Directory.GetParent(String) Method

Reference

Definition

Namespace:: System.IO

Assemblies:: mscorlib.dll, System.IO.FileSystem.dll

Assembly:: System.IO.FileSystem.dll

Assembly:: System.Runtime.dll

Assembly:: mscorlib.dll

Assembly:: netstandard.dll

Source:: Directory.cs

Source:: Directory.cs

Source:: Directory.cs

Important

Some information relates to prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it’s released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.

Retrieves the parent directory of the specified path, including both absolute and relative paths.

public:
 static System::IO::DirectoryInfo ^ GetParent(System::String ^ path);

public static System.IO.DirectoryInfo GetParent (string path);

public static System.IO.DirectoryInfo? GetParent (string path);

static member GetParent : string -> System.IO.DirectoryInfo

Public Shared Function GetParent (path As String) As DirectoryInfo

Parameters

path: String

The path for which to retrieve the parent directory.

Returns

DirectoryInfo

The parent directory, or null if path is the root directory, including the root of a UNC server or share name.

Exceptions

IOException

The directory specified by path is read-only.

UnauthorizedAccessException

The caller does not have the required permission.

ArgumentException

.NET Framework and .NET Core versions older than 2.1: path is a zero-length string, contains only white space, or contains one or more invalid characters. You can query for invalid characters with the GetInvalidPathChars() method.

ArgumentNullException

path is null.

PathTooLongException

The specified path, file name, or both exceed the system-defined maximum length. For more information, see the PathTooLongException topic.

DirectoryNotFoundException

The specified path was not found.

NotSupportedException

path is in an invalid format.

SecurityException

.NET Framework only: The caller does not have the required permissions.

Examples

The following example demonstrates how to use the GetParent method to retrieve the parent directory of a user-specified location, "path". The value returned by the GetParent method is then printed to the console. The example is configured to catch all errors common to this method.

using namespace System;
class Class1
{
public:
   void PrintFileSystemEntries( String^ path )
   {
      try
      {
         
         // Obtain the file system entries in the directory path.
         array<String^>^directoryEntries = System::IO::Directory::GetFileSystemEntries( path );
         for ( int i = 0; i < directoryEntries->Length; i++ )
         {
            System::Console::WriteLine( directoryEntries[ i ] );

         }
      }
      catch ( ArgumentNullException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "Path is a null reference." );
      }
      catch ( System::Security::SecurityException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "The caller does not have the \HelloServer'                  required permission." );
      }
      catch ( ArgumentException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "Path is an empty String, \HelloServer'                  contains only white spaces, \HelloServer'                  or contains invalid characters." );
      }
      catch ( System::IO::DirectoryNotFoundException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "The path encapsulated in the \HelloServer'                  Directory object does not exist." );
      }

   }

   void PrintFileSystemEntries( String^ path, String^ pattern )
   {
      try
      {
         
         // Obtain the file system entries in the directory
         // path that match the pattern.
         array<String^>^directoryEntries = System::IO::Directory::GetFileSystemEntries( path, pattern );
         for ( int i = 0; i < directoryEntries->Length; i++ )
         {
            System::Console::WriteLine( directoryEntries[ i ] );

         }
      }
      catch ( ArgumentNullException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "Path is a null reference." );
      }
      catch ( System::Security::SecurityException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "The caller does not have the \HelloServer'                  required permission." );
      }
      catch ( ArgumentException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "Path is an empty String, \HelloServer'                  contains only white spaces, \HelloServer'                  or contains invalid characters." );
      }
      catch ( System::IO::DirectoryNotFoundException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "The path encapsulated in the \HelloServer'                  Directory object does not exist." );
      }

   }


   // Print out all logical drives on the system.
   void GetLogicalDrives()
   {
      try
      {
         array<String^>^drives = System::IO::Directory::GetLogicalDrives();
         for ( int i = 0; i < drives->Length; i++ )
         {
            System::Console::WriteLine( drives[ i ] );

         }
      }
      catch ( System::IO::IOException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "An I/O error occurs." );
      }
      catch ( System::Security::SecurityException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "The caller does not have the \HelloServer'                  required permission." );
      }

