How Can I Reliably Remove or Replace Invalid Characters in File Paths and Names?

Handling Invalid Characters in File Paths and Names

This article addresses the challenge of reliably removing or replacing invalid characters within file paths and filenames. A previously suggested solution using the Trim method proved insufficient. The key is to actively manipulate the string to achieve the desired result.

Method 1: Removing Invalid Characters

A straightforward approach involves splitting the string at each invalid character and then concatenating the remaining parts:

<code class="language-csharp">public string RemoveInvalidChars(string filename)
{
    return string.Concat(filename.Split(Path.GetInvalidFileNameChars()));
}</code>

This method effectively eliminates any character identified as invalid by Path.GetInvalidFileNameChars().

Method 2: Replacing Invalid Characters

For scenarios where preserving the original string structure is important, replacing invalid characters with a suitable substitute (e.g., an underscore) is preferable:

<code class="language-csharp">public string ReplaceInvalidChars(string filename)
{
    return string.Join("_", filename.Split(Path.GetInvalidFileNameChars()));
}</code>

This approach splits the string at invalid characters and rejoins the segments using the underscore as a replacement, ensuring the overall filename or path remains largely intact. This is particularly useful when dealing with user-supplied filenames.

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