Get root directory of a folder +1

Question

How can i get the root directory of a folder +1?

Example: Input: C:\Level1\Level2\level3 output should be:

Level1

If input is Level1 output should be Level1

if input is C:\ output should be empty string

Is there is a .Net function handles this?

Directory.GetDirectoryRoot will always returns C:\

Answer 1

You can use the Path-class + Substring + Split to remove the root and get the top-folder.

// your directory:
string dir = @"C:\Level1\Level2\level3";     

// C:\  
string root = Path.GetPathRoot(dir); 

// Level1\Level2\level3:
string pathWithoutRoot = dir.Substring(root.Length);       

// Level1
string firstFolder = pathWithoutRoot.Split(Path.DirectorySeparatorChar).First(); 

Another way is using the DirectoryInfo class and it's Parent property:

DirectoryInfo directory = new DirectoryInfo(@"C:\Level1\Level2\level3");
string firstFolder = directory.Name;
while (directory.Parent != null && directory.Parent.Name != directory.Root.Name)
{
    firstFolder = directory.Parent.Name;
    directory = directory.Parent;
}

However, i would prefer the "lightweight" string methods.

Answer 2

You could loop up using the directory info class using the following structure by adding the code section below into a method

string path = "C:\Level1\Level2\level3";
DirectoryInfo d = new DirectoryInfo(path);
while (d.Parent.FullName != Path.GetPathRoot(path))
{
    d = d.Parent;
}
return d.FullName;