   }

   void GetParent( String^ path )
   {
      try
      {
         System::IO::DirectoryInfo^ directoryInfo = System::IO::Directory::GetParent( path );
         System::Console::WriteLine( directoryInfo->FullName );
      }
      catch ( ArgumentNullException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "Path is a null reference." );
      }
      catch ( ArgumentException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "Path is an empty String, \HelloServer'                  contains only white spaces, or \HelloServer'                  contains invalid characters." );
      }

   }

   void Move( String^ sourcePath, String^ destinationPath )
   {
      try
      {
         System::IO::Directory::Move( sourcePath, destinationPath );
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "The directory move is complete." );
      }
      catch ( ArgumentNullException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "Path is a null reference." );
      }
      catch ( System::Security::SecurityException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "The caller does not have the \HelloServer'                  required permission." );
      }
      catch ( ArgumentException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "Path is an empty String, \HelloServer'                  contains only white spaces, \HelloServer'                  or contains invalid characters." );
      }
      catch ( System::IO::IOException^ ) 
      {
         System::Console::WriteLine(  "An attempt was made to move a \HelloServer'                  directory to a different \HelloServer'                  volume, or destDirName \HelloServer'                  already exists." );
      }

   }

};

int main()
{
   Class1 * snippets = new Class1;
   String^ path = System::IO::Directory::GetCurrentDirectory();
   String^ filter =  "*.exe";
   snippets->PrintFileSystemEntries( path );
   snippets->PrintFileSystemEntries( path, filter );
   snippets->GetLogicalDrives();
   snippets->GetParent( path );
   snippets->Move(  "C:\\proof",  "C:\\Temp" );
   return 0;
}

using System;

namespace GetFileSystemEntries
{
    class Class1
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            Class1 snippets = new Class1();

            string path = System.IO.Directory.GetCurrentDirectory();
            string filter = "*.exe";

            snippets.PrintFileSystemEntries(path);
            snippets.PrintFileSystemEntries(path, filter);		
            snippets.GetLogicalDrives();
            snippets.GetParent(path);
            snippets.Move("C:\\proof", "C:\\Temp");
        }

        void PrintFileSystemEntries(string path)
        {
            
            try
            {
                // Obtain the file system entries in the directory path.
                string[] directoryEntries =
                    System.IO.Directory.GetFileSystemEntries(path);

                foreach (string str in directoryEntries)
                {
                    System.Console.WriteLine(str);
                }
            }
            catch (ArgumentNullException)
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is a null reference.");
            }
            catch (System.Security.SecurityException)
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("The caller does not have the " +
                    "required permission.");
            }
            catch (ArgumentException)
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is an empty string, " +
                    "contains only white spaces, " +
                    "or contains invalid characters.");
            }
            catch (System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException)
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("The path encapsulated in the " +
                    "Directory object does not exist.");
            }
        }
        void PrintFileSystemEntries(string path, string pattern)
        {
            try
            {
                // Obtain the file system entries in the directory
                // path that match the pattern.
                string[] directoryEntries =
                    System.IO.Directory.GetFileSystemEntries(path, pattern);

                foreach (string str in directoryEntries)
                {
                    System.Console.WriteLine(str);
                }
            }
            catch (ArgumentNullException)
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is a null reference.");
            }
            catch (System.Security.SecurityException)
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("The caller does not have the " +
                    "required permission.");
            }
            catch (ArgumentException)
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is an empty string, " +
                    "contains only white spaces, " +
                    "or contains invalid characters.");
            }
            catch (System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException)
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("The path encapsulated in the " +
                    "Directory object does not exist.");
            }
        }

        // Print out all logical drives on the system.
        void GetLogicalDrives()
        {
            try
            {
                string[] drives = System.IO.Directory.GetLogicalDrives();

                foreach (string str in drives)
                {
                    System.Console.WriteLine(str);
                }
            }
            catch (System.IO.IOException)
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("An I/O error occurs.");
            }
            catch (System.Security.SecurityException)
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("The caller does not have the " +
                    "required permission.");
            }
        }
        void GetParent(string path)
        {
            try
            {
                System.IO.DirectoryInfo directoryInfo =
                    System.IO.Directory.GetParent(path);

