Question

Consider the path to a file like this:

“\\Tests\Results\knowles\project\LU\D15\RUN1\Results.xml”

How can I make a new string that gives the path to the “project” folder in the string above? I tried to use FirstIndexOf("project") but it always fails!

Is there a static method or something in Directory or Path class?

I want to have a new string which contains the path to the “project” folder, from similar strings like above example, something like

var newPath = "\\\\Tests\\Results\\knowles\\project"

Please note, the “project” folder is just an example, it can be any name, what I ment is that I want to get the path to the folder that suppose to be in place of the project in my example.

Again, my mistake I guess, the original string does not come always with fixed number of folders, it is for sure does have atleast one or two folders after the ‘project’ folder…I need a way to approach it from left to right I guess

Answer 1

You can use the FileInfo and DirectoryInfo class.

Do a right to left search as follows:

var fi = new FileInfo(""\\Tests\Results\knowles\project\LU\D15\RUN1\Results.xml"");
var di = fi.Directory;
var find = "project";

while (di.Name.ToLower() != find.ToLower() && di != null)
{
    di = di.Parent;
}

if (di == null)
{
    throw new Exception(string.Format("Directory with name '{0}' was not found.", find));
}

Do a left to right search with a recursive solution. Something like this:
NOTE This is untested so may not be exactly right, but I think it’s generally what you are trying to achieve.

var fi = new FileInfo(""\\Tests\Results\knowles\project\LU\D15\RUN1\Results.xml"");
var di = fi.Directory;
var find = "project";

di = GetGreatestParent(di, find);

if (di == null)
{
    throw new Exception(string.Format("Directory with name '{0}' was not found.", find));
}

public DirectoryInfo GetGreatestParent(DirectoryInfo Dir, string Find)
{
    if (Dir != null)
    {
        var p = GetGreatestParent(Dir.Parent, string Find);

        if (p != null)
        {
            return p;
        }
        else if (Dir.Name.ToLower() == Find.ToLower())
        {
            return Dir;
        }
    }

    return null;
}