Correct directory path in virtual machine

Question

I've recently started using Windows 7 from my Mac on Parallels, and I'm having some issues finding the correct directory path for a file. In OS X, the path for a file named TestFile.txt is /Users/MyAccount/Documents/Visual Studio 2013/Projects/FTP Process/TestFile.txt. In Windows, however, the path is \\psf\\Home\\Documents\\Visual Studio 2013\\Projects\\FTP Process\\TestFile.txt.

I am trying to use the C# File.Exists() method with a string literal of this file path. I've tried using both of the above paths as the parameter of the method, and both return false when I expect one or the other to return true. Does anyone know what the correct string for this path would be? Thanks.

Answer 1

Differences in the path of special folders on various host operating systems are encapsulated via Environment.SpecialFolder .

You can get the actual path of a special folder with Environment.GetFolderPath .

Try something like

string documentsPath = 
    Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments);

In your case, that should return

/Users/MyAccount/Documents/

under OS/X, and

\\psf\\Home\\Documents

under Windows (I'm guessing there will also be a drive letter under Windows, but not exactly sure how Parallels works).