                System.Console.WriteLine(directoryInfo.FullName);
            }
            catch (ArgumentNullException)
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is a null reference.");
            }
            catch (ArgumentException)
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is an empty string, " +
                    "contains only white spaces, or " +
                    "contains invalid characters.");
            }
        }
        void Move(string sourcePath, string destinationPath)
        {
            try
            {
                System.IO.Directory.Move(sourcePath, destinationPath);
                System.Console.WriteLine("The directory move is complete.");
            }
            catch (ArgumentNullException)
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is a null reference.");
            }
            catch (System.Security.SecurityException)
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("The caller does not have the " +
                    "required permission.");
            }
            catch (ArgumentException)
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is an empty string, " +
                    "contains only white spaces, " +
                    "or contains invalid characters.");	
            }
            catch (System.IO.IOException)
            {
                System.Console.WriteLine("An attempt was made to move a " +
                    "directory to a different " +
                    "volume, or destDirName " +
                    "already exists.");
            }
        }
    }
}

open System
open System.IO
open System.Security

let printFileSystemEntries path =
    try
        // Obtain the file system entries in the directory path.
        let directoryEntries = Directory.GetFileSystemEntries path

        for str in directoryEntries do
            printfn $"{str}"
    with 
    | :? ArgumentNullException ->
        printfn "Path is a null reference."
    | :? SecurityException ->
        printfn $"The caller does not have the required permission."
    | :? ArgumentException ->
        printfn $"Path is an empty string, contains only white spaces, or contains invalid characters."
    | :? DirectoryNotFoundException ->
        printfn $"The path encapsulated in the Directory object does not exist."

let printFileSystemEntriesPattern path pattern =
    try
        // Obtain the file system entries in the directory
        // path that match the pattern.
        let directoryEntries = Directory.GetFileSystemEntries(path, pattern)

        for str in directoryEntries do
            printfn $"{str}"
    with
    | :? ArgumentNullException -> printfn "Path is a null reference."
    | :? SecurityException -> printfn "The caller does not have the required permission."
    | :? ArgumentException -> printfn "Path is an empty string, contains only white spaces, or contains invalid characters."
    | :? DirectoryNotFoundException -> printfn "The path encapsulated in the Directory object does not exist."

// Print out all logical drives on the system.
let getLogicalDrives () =
    try
        let drives = Directory.GetLogicalDrives()

        for str in drives do
            printfn $"{str}"
    with
    | :? IOException -> printfn "An I/O error occurs."
    | :? SecurityException -> printfn "The caller does not have the required permission."

let getParent path =
    try
        let directoryInfo = Directory.GetParent path
        printfn $"{directoryInfo.FullName}"

    with
    | :? ArgumentNullException -> printfn "Path is a null reference."
    | :? ArgumentException -> printfn "Path is an empty string, contains only white spaces, or contains invalid characters."

let move sourcePath destinationPath =
    try
        Directory.Move(sourcePath, destinationPath)
        printfn "The directory move is complete."

    with
    | :? ArgumentNullException -> printfn "Path is a null reference."
    | :? SecurityException -> printfn "The caller does not have the required permission."
    | :? ArgumentException -> printfn "Path is an empty string, contains only white spaces, or contains invalid characters."
    | :? IOException -> printfn "An attempt was made to move a directory to a different volume, or destDirName already exists."

let path = Directory.GetCurrentDirectory()
let filter = "*.exe"

printFileSystemEntries path
printFileSystemEntriesPattern path filter
getLogicalDrives ()
getParent path
move "C:\\proof" "C:\\Temp"

Option Explicit On 
Option Strict On

Namespace GetFileSystemEntries
    Class Class1
        Overloads Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String)
            Dim snippets As New Class1()
            Dim path As String = System.IO.Directory.GetCurrentDirectory()
            Dim filter As String = "*.exe"
            snippets.PrintFileSystemEntries(path)
            snippets.PrintFileSystemEntries(path, filter)
            snippets.GetLogicalDrives()
            snippets.GetParent(path)
            snippets.Move("C:\proof", "C:\Temp")
        End Sub

        Sub PrintFileSystemEntries(ByVal path As String)
            Try
                ' Obtain the file system entries in the directory path.
                Dim directoryEntries As String()
                directoryEntries = System.IO.Directory.GetFileSystemEntries(path)
                Dim str As String
                For Each str In directoryEntries
                    System.Console.WriteLine(str)
                Next str
            Catch exp As ArgumentNullException
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is a null reference.")
            Catch exp As System.Security.SecurityException
                System.Console.WriteLine("The caller does not have the " + _
                                        "required permission.")
            Catch exp As ArgumentException
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is an empty string, " + _
                                        "contains only white spaces, " + _
                                        "or contains invalid characters.")
            Catch exp As System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException
                System.Console.WriteLine("The path encapsulated in the " + _
                                        "Directory object does not exist.")
            End Try
        End Sub
        Sub PrintFileSystemEntries(ByVal path As String, _
                                   ByVal pattern As String)
            Try
                ' Obtain the file system entries in the directory
                ' path that match the pattern.
                Dim directoryEntries As String()
                directoryEntries = _
                   System.IO.Directory.GetFileSystemEntries(path, pattern)

                Dim str As String
                For Each str In directoryEntries
                    System.Console.WriteLine(str)
                Next str
            Catch exp As ArgumentNullException
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is a null reference.")
            Catch exp As System.Security.SecurityException
                System.Console.WriteLine("The caller does not have the " + _
                                        "required permission.")
            Catch exp As ArgumentException
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is an empty string, " + _
                                        "contains only white spaces, " + _
                                        "or contains invalid characters.")
            Catch exp As System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException
                System.Console.WriteLine("The path encapsulated in the " + _
                                        "Directory object does not exist.")
            End Try
        End Sub

        ' Print out all logical drives on the system.
        Sub GetLogicalDrives()
            Try
                Dim drives As String()
                drives = System.IO.Directory.GetLogicalDrives()

                Dim str As String
                For Each str In drives
                    System.Console.WriteLine(str)
                Next str
            Catch exp As System.IO.IOException
                System.Console.WriteLine("An I/O error occurs.")
            Catch exp As System.Security.SecurityException
                System.Console.WriteLine("The caller does not have the " + _
                                           "required permission.")
            End Try
        End Sub
        Sub GetParent(ByVal path As String)
            Try
                Dim directoryInfo As System.IO.DirectoryInfo
                directoryInfo = System.IO.Directory.GetParent(path)
                System.Console.WriteLine(directoryInfo.FullName)
            Catch exp As ArgumentNullException
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is a null reference.")
            Catch exp As ArgumentException
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is an empty string, " + _
                                     "contains only white spaces, or " + _
                                     "contains invalid characters.")
            End Try
        End Sub
        Sub Move(ByVal sourcePath As String, ByVal destinationPath As String)
            Try
                System.IO.Directory.Move(sourcePath, destinationPath)
                System.Console.WriteLine("The directory move is complete.")
            Catch exp As ArgumentNullException
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is a null reference.")
            Catch exp As System.Security.SecurityException
                System.Console.WriteLine("The caller does not have the " + _
                                           "required permission.")
            Catch exp As ArgumentException
                System.Console.WriteLine("Path is an empty string, " + _
                                        "contains only white spaces, " + _
                                        "or contains invalid characters.")
            Catch exp As System.IO.IOException
                System.Console.WriteLine("An attempt was made to move a " + _
                                        "directory to a different " + _
                                        "volume, or destDirName " + _
                                        "already exists.")
            End Try
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

Remarks

The path parameter can specify relative or absolute path information. Relative path information is interpreted as relative to the current working directory. To obtain the current working directory, see GetCurrentDirectory.

Trailing spaces are removed from the end of the path parameter before getting the directory.

The string returned by this method consists of all characters in the path up to, but not including, the last DirectorySeparatorChar or AltDirectorySeparatorChar. For example, passing the path "C:\Directory\SubDirectory\test.txt" to GetParent returns "C:\Directory\SubDirectory". Passing "C:\Directory\SubDirectory" returns "C:\Directory". However, passing "C:\Directory\SubDirectory\" returns "C:\Directory\SubDirectory", because the ending directory separator is after "SubDirectory".

The case-sensitivity of the path parameter corresponds to that of the file system on which the code is running. For example, it's case-insensitive on NTFS (the default Windows file system) and case-sensitive on Linux file systems.

For a list of common I/O tasks, see Common I/O Tasks.

Applies to

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