vsto file without an absolute path, so on re-opening the document it was looking for this file in same location.
By simply changing this to a Save instead of a Save As it now works perfectly. Took me insane amounts of time to figure that out but my own fault!

How to use a Resource Image in Word document?

I'm working on a project that will auto-generate Word and HTML reports. If they don't provide an Image to use in the header of the Word report, the customer wants to use their logo. I have the logo stored in the resources of one of the projects as a .jpg.
The method to add a picture to a range needs the path as a string to the image, without any overloads. I know that when a file is added to the resources of the project, it doesn't exist as it gets embedded inside the .dll that gets created. Is there no way to utilize that embedded resource in that method?
Do I need to copy that file as part of the install to the directory? I'm thinking that may be the easiest solution, however what should I do for testing purposes?

I was making this a lot harder than it needed to be.
All you have to do is make an image object from the resource:
Image img = Data.Properties.Resources.ImageFile;
Then after that, all you have to do is save it:
img.Save(#"C:\DestinationFolder\Image.jpg");
Now you have the file to use however you want. It won't matter if you're in debugging or not (as far as your Application.Run location) in the event you have it in a subfolder in your project (as you should), but wouldn't necessarily have it in the same path at the end.
I was way over-thinking this the other day when I asked this question. Hopefully I'll be able to help someone else out who's having this same issue.