filepath - How can one get an absolute or normalized file path in .NET?

Question

How can one with minimal effort (using some already existing facility, if possible) convert paths like c:aaabb..ccc to c:aaaccc?

Answer 1

I would write it like this:

public static string NormalizePath(string path)
{
    return Path.GetFullPath(new Uri(path).LocalPath)
               .TrimEnd(Path.DirectorySeparatorChar, Path.AltDirectorySeparatorChar)
               .ToUpperInvariant();
}

This should handle few scenarios like

1. uri and potential escaped characters in it, like

   file:///C:/Test%20Project.exe -> C:TEST PROJECT.EXE

2. path segments specified by dots to denote current or parent directory

   c:aaabb..ccc -> C:AAACCC

3. tilde shortened (long) paths

   C:Progra~1 -> C:PROGRAM FILES

4. inconsistent directory delimiter character

   C:/Documentsabc.txt -> C:DOCUMENTSABC.TXT

Other than those, it can ignore case, trailing directory delimiter character etc.