How can I get the current user directory?
Try:
System.Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("USERPROFILE");
Edit:
If the version of .NET you are using is 4 or above, you can use the Environment.SpecialFolder
enumeration:
Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.UserProfile);
May be this will be a good solution: taking in account whether this is Vista/Win7 or XP and without using environment variables:
string path = Directory.GetParent(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData)).FullName;
if ( Environment.OSVersion.Version.Major >= 6 ) {
path = Directory.GetParent(path).ToString();
}
Though using the environment variable is much more clear.
You can get the UserProfile path with just this:
Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.UserProfile);
Also very helpful, while investigating the Environment.SpecialFolder
enum. Use LINQPad or create a solution and execute this code:
Enum.GetValues(typeof(Environment.SpecialFolder))
.Cast<Environment.SpecialFolder>()
.Select(specialFolder => new
{
Name = specialFolder.ToString(),
Path = Environment.GetFolderPath(specialFolder)
})
.OrderBy(item => item.Path.ToLower())
This is the result on my machine:
MyComputer
LocalizedResources
CommonOemLinks
ProgramFiles C:\Program Files (x86)
ProgramFilesX86 C:\Program Files (x86)
CommonProgramFiles C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files
CommonProgramFilesX86 C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files
CommonApplicationData C:\ProgramData
CommonStartMenu C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
CommonPrograms C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
CommonAdminTools C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
CommonStartup C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
CommonTemplates C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Templates
UserProfile C:\Users\fisch
LocalApplicationData C:\Users\fisch\AppData\Local
CDBurning C:\Users\fisch\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Burn\Burn
History C:\Users\fisch\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\History
InternetCache C:\Users\fisch\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache
Cookies C:\Users\fisch\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCookies
ApplicationData C:\Users\fisch\AppData\Roaming
NetworkShortcuts C:\Users\fisch\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts
PrinterShortcuts C:\Users\fisch\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcuts
Recent C:\Users\fisch\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
SendTo C:\Users\fisch\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo
StartMenu C:\Users\fisch\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
Programs C:\Users\fisch\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
AdminTools C:\Users\fisch\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
Startup C:\Users\fisch\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Templates C:\Users\fisch\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates
Desktop C:\Users\fisch\Desktop
DesktopDirectory C:\Users\fisch\Desktop
Favorites C:\Users\fisch\Favorites
MyMusic C:\Users\fisch\Music
MyDocuments C:\Users\fisch\OneDrive\Documents
MyDocuments C:\Users\fisch\OneDrive\Documents
MyPictures C:\Users\fisch\OneDrive\Pictures
MyVideos C:\Users\fisch\Videos
CommonDesktopDirectory C:\Users\Public\Desktop
CommonDocuments C:\Users\Public\Documents
CommonMusic C:\Users\Public\Music
CommonPictures C:\Users\Public\Pictures
CommonVideos C:\Users\Public\Videos
Windows C:\Windows
Fonts C:\Windows\Fonts
Resources C:\Windows\resources
System C:\Windows\system32
SystemX86 C:\Windows\SysWoW64
("fisch" is the first 5 letters of my last name. This is the user name assigned when signing in with a Microsoft Account.)
Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("userprofile")
Trying to navigate up from a named SpecialFolder is prone for problems. There are plenty of reasons that the folders won't be where you expect them - users can move them on their own, GPO can move them, folder redirection to UNC paths, etc.
Using the environment variable for the userprofile should reflect any of those possible issues.