open existing excel file in c# desktop application

Question

I try to show an existing excel file when a user press the link which is in my c# desktop application. I put my excel files into my project folder. nevertheless when I set up my project into different computers, paths of excel files will change. I couldn't find a way unrelated with direct path like C:\example.xlsx while opening excel files. How can I solve this problem? Thanks already..

can you use with double slash like this "c:\\example.xlsx" or @"c:\example.xlsx" ? — ebattulga
– ebattulga, Commented Sep 16, 2011 at 11:41

Kane · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-16 11:41:13Z

1

I would suggest using the System.IO.Path.GetTempFileName() and copy the Excel file to the temporary file.

Or

Use the Application.StartupPath property.

answered Sep 16, 2011 at 11:41

Kane

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Samich · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-16 11:40:56Z

0

If these files are stored inside your applicaton folder try to use:

string excelFilePath = Path.Combine(Path.GetDirectoryName(Application.ExecutablePath), "excelfiles\\myexcelfile.xlsx");

Otherwise if you have predefined set of the files you need to have some setting where files are stored.

If you just need to allow user to specify where file stored - use OpenFileDialog.

answered Sep 16, 2011 at 11:40

Samich

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2 Comments

dnur Over a year ago

Thanks for solution:) but it gives an error in "Application.ExecutablePath" part. Program doesn't decide the which "Application" . I tried Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.Application.ExecutablePath but still gives error. System.Windows.Forms.Application.ExecutablePath also doesn't properly work. what should I do?

Samich Over a year ago

try System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location

Bob2Chiv · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-16 14:45:33Z

0

Two things:

If you don't mind MS GUI implementation, try the OpenFileDialog to let your user (if appropriate to do so) select the correct file:

var openFileDialog1 = new OpenFileDialog();
openFileDialog1.InitialDirectory = "c:\\";
openFileDialog1.Filter = "xlsx files (*.xlsx)|*.xlsx|All files (*.*)|*.*";
openFileDialog1.FilterIndex = 1;
openFileDialog1.RestoreDirectory = true;

Edit: Then use openFileDialog1.Filename to get the filename.

OR

Use a relative path name if the file is always in the same relational directory:

StreamReader reader = new StreamReader("..\\'folder'\\'file'");

I find that one of these two ways will always work; dependant on if I want the user to choose the file or not.

Edit: Once you have the file name, use Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel namespace to gain control of the file in excel, if that is desired.

Hope this helps!

edited Sep 16, 2011 at 14:45

answered Sep 16, 2011 at 11:54

Bob2Chiv

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4 Comments

dnur Over a year ago

thanks but I couldn't use openfiledialog because user may not have that excel files..

Bob2Chiv Over a year ago

I thought you said it was an existing excel file

dnur Over a year ago

yes, but I have, not users. so I want to give excel files to the users in my program setup

Brad Over a year ago

But they can pick the excel file from anywhere and the OpenFileDialog can return the path of the file to you. Then you will have know where that file is and what to open. And if you open it using Excel Interop then you can have full control over the Excel object from within C#.

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