Using Server.MapPath() inside a static field in ASP.NET MVC

Question

I'm building an ASP.NET MVC site where I'm using Lucene.Net for search queries. I asked a question here about how to properly structure Lucene.Net usage in an ASP.NET MVC application and was told that the best method is to declare the my IndexWriter as public static, so that it can be re-used.

Here is some code that is at the top of my SearchController:

public static string IndexLocation = Server.MapPath("~/lucene");
public static Lucene.Net.Analysis.Standard.StandardAnalyzer analyzer = new Lucene.Net.Analysis.Standard.StandardAnalyzer();
public static IndexWriter writer = new IndexWriter(IndexLocation,analyzer);

As writer is static, IndexLocation must also be static. Thus, the compiler is giving me the following error for Server.MapPath():

An object reference is required for the non-static field, method, or property 'System.Web.Mvc.Controller.Server.get'

Is there a way of using Server.MapPath() or something similar from a static field? How can I fix this error?

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:10:43Z

255

Try HostingEnvironment.MapPath, which is static.

See this SO question for confirmation that HostingEnvironment.MapPath returns the same value as Server.MapPath: What is the difference between Server.MapPath and HostingEnvironment.MapPath?

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:10

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered Sep 25, 2010 at 23:58

Jeff Ogata

58k20 gold badges117 silver badges128 bronze badges

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

2 Comments

John Over a year ago

This function gave me an error as the result returbed by HostingEnvironment.MapPath is not the same as Server.MapPath, the latter returns an absolute url not a relative url

ps2goat Over a year ago

@john, I get the same value for both.

panky sharma · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-31 12:31:19Z

56

I think you can try this for calling in from a class

 System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath("~/SignatureImages/");

*----------------Sorry I oversight, for static function already answered the question by adrift*

System.Web.Hosting.HostingEnvironment.MapPath("~/SignatureImages/");

Update

I got exception while using System.Web.Hosting.HostingEnvironment.MapPath("~/SignatureImages/");

Ex details : System.ArgumentException: The relative virtual path 'SignatureImages' is not allowed here. at System.Web.VirtualPath.FailIfRelativePath()

Solution (tested in static webmethod)

System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath("~/SignatureImages/"); Worked

edited Oct 31, 2013 at 12:31

answered Oct 26, 2013 at 14:22

panky sharma

2,22931 silver badges45 bronze badges

1 Comment

ps2goat Over a year ago

The only time I saw the error you mentioned in your update is when the code used a relative virtual path. For example, Server.MapPath() allows a path of "files/file1.doc". It uses the current context to determine the path of the current page, for example, and then creates the relative path from there. If we are in ~/Subfolder/Page1.aspx, the url would map from ~/Subfolder/files/file1.doc. The HostingEnviornment.MapPath() is static, and thus always requires the full virtual path, starting with the ~/ part of the url.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Using Server.MapPath() inside a static field in ASP.NET MVC

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related