How to get the actual directory path on windows using .NET?

Question

My need is simple. Given a Windows directory path all I want is the actual path. I am sure the terminology is wrong, so I am giving an example.

Given C:\Documents and Settings\All Users the method should display:

• C:\ProgramData on windows 7
• C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on windows 2003

This is because on windows 7 C:\Documents and Settings is a junction referencing C:\Users and C:\Users\All Users is yet another junction referencing C:\ProgramData, which is the actual directory.

So, my question is what .NET API lets me do all this?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Check out this code sample from someone who has figured it out already.

Essentially, you have to use the Win32 function DeviceIoControl via P/Invoke passing the FSCTL_GET_REPARSE_POINT as the dwIoControlCode parameter.

As the guy on CodeProject says...

I find it interesting that the .NET Framework's FileAttributes enumeration includes the value FileAttributes.ReparsePoint but there is no other built-in support for Reparse Points.

There is no "native" .NET API to do this, but bear in mind that much of the framework is just a wrapper around P/Invoke calls anyway, so you shouldn't fear them :)