In .NET console app, how to get the path of the command prompt where the user typed the command?

Question

I created the following .NET console app, built it, and copied the executable deepdir.exe to c:\commandlineapps and then set an enviroment variable to this directory so that I can call this command from any directory.

How do I get the directory from where the user typed the command, e.g. c:\docs\project1, and NOT the directory where the .exe file exists, e.g. c:\commandlineapps? None of the following work:

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Diagnostics;

namespace showimages
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            var docPath = AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory;
            docPath = System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(Process.GetCurrentProcess().MainModule.FileName);
            docPath = Environment.CurrentDirectory = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("windir");
            docPath = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Personal);
            docPath = System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location;
            docPath = Environment.CurrentDirectory;
            docPath = System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location;
            docPath = System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetName().CodeBase);
            docPath = System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(Environment.GetCommandLineArgs()[0]);
            docPath = System.AppContext.BaseDirectory;
            docPath = Path.GetDirectoryName(System.Reflection.Assembly.GetEntryAssembly().Location);
            Console.WriteLine(docPath);
        }
    }
}

@SteveTodd What namespace is that? In my C# console application, I get the error "The name Application does not exist in the current context." The only namespace it offers is System.Net.Mime.MediaTypeNames which doesn't have StartupPath. — Edward Tanguay
– Edward Tanguay, Commented May 23, 2019 at 12:55
@steve16351 When I use Directory.GetCurrentDirectory(), it gives me C:\WINDOWS. — Edward Tanguay
– Edward Tanguay, Commented May 23, 2019 at 12:57
See How can I get the application's path in a .NET console application? — RobertBaron
– RobertBaron, Commented May 23, 2019 at 13:00

Owen Pauling · Accepted Answer · 2019-05-23 13:18:48Z

1

Directory.GetCurrentDirectory() will do what you need (get the current working directory).

answered May 23, 2019 at 13:18

Owen Pauling

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3 Comments

Edward Tanguay Over a year ago

Typing Environment.GetCurrentDirectory() tells me that Environment does not contain GetCurrentDirectory. And Environment.CurrentDirectory returns C:\WINDOWS regardless of where I execute my command.

steve16351 Over a year ago

Why Environment? Use System.IO.Directory.GetCurrentDirectory()

Edward Tanguay Over a year ago

Sorry, I misread it. Directory.GetCurrentDirectory() works, that is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.

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