Using environment variable in a file path

Question

I've got an environment variable set that points to a specific folder (call it MYFOLDER for example). When typing in %MYFOLDER%\SubFolder into windows explorer the subfolder appears. However, when I pass SelectedPath = @"%MYFOLDER%\SubFolder"; to a FolderBrowserDialog, it doesn't work.

I tried using Path.GetFullPath(..), but this seems to return the bin folder of the executable (while debugging in VS) with %MYFOLDER% on the end, instead of the path I'd expect.

Anyone know how to get it to use the environment variable properly?

Sorrow

Answer 1

Expand it first:

string path = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables(value);

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.environment.expandenvironmentvariables.aspx

Dich

I also discovered: restart visual studio when you add the variable! – Sorrow

Just to add: the path came through pre-expanded after having restarted Visual Studio so Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables wasn't needed after all. – Guntar