difference between: Path.GetDirectoryName and Directory.GetCurrentDirectory

[JohnIdol]

Hi Guys,

anyone could help me understand the difference between these two methods?

path = System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetName().CodeBase.Replace("file:/", ""));

path_Startup = System.IO.Directory.GetCurrentDirectory();

I am getting the same result.

I read something about shadow copies and Path.GetDirectoryName being more reliable because of that, but I couldn't find anything too clear.

Anyhelp would be appreciated.

Thanks,

[Arjay]

While the CurrentDirectory typically is the same as the assembly location, it can be changed by calling SetCurrentDirectory. It can also be changed when the application is launched with the Process class (by setting the ProcessStartInfo.WorkingDirectory).

[TheCPUWizard]

IIRC (and I am doing this from memory), there will also be differences when you have virtual mount points, substituted drives and/or other construct which make the "apparant" directory (what you would get with a "cd" from the command line) from the actual physical path.

Unfortunately I am not in a position to test this right now, but I believe that is what the documentation is referring to.

Arjay is also 100% correct in his point that the current directory may not be the directory where the assembly is located (either by having changed it from within the progran, or even by specifying a specific startup directory), but I do not think this is what the documentation is referring to.

[JohnIdol]

Thanks for the help guys, now it's making much more sense.