C# access to path denied

EyeSight

HI. I have a c# program which takes a zip file, opens it, parses an XML file inside and does various operations on the data. The problem is when I go to parse the XML file I'm getting an access denied failure.
The weird thing is, this does not occur when I run the app through visual studio. It only occurs after i run the application file directly, outside of VS.

I've googled this a lot and have tried:

• Directly setting permissions on this "new" unzipped folder to allow everyone to access/write to it.
• The program is not running in a weird location. I'm running the application from a folder on my desktop
• This still occurs if i run the app as admin
• Using the same account I can manually open the folder and do anything i want
• Other than creating the unzipper folder, no other method or class accessed/is holder the folder

Simplified code snippet:

//UNZIP
ZipFile.ExtractToDirectory(path + ".zip", path + "_open");

// open XML file
XmlDocument manifestFile;
manifestFile = new XmlDocument();
manifestFile.Load(path + "_open\\file.xml");

At that last line I get this error:
"Access to the path XXXXX is denied"

John_Mc

What's the path of the folder which contains the zip file(s)?

EyeSight

John_Mc wrote: »

What's the path of the folder which contains the zip file(s)?

The path I am using is: C:\Users\<myUsernam>\Desktop\testChecker\zipFile_open\AppxMetadata\file.xml
App is running from here:
C:\Users\<myUsernam>\Desktop\testChecker\MyApp.exe

But my plan is to allow users to take my exe and run it from wherever they chose. I could specify they put it in a certain location if needed

John_Mc

Can you try moving it to the root of the C or D or whatever drive? The desktop is specific to a user so you might be running into permissions issues with that.

EyeSight

Just ran it from C: and C:\testFolder and the issue is still showing up

TonyStark

Does extract to directory recreate the folder and not set the permissions?

EyeSight

TonyStark wrote: »

Does extract to directory recreate the folder and not set the permissions?

Looking at the permissions on the folder it creates - In properties> Secutiry:
It shows Authenticated users, admin and SYSTEM have permissions to read, write & execute.
For some reason Users only have read & execute permissions. But that should allow them to access the path

After encountering this issue I added this to the code(which doesn't get rid of the error.)

             DirectorySecurity dir_security = Directory.GetAccessControl(path + "_open");

            IdentityReference everybodyIdentity = new SecurityIdentifier(WellKnownSidType.WorldSid, null);

            FileSystemAccessRule rule = new FileSystemAccessRule(
                everybodyIdentity,
                FileSystemRights.FullControl,
                InheritanceFlags.ContainerInherit | InheritanceFlags.ObjectInherit,
                PropagationFlags.None,
                AccessControlType.Allow);

            Directory.SetAccessControl(path + "_open", dir_security);

EDIT: I just looked at the folder permissions when running via VS(which works fine). Looks like the only difference is that I have write access. But in my code just above i am giving full access control. So I am not sure how else to do this

Webmonkey

Are you forgetting to actually add/set the Rule?

[b]dir_security.AddAccessRule(rule);[/b]
Directory.SetAccessControl(path + "_open", dir_security);

BrokenArrows

EyeSight wrote: »

The path I am using is: C:\Users\<myUsernam>\Desktop\testChecker\zipFile_open\AppxMetadata\file.xml
App is running from here:
C:\Users\<myUsernam>\Desktop\testChecker\MyApp.exe

But my plan is to allow users to take my exe and run it from wherever they chose. I could specify they put it in a certain location if needed

You say your extracted directory is zipFile_open\AppxMetadata\file.xml but your opening from manifestFile.Load(path + "_open\\file.xml");. You're missing the AppxMetadata.

stevenmu

When you say

This still occurs if i run the app as admin

does this mean as an admin user, or by right clicking and choosing "Run as administrator". UAC may prevent programs accessing files even if the user running the program has access to them, and even when it's an admin user.

EyeSight

I have no idea why this fixed the problem, but instead of copying and unzipping the file in the same directory as where the app exe is, I changed it to be here:

Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData)

Now it works.
Can a mod set this thread to "Answered" please? I don't think i have permissions to(ironically enough )