[RESOLVED] [2008] Can't find text file on C: drive

[lol707]

I have a small app running on a windows Mobile 6 device and wrote the following to read a text file

 Dim FILE_NAME As String = "C:\test.txt"

            If System.IO.File.Exists(FILE_NAME) = True Then
                Dim objReader As New System.IO.StreamReader(FILE_NAME)
                TextBox1.Text = objReader.ReadToEnd
                objReader.Close()
            Else
                MsgBox("File Does Not Exist")

When I debug this using the "Windows Mobile 6 Professional Emulator" option I get "File Does Not Exist".

I am reasonably sure the file name is spelt correctly - should I be specifying it as something different to "c:\" for the emulator, please?

I have not tried it on the device itself yet.

Any help would be appreciated.

[petevick]

Hi,
pocket pc does not have a concept of c:\ drives, or any drives for that matter.

If you do
Dim FILE_NAME As String = "\test.txt"

That is in the root folder

"test.txt" is in the same folder as your application, and "\My Documents\test.txt" is in the My Documents folder

Pete

[lol707]

many thanks for that Pete - I suspected that it must be something like that, so was pleased to get the correct format ...

sorry for the delay in replying but I have been having a lot of trouble getting this working .. and still it does not work - despite the fact that I have dotted files all around the place ... and even tried creating a file to see where it was created .. the following worked fine in concept - but still no file could be found. This must be some characteristic of the Emulator I feel sure..

Dim FILE_NAMEw As String = "\test3.txt"

            Dim objWriter As New System.IO.StreamWriter(FILE_NAMEw, False)
            Dim testtext As String = "this is the test"
            objWriter.WriteLine(testtext)
            MsgBox("File created - " & FILE_NAMEw)
            objWriter.Close()

            Dim FILE_NAME As String = "\test3.txt"

            If System.IO.File.Exists(FILE_NAME) = True Then
                MsgBox("File ok - " & FILE_NAME)
                Dim objReader As New System.IO.StreamReader(FILE_NAME)
                TextBox1.Text = objReader.ReadToEnd
                objReader.Close()
            Else
                MsgBox("File Does Not Exist - " & FILE_NAME)

I am now having a think - and read - to see if the emulator requires some different approach - I may even deploy it to the device to see if that makes a difference

[petevick]

Hi,
the emulator should be no different.

Have you looked on the emulator to see if the file does indeed exist?

[lol707]

I did a search of the PC - C:\ drive for the file - test3.txt - and it didn't exist ? Even though it had created it - read it - and displayed the contents (see my code) according to the messagebox displays ?
The emulator normally undoes everything - so that did not surprise me too much. But I am unsure where else to look ?

[lol707]

I have just deployed the app to the device (HP IPAQ) and it works fine - I used \my documents\test.txt as you suggested.

It is strange that I couldn't get it working under emulation - I may just be putting the file in the wrong place - but at least I can proceed now.

Many thanks Phil. I will wait a short while to see if there are any further comments re the emulator - but will set it as resolved tomorrow morning.

[petevick]

Hi,
you need to look using explorer in the emulator.

The emulator is the same as the device - doesn't know anything about a c:\ drive or any drive on your PC, unless you map to it as a shared folder.

BTW - It's Pete

[lol707]

Bingo !!!

Now I understand Pete (sorry about the name earlier)

The emulator is a complete emulation of the device - So I use it's own File Explorer to look for the files - and there they are ... that answers all the questions ... except one (there is always one isn't there).

To put a text file on the physical device I use ActiveSync - and explore from there - it allows me to drag and drop files at will.

I cannot just drag and drop from within Windows to the emulator - it just won't let me - so how do I get my file - "test.txt" into the emulator - please ?

(here's hoping this is not an obvious one that I have missed)

many thanks for your patience and persistance ....

[petevick]

Hi,
in Visual Studio, do Tools>Device Emulator Manager.

When your emulator is running, you should see in the list it is connected. Simply right-click on the connection, and click on 'cradle' - this will run activesync and connect it. Then you can explore it just like a device, and drag and drop files

HTH

[lol707]

:-)

Thanks very much for that ....

I had to run ActiveSync from the PC first - to setup the connection - but I imagine that will be just the first time - it will probably run automatically from here on.

All is now working well - and I cannot thank you enough.

regards Lol