Get Folder Files List and Export to CSV in .NET

In my previous tutorials, I’d explained how to upload and download files in asp.net, get directory files list with it’s sub-directory and other more cracking tutorials on Files, JavaScript, jQuery in Asp.net with an example code.

Now here in this tutorial, I’ll explain how to get folder files list and export to csv or excel spread sheet in asp.net using c# as well as vb.net.

To get list of file names from the specified directory or folder, we need to use static method Directory.Get ­Files included in System.IO namespace. This method returns the names of files (including their full path) from the specified directory structure. I’ve already explained list of available folder scanning options to get files including it’s sub-folders, file name with extension here.

Follow two easy steps to achieve this functionality with ease:

Step 1: Copy CsvExport.cs or CsvExport.vb file depends on your programming language. It’s a abstract class needed to export files list into csv or excel sheet.

Step 2: Copy and paste following code to your project wherever you want to implement this functionality. Just make sure to replace your directory paths and include required namespaces within your project.

Get Folder Files List and Export to CSV or Excel in C#

Following is the complete example that I demonstrate to get folder files list and export to csv or excel spread sheet recursively in .net using c#:

public static void StartProcees() {
    // replace your base path where to get files list
    string baseDirectory = @"C:\MyFolder\";
    // get list of files from the specific directory
    string[] allFiles = Directory.GetFiles(baseDirectory, "*.*", SearchOption.AllDirectories).OrderByDescending(x => x.Split('\\').Length).ToArray();
    if (allFiles.Count() > 0) {
        // replace your target path where to export files list
        string baseExportDirectory = @"C:\MyExportFolder\";
        string baseExportPath = baseExportDirectory + "FilesList.csv";

        PreparingFilesList(allFiles, baseDirectory, baseExportDirectory, baseExportPath);
    }
}

private static void PreparingFilesList(string[] allFiles, string baseDirectory, string baseExportDirectory, string baseExportPath) {
    var csvExport = new CsvExport();
    try {
        int fileCounter = 0;
        foreach (string file in allFiles) {
            fileCounter++;
            csvExport.AddRow();

            string fileName = Path.GetFileName(file);
            string dirPath = GetNeededDirectoriesFromPath(baseDirectory, file);

            int dirCounter = 0;
            var deepDirectories = dirPath.Split('\\');
            foreach (string dir in deepDirectories) {
                dirCounter++;
                if (dir.IndexOf(fileName) == -1) {
                    csvExport["Dir " + dirCounter] = dir;
                }
            }
            csvExport["File Name"] = fileName;
        }

        // create export directory if not exists
        if (!Directory.Exists(baseExportDirectory))
            Directory.CreateDirectory(baseExportDirectory);

        // delete old files if already exists
        if (File.Exists(baseExportPath))
            File.Delete(baseExportPath);

        // start exporting files to export directory
        csvExport.ExportToFile(baseExportPath);
    } catch (UnauthorizedAccessException UAEx) {
        Console.WriteLine(UAEx.Message);
    } catch (PathTooLongException PathEx) {
        Console.WriteLine(PathEx.Message);
    }
}

private static string GetNeededDirectoriesFromPath(string basePath, string path) {
    // normalize paths
    basePath = Path.GetFullPath(basePath);
    path = Path.GetFullPath(path);

    // same path case
    if (basePath == path)
        return string.Empty;

    // path is not contained in basePath case
    if (!path.StartsWith(basePath))
        return string.Empty;

    // extract relative path
    if (basePath[basePath.Length – 1] != Path.DirectorySeparatorChar) {
        basePath += Path.DirectorySeparatorChar;
    }

    return path.Substring(basePath.Length);
}

Get Folder Files List and Export to CSV or Excel in Vb.net

Following is the complete example that I demonstrate to get folder files list and export to csv or excel spread sheet recursively in .net using vb.net:

Public Shared Sub StartProcees()
    ' replace your base path where to get files list'
    Dim baseDirectory As String = "C:\MyFolder\"
    ' get list of files from the specific directory'
    Dim allFiles() As String = Directory.GetFiles(baseDirectory, "*.*", SearchOption.AllDirectories).OrderByDescending(Function(x) x.Split("\"c).Length).ToArray()
    If allFiles.Count() > 0 Then
        ' replace your target path where to export files list'
        Dim baseExportDirectory As String = "C:\MyExportFolder\"
        Dim baseExportPath As String = baseExportDirectory & "FilesList.csv"

        PreparingFilesList(allFiles, baseDirectory, baseExportDirectory, baseExportPath)
    End If
End Sub

Private Shared Sub PreparingFilesList(ByVal allFiles() As String, ByVal baseDirectory As String, ByVal baseExportDirectory As String, ByVal baseExportPath As String)
    Dim csvExport = New CsvExport()
    Try
        Dim fileCounter As Integer = 0
        For Each file As String In allFiles
            fileCounter += 1
            csvExport.AddRow()

            Dim fileName As String = Path.GetFileName(file)
            Dim dirPath As String = GetNeededDirectoriesFromPath(baseDirectory, file)

            Dim dirCounter As Integer = 0
            Dim deepDirectories = dirPath.Split("\"c)
            For Each dir As String In deepDirectories
                dirCounter += 1
                If dir.IndexOf(fileName) = -1 Then
                    csvExport("Dir " & dirCounter) = dir
                End If
            Next dir
            csvExport("File Name") = fileName
        Next file

        ' create export directory if not exists'
        If Not Directory.Exists(baseExportDirectory) Then
            Directory.CreateDirectory(baseExportDirectory)
        End If

        ' delete old files if already exists'
        If File.Exists(baseExportPath) Then
            File.Delete(baseExportPath)
        End If

        ' start exporting files to export directory'
        csvExport.ExportToFile(baseExportPath)
    Catch UAEx As UnauthorizedAccessException
        Console.WriteLine(UAEx.Message)
    Catch PathEx As PathTooLongException
        Console.WriteLine(PathEx.Message)
    End Try
End Sub

Private Shared Function GetNeededDirectoriesFromPath(ByVal basePath As String, ByVal path As String) As String
    ' normalize paths'
    basePath = System.IO.Path.GetFullPath(basePath)
    path = System.IO.Path.GetFullPath(path)

    ' same path case'
    If basePath = path Then
        Return String.Empty
    End If

    ' path is not contained in basePath case'
    If Not path.StartsWith(basePath) Then
        Return String.Empty
    End If

    ' extract relative path'
    If basePath.Chars(basePath.Length - 1) <> System.IO.Path.DirectorySeparatorChar Then
        basePath &= System.IO.Path.DirectorySeparatorChar
    End If

    Return path.Substring(basePath.Length)
End Function

Example Usage

You can use above example by simply calling the StartProcees() method wherever you want to use.

That’s it, now you’ll be able to get folder files list and export to csv or excel to specified folder path without any trouble.

Example Result

Download Example