Setting default folder for openfile dialog

Question

I have a OpenFileDialog and I am trying to set the default folder. Initially I had it set to Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Personal) + @"\\new_folder1" and that worked well. However I changed it to Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Personal) + @"\\new_folder2" and it still pops up in new_folder1. When I debug it, the dialog's InitialDirectory is new_folder2. I deleted new_folder1, but the dialog still looks for it when it starts up. There are now no references anywhere in my code to new_folder1.

Any ideas as to what might be happening?

Edit: Here is the code where I set up my initial OpenFileDialog:

 OpenFileDialog dlg = new OpenFileDialog();
 dlg.Filter = "XML files (*.xml)|*.xml";
 String pathDefault = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Personal) + @"\\new_folder2";
 dlg.InitialDirectory = pathDefault;

Also, it's best practice to use Path.Combine when concatenating two folders together. — Adam Plocher
– Adam Plocher, Commented Feb 14, 2013 at 21:37
And why are you using a double backslash? Just use Path.Combine to avoid making mistakes like that. — David Heffernan
– David Heffernan, Commented Feb 14, 2013 at 21:38

Adam Plocher · Accepted Answer · 2013-02-14 21:38:30Z

1

You're using @"\\....". Either get rid of the @ or change the \\ to \.

Or, try:

Path.Combine(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Personal),"new_folder2")

answered Feb 14, 2013 at 21:38

Adam Plocher

14.3k6 gold badges51 silver badges83 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

3 Comments

Lukas Bystricky Over a year ago

That works. Thanks. I still don't understand why it was searching for new_folder1, or why when the default was Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Personal) + @"\\new_folder1" it worked fine.

Adam Plocher Over a year ago

Yeah that is strange - I don't know either.

groverboy Over a year ago

Looks like OpenFileDialog.InitialDirectory will accept an invalid path like C:\Users\fred\Documents\\new_folder1 (notice the double backslash). Either OpenFileDialog or the underlying common dialog is hiding the error that would occur on navigating to that directory. This would explain why the common dialog state doesn't change to the invalid directory.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Setting default folder for openfile dialog

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related