How to update appSetting for a Background Service (Service Worker) (.NET 6)

Question

Hello, I came to ask you for your help, please.

I have created a Worker Service which periodically deletes files in a folder. My path to the folder is stored in an App.config file, I read the value via ConfigurationManager. It works, but I want to be able to create the Service, run it in a background, and change the settings without stopping the service, or at least without the need to create the service again.

Is it possible?

I have tried the RefreshSection function, but it´s not working.

Should I be updating the file in the StartAsync()?

I want to change the file manually, it´s possible that I am not updating the right file, but where can the right file be found?

The service is working OK and logging the information, so I can see that it is using the (wrong) path I gave it in the beginning.

Worker.cs/StartAsync

  System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.RefreshSection("appSettings");

System.Configuration.Configuration config = System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
            config.AppSettings.Settings["sourceDirectory"].Value = "newPath";
            config.AppSettings.SectionInformation.ForceSave = true;
            config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Modified);
            System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.RefreshSection("appSettings");

App.config

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
	<appSettings>
		<add key="sourceDirectory" value="C:\Users\User\Folder"/>
	</appSettings>
</configuration>

I create the service like this:

SC CREATE "MyService" binPath= "C:\Users\User\source\repos\MyService\MyService\bin\Release\net6.0\publish\MyService.exe" start= auto displayname= "My Service"

Answer 1

Hi @tma9 ,

MyService.exe is the name of the file. MyService.dll.config is the runtime app.config for the service. It should be deployed with the MyService.exe. MyService.dll.config is the file you should be updating. When you built that service successfully, the MyService.dll.config should be in the bin/debug folder with the exe. You can use Notepad and view the config file. The dll.config file should be deployed to the same location as the MyService.exe is located(in your scenraio should be C:\Users\User\source\repos\MyService\MyService\bin\Release\net6.0\publish) so .NET can find it. And when you modify the key value by RefreshSection, the MyService.dll.config will be updated.

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Rena