How to read a text file in project's root directory?

I want to read the first line of a text file that I added to the root directory of my project. Meaning, my solution explorer is showing the .txt file along side my .cs files in my project.

So, I tried to do:

TextReader tr = new StreamReader(@"myfile.txt");
string myText = tr.ReadLine();

But this doesn't work since it's referring to the Bin Folder and my file isn't in there... How can I make this work? :/

Thanks

Solution 1:

From Solution Explorer, right click on myfile.txt and choose "Properties"

From there, set the Build Action to content and Copy to Output Directory to either Copy always or Copy if newer

Solution 2:

You can use the following to get the root directory of a website project:

String FilePath;
FilePath = Server.MapPath("/MyWebSite");

Or you can get the base directory like so:

AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory

Solution 3:

Add a Resource File to your project (Right Click Project->Properties->Resources). Where it says "strings", you can switch to be "files". Choose "Add Resource" and select your file.

You can now reference your file through the Properties.Resources collection.

Solution 4:

private string _filePath = Path.GetDirectoryName(System.AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory);

The method above will bring you something like this:

"C:\Users\myuser\Documents\Visual Studio 2015\Projects\myProjectNamespace\bin\Debug"

From here you can navigate backwards using System.IO.Directory.GetParent:

_filePath = Directory.GetParent(_filePath).FullName;

1 time will get you to \bin, 2 times will get you to \myProjectNamespace, so it would be like this:

_filePath = Directory.GetParent(Directory.GetParent(_filePath).FullName).FullName;

Well, now you have something like "C:\Users\myuser\Documents\Visual Studio 2015\Projects\myProjectNamespace", so just attach the final path to your fileName, for example:

_filePath += @"\myfile.txt";
TextReader tr = new StreamReader(_filePath);

Hope it helps.