Member Avatar for shazzy99

Greetings,

How to change a file name using C# code with fixed path to the subject file?

Do I need to copy/create a new file with new name and delete the old one or is there a way to change the name without doing above.

Rds

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Ramy Mahrous

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originally asked how to rename a file at a fixed path. suggested invoking the shell and pointed to using the framework's built‑in rename — both are reasonable options. The note below clarifies practical tradeoffs, gives a Windows-specific, robust example using the OS API for atomic replaces/special flags, and a short pattern for extracting/changing extensions without relying on ad‑hoc string chopping.

A reliable Windows approach is to call the OS rename API so the operation can be made atomic or scheduled for reboot and can replace an existing target. The example below shows a safe P/Invoke signature and the most useful flags (replace existing, delay-until-reboot, write-through).

using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

[DllImport("kernel32.dll", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
static extern bool MoveFileEx(string existingPath, string newPath, MoveFileFlags flags);

[Flags]
enum MoveFileFlags : uint
{
    REPLACE_EXISTING = 0x1,
    COPY_ALLOWED     = 0x2,
    DELAY_UNTIL_REBOOT = 0x4,
    WRITE_THROUGH    = 0x8
}

// Example call:
bool ok = MoveFileEx(@"C:\old\file.txt", @"C:\old\file.renamed", MoveFileFlags.REPLACE_EXISTING);

To detect or change an extension without fragile string parsing, use the runtime path helpers to read and build names, then invoke the rename operation above. Example pattern:

string ext = System.IO.Path.GetExtension(path);
string newPath = System.IO.Path.ChangeExtension(path, ".bak");
// call MoveFileEx(existingPath, newPath, desiredFlags)

Troubleshooting notes: confirm the source exists and the caller has permission; handle sharing violations (file locked by another process) with a short retry/backoff; consider path-length limits on older Windows builds; avoid shell calls unless shell features are required; and remember the OS API shown is Windows-specific — use the runtime's cross-platform rename if targeting Linux/macOS.

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Member Avatar for Ramy Mahrous

I think there no method to do so, you can use DOS commands and call\send parameters to them from C# application.

Member Avatar for shazzy99

Can you help me with that?

I think there no method to do so, you can use DOS commands and call\send parameters from them from C# application.

Member Avatar for Ramy Mahrous

With pleasure ProcessStartInfo commandPromptProcess = new ProcessStartInfo("cmd.exe"); Find out how to make use of this.

Member Avatar for shazzy99

Which system file does this ProcessStartInfo belongs to? I mean what do i need to add

using System.ProcessStartInfo? or something else

With pleasure ProcessStartInfo commandPromptProcess = new ProcessStartInfo("cmd.exe"); Find out how to make use of this.

Member Avatar for Ramy Mahrous

System.Diagnostics

Member Avatar for LizR

I guess File.Move(old,new) was too much to look for?

Member Avatar for shazzy99

Thanks, I was just looking for an efficient and quick way.

I guess File.Move(old,new) was too much to look for?

Member Avatar for LizR

Please mark the thread as solved.

Member Avatar for shazzy99

How can I get the file extension?

Please mark the thread as solved.

Member Avatar for Ramy Mahrous

You can use string class to fetch the extension from its name or you can use FileInfo class.

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