The path for the executable file that started the application. This path will be different depending on whether the Windows Forms application is deployed using ClickOnce. ClickOnce applications are stored in a per-user application cache in the C: Documents and Settings username directory. In VB.NET you need to use the Application object and its ExecutablePath property to get the path for the executable file that started the application, including the executable name: Dim aPath As String = Application.ExecutablePath. I'm nearly ready to distribute my vb.net application. I have several picturebox files which are loaded currently from c:/temp. I need to change this directory to one that will be OK to use when the user installs it to their PC. My question is how can I do this? Is there a way to get the installation path, then use that within the code as a. Apr 18, 2009 Just a quick 'Thank You' as this answered my question/solved my problem. However, to provide a bit further info, in VB.NET 2002 at least (net 1.1) I found that Application.ExecutablePath was not useful, as it had not only the path, but included the executable file name as well, which I would have had to strip, however, the other suggestion: Application.StartupPath worked perfectly.
- Vb.net Application Path Variable
- Vb.net App.path
- Vb.net Application Startup Path
- Vb.net Current Application Path
How do I find the application's path in a console application?
In Windows Forms, I can use Application.StartupPath to find the current path, but this doesn't seem to be available in a console application.
26 Answers
System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location1
Combine that with System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName if all you want is the directory.
1As per Mr.Mindor's comment:System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location returns where the executing assembly is currently located, which may or may not be where the assembly is located when not executing. In the case of shadow copying assemblies, you will get a path in a temp directory. System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().CodeBase will return the 'permanent' path of the assembly.
You can use the following code to get the current application directory.
Richard EverettYou have two options for finding the directory of the application, which you chose will depend on your purpose.
shA.tProbably a bit late but this is worth a mention:
Or more correctly to get just the directory path:
Edit:
Quite a few people have pointed out that GetCommandLineArgs is not guaranteed to return the program name. See The first word on the command line is the program name only by convention. The article does state that 'Although extremely few Windows programs use this quirk (I am not aware of any myself)'. So it is possible to 'spoof' GetCommandLineArgs, but we are talking about a console application. Console apps are usually quick and dirty. So this fits in with my KISS philosophy.
For anyone interested in asp.net web apps. Here are my results of 3 different methods
result
the app is physically running from 'C:inetpubSBSPortal_staging', so the first solution is definitely not appropriate for web apps.
rocketsarefastrocketsarefastThe answer above was 90% of what I needed, but returned a Uri instead of a regular path for me.
As explained in the MSDN forums post, How to convert URI path to normal filepath?, I used the following:
For Console Applications, you can try this:
Output (on my local machine):
c:usersxxxxxxxdocumentsvisual studio 2012ProjectsImageHandlerGetDirbinDebug
Or you can try (there's an additional backslash in the end):
Output:
c:usersxxxxxxxdocumentsvisual studio 2012ProjectsImageHandlerGetDirbinDebug
If you are looking for a .NET Core compatible way, use
This was introduced in .NET Framework 4.6 and .NET Core 1.0 (and .NET Standard 1.3). See: AppContext.BaseDirectory Property.
According to this page,
This is the prefered replacement for AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory in .NET Core
DejanDejanI have used
when I want to find a path relative to an applications folder. This works for both ASP.Net and winform applications. It also does not require any reference to System.Web assemblies.
You can simply add to your project references System.Windows.Forms and then use the System.Windows.Forms.Application.StartupPath as usual .
So, not need for more complicated methods or using the reflection.
I use this if the exe is supposed to be called by double clicking it
developer747developer747
I mean, why not a p/invoke method?
You would use it just like the Application.StartupPath:
Following line will give you an application path:
Above solution is working properly in following situations:
- simple app
- in another domain where Assembly.GetEntryAssembly() would return null
- DLL is loaded from Embedded resources as byte array and loaded to AppDomain as Assembly.Load(byteArrayOfEmbeddedDll)
- with Mono's
mkbundlebundles (no other methods work)
Assembly.GetEntryAssembly().Location or Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location
Use in combination with System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName() to get only the directory.
The paths from GetEntryAssembly() and GetExecutingAssembly() can be different, even though for most cases the directory will be the same.
With GetEntryAssembly() you have to be aware that this can return null if the entry module is unmanaged (ie C++ or VB6 executable). In those cases it is possible to use GetModuleFileName from the Win32 API:
Will resolve the issue to refer the 3rd party reference files with installation packages.
in VB.net
works for me (Application Type: Class Library). Not sure about C#..Returns the path w/o Filename as string
Nicolas RaoulNone of these methods work in special cases like using a symbolic link to the exe, they will return the location of the link not the actual exe.
So can use QueryFullProcessImageName to get around that:
Another solution is using relative paths pointing to the current path:
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I didn't see anyone convert the LocalPath provided by .Net Core reflection into a usable System.IO path so here's my version.
This will return the full 'C:xxxxxx' formatted path to where your code is.
There are many ways to get executable path, which one we should use it depends on our needs here is a link which discuss different methods.
Nasir MahmoodNasir MahmoodHere is a reliable solution that works with 32bit and 64bitYamaha psr e423 drivers. applications.
Add these references:
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Management;
Add this method to your project:
Now use it like so:
Notice that if you know the id of the process, then this method will return the corresponding ExecutePath.
Vb.net Application Path Variable
Extra, for those interested:
..will give you an array of all the currently running processes, and..
..will give you the current process, along with their information e.g. Id, etc. and also limited control e.g. Kill, etc.*
Knickerless-NogginsKnickerless-NogginsYou can create a folder name as Resources within the project using Solution Explorer,then you can paste a file within the Resources.
Vb.net App.path
Perceptionprotected by Patrick HofmanAug 4 '14 at 13:56
Vb.net Application Startup Path
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