Easiest way to read from and write to files

Question

There are a lot of different ways to read and write files (text files, not binary) in C#.

I just need something that is easy and uses the least amount of c

Answer 1

In addition to File.ReadAllText, File.ReadAllLines, and File.WriteAllText (and similar helpers from File class) shown in another answer you can use StreamWriter/StreamReader classes.

Writing a text file:

using(StreamWriter writetext = new StreamWriter("write.txt"))
{
    writetext.WriteLine("writing in text file");
}

Reading a text file:

using(StreamReader readtext = new StreamReader("readme.txt"))
{
   string readText = readtext.ReadLine();
}

Notes:

• You can use readtext.Dispose() instead of using, but it will not close file/reader/writer in case of exceptions
• Be aware that relative path is relative to current working directory. You may want to use/construct absolute path.
• Missing using/Close is very common reason of "why data is not written to file".

Answer 2

     class Program
    { 
         public static void Main()
        { 
            //To write in a txt file
             File.WriteAllText("C:\\Users\\HP\\Desktop\\c#file.txt", "Hello and Welcome");

           //To Read from a txt file & print on console
             string  copyTxt = File.ReadAllText("C:\\Users\\HP\\Desktop\\c#file.txt");
             Console.Out.WriteLine("{0}",copyTxt);
        }      
    }

Answer 3

The easiest way to read from a file and write to a file:

//Read from a file
string something = File.ReadAllText("C:\\Rfile.txt");

//Write to a file
using (StreamWriter writer = new StreamWriter("Wfile.txt"))
{
    writer.WriteLine(something);
}

Answer 4

Use File.ReadAllText and File.WriteAllText.

MSDN example excerpt:

// Create a file to write to.
string createText = "Hello and Welcome" + Environment.NewLine;
File.WriteAllText(path, createText);

...

// Open the file to read from.
string readText = File.ReadAllText(path);

Answer 5

using (var file = File.Create("pricequote.txt"))
{
    ...........                        
}

using (var file = File.OpenRead("pricequote.txt"))
{
    ..........
}

Simple, easy and also disposes/cleans up the object once you are done with it.

Answer 6

You're looking for the File, StreamWriter, and StreamReader classes.