How to access an Xml file from the Bin Directory for a Web API app?

Question

I've tried these options:

var resourcePath = "data.xml";
Application files are located in: c:/MyApp/bin/Release.
AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory refers to "c:/MyApp" folder.
AppDomain.CurrentDomain.SetupInformation.PrivateBinPath refers to "c:/MyApp/bin/Release" folder.
HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath(resourcePath) refers to http://www.domain.com/MyApp/data.xml

Only the PrivateBinPath works but by definition it can contain multiple bin directories so maybe I shouldn't be using this.

how's the standard approach for a Web API app to access a file in the Bin folder?

Standard dictates to have data files in APP_DATA folder not in BIN folder. Could you explain why you need this file in that folder? — Steve
– Steve, Commented Aug 4, 2014 at 7:32
yes I agree but this is a legacy app with asp.net 3.5. Regardless, how'd you access the file after being copied in the bin folder? — Dynamic
– Dynamic, Commented Aug 4, 2014 at 7:39
Did you try HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath("~/bin", "data.xml")? — Steve
– Steve, Commented Aug 4, 2014 at 8:11

Steve · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-04 09:25:40Z

5

If the BIN folder is a direct subfolder of your root site then

string resourceFile = HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath("~/bin", "data.xml");

should give you the dedidered path (and works also if you move your app on an external hosting site). Of course, being BIN a protected folder you should be sure to have the required permissions to read or write files in this path.

answered Aug 4, 2014 at 9:25

Steve

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