How can I access a data file from a Unit test method?

Question

Here is how I am trying to access the file-

1. I added a folder "TestData" in my unit test project

2. Added a file via Add->Existing Item. Set the Build Action=None, Copy To