Map the physical file path in asp.net mvc

Question

I am trying to read an XSLT file from disk in my ASP.Net MVC controller. What I am doing is the following:

string filepath = HttpContext.Request.PhysicalApplicat         


        

Answer 1

string filePath = Server.MapPath(Url.Content("~/Content/Xsl/"));

I disagree with the idea that HttpContext.Current is "evil." It's not the hammer for every problem, but it is certainly better than, e.g., Session for stuff that it can do OK.

Answer 2

I would have the site root path injected into the controller constructor by the DI framework:

public class HomeController: Controller
{
    private readonly string _siteRoot;
    public HomeController(string siteRoot)
    {
        _siteRoot = siteRoot;
    }

    public ActionResult Index()
    {
        string filePath = Path.Combine(_siteRoot, @"Content\Xsl\pubmed.xslt");
        return File(filePath, "text/xml");
    }
}

As far as the site root path is concerned it can be expressed with the HostingEnvironment.ApplicationPhysicalPath static property.

Answer 3

If you're using WebApi or not specifically within a controller class, you can use the following as an alternative:

HostingEnvironment.MapPath("/Content/Xsl/pubmed.xslt")