How can one get an absolute or normalized file path in .NET?
.NetFilepath.Net Problem Overview
How can one with minimal effort (using some already existing facility, if possible) convert paths like c:\aaa\bbb\..\ccc
to c:\aaa\ccc
?
.Net Solutions
Solution 1 - .Net
I would write it like this:
public static string NormalizePath(string path)
{
return Path.GetFullPath(new Uri(path).LocalPath)
.TrimEnd(Path.DirectorySeparatorChar, Path.AltDirectorySeparatorChar)
.ToUpperInvariant();
}
This should handle few scenarios like
-
uri and potential escaped characters in it, like
> file:///C:/Test%20Project.exe -> C:\TEST PROJECT.EXE
-
path segments specified by dots to denote current or parent directory
> c:\aaa\bbb\..\ccc -> C:\AAA\CCC
-
tilde shortened (long) paths
> C:\Progra~1\ -> C:\PROGRAM FILES
-
inconsistent directory delimiter character
> C:/Documents\abc.txt -> C:\DOCUMENTS\ABC.TXT
Other than those, it can ignore case, trailing \
directory delimiter character etc.
Solution 2 - .Net
Path.GetFullPath
perhaps?
Solution 3 - .Net
Canonicalization is one of the main responsibilities of the Uri class in .NET.
var path = @"c:\aaa\bbb\..\ccc";
var canonicalPath = new Uri(path).LocalPath; // c:\aaa\ccc
Solution 4 - .Net
FileInfo objects can also help here. (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.io.fileinfo?view=net-5.0)
var x = Path.Combine(@"C:\temp", "..\\def/abc");
var y = new FileInfo(x).FullName; // "C:\\def\\abc"
FileInfo vs. DirectoryInfo can also help if you want to control the file vs. directory distinction.
But Path.GetFullPath is better if you just need the string.