FileInfo.Exists returns false eventhough file exists

Question

_{Monday, October 10, 2011 9:42 PM}

Hi,

In a web service, i am checking with FileInfo, whether a local file exists, the problem i have found is that when I run the web service in debug mode, then it returns true, but after publishing the service, it returns false. What Am I missing?

Cheers

All replies (10)

_{Tuesday, October 11, 2011 1:01 PM ✅Answered | 1 vote}

Bingo.  A Web service is not going to have access to a mapped drive (I assume H is not a physical drive).  You'll need to provide the absolute path (e.g. \myserver\myshare\ and that will only work if you've provided appropriate permissions.

_{Monday, October 10, 2011 11:00 PM}

You may be missing permissions.  First, check to see if System.IO.File.Exists returns true.  That will rule out permissions as the issue.

_{Monday, October 10, 2011 11:04 PM}

Hi Anthony,

System.IO.File.Exists returns false too 

_{Tuesday, October 11, 2011 7:06 AM}

If you're getting the file with a relative path, check the current directory in debug mode, and after publishing.

_{Tuesday, October 11, 2011 8:05 AM}

please tell me what is your file path.Any fool can know. The point is to understand.(Albert Einstein)

_{Tuesday, October 11, 2011 11:01 AM}

path is:

h:\data\tree\cuatro\under cover\2011\06\14\20110614-999-CS_#999Alegria.Madrid.01.wmv

_{Tuesday, October 11, 2011 2:04 PM}

One last thing if you dont mind...my service runs under: ASP.NET v4.0 but i don't seem to be able to add it to the folder security. I have added "network service" which i believe is used by the defaultapppool?

_{Tuesday, October 11, 2011 7:54 PM | 1 vote}

What account does it run as though?  That will determine the basis for your permissions.  Keep in mind that deny overrides allow.  Permissions get complicated.

_{Monday, September 9, 2013 8:23 PM}

Hi,

The File.Exist() API returns "true if the caller has the required permissions and path contains the name of an existing file; otherwise, false", and your web service might not have the permission to this location. I have found similar issue with the network service checking a file in temp.

-Sujith

_{Friday, May 10, 2019 2:38 AM}

BINGO, the appropriate  permissions have been granted to the location folder, and it still fails regardless..

Bingo ? really.. Think again.