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c#iofilestreamdelete-file

How to delete file and that file is used by another process using C#


In my C# application I want to delete file in below scenario.

  1. OpenFileDialog and select any .jpg file.

  2. Display that file in PictureBox.

  3. Delete that file if needed.

I already try while doing step 3 I set default Image to PictureBox just before delete but that is not work.

How can I delete file? Please suggest me.

 // Code for select file.
 private void btnSelet_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
 {
        if (DialogResult.OK == openFileDialog1.ShowDialog())
        {
            txtFileName.Text = openFileDialog1.FileName;
            myPictureBox.Image = Image.FromFile(openFileDialog1.FileName);
        }
 }

 // Code for Delete file
 private void btnDelete_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
 {
        try
        {
            //myPictureBox.Image = Image.FromFile(System.IO.Directory.GetCurrentDirectory() + @"\Images\defaultImage.jpg");
            System.IO.File.Delete(txtFileName.Text);
            MessageBox.Show("File Delete Sucessfully");
        }
        catch(Exception ex)
        {
            MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
        }
 }

Solution

  • Replacing the image sounds like a good idea - but don't forget to dispose of the old Image that's still holding the file open (and will, by default, until that Image is garbage collected - at some unknown time in the future):

    private void btnDelete_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
     {
            try
            {
                var old = myPictureBox.Image;
                myPictureBox.Image = Image.FromFile(System.IO.Directory.GetCurrentDirectory() + @"\Images\defaultImage.jpg");
                old.Dispose();
    
                System.IO.File.Delete(txtFileName.Text);
                MessageBox.Show("File Delete Sucessfully");
            }
            catch(Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
            }
     }
    

    (It may also be possible to Dispose of the Image directly without replacing the image for the PictureBox - it depends on what else you're going to do after deletion - e.g. if the form on which the PictureBox appears is closing that you may want to let that happen first and then just directly dispose of the image).