Checking for Open Text File in Notepad and Closing it

Question

I wonder if anyone might be able to resolve the following issue: I have a text file, which I write to using a StreamWriter. I want to be able to append to the file, but beforehand I must ensure that the file is closed. I have tried using System.Threading.Mutex(), System.Diagnostics.Process.GetCurrentProcess(), and System.Diagnostics.Process.GetProcessesByName(). But with no success. I think my problem mainly exists with either detecting whether a file is open (i.e. file locked), or the specific file is open, as opposed to the application (Notepad) which it runs in. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

HumptyNotSoDumpty · Answer

Thanks for your input 'c#intern'. I'm afraid I'm already at that stage but I need to allow for when the file already open. Consider the following situation for example: The text file has been opened for viewing and left open. The operator leaves the file open and failed to close it. The application needs to append some more text to it but it is already open and hence a new instance of the document will open. The outcome being that the new text is added to a new file with the same name but not appended to the existing file. The only two options that I think I have are: * Close the open document and re-open it with a new StreamWriter session. * Somehow check to see if the file is open and then establish a new StreamWriter session to the already open document.

CI · Answer

This is probably too trivial (I have started with C# only about 10 days ago) but I thought I'd out in my 2 cents worth.. Try this: using (StreamWriter sr = new StreamWriter(filename)) { write to file etc... } After the } the file is now closed. Before appending open the streamwriter again. If this doesn't work I believe you could use File instead of StreamWriter and then use File.Append(). HTH.

Checking for Open Text File in Notepad, and Closing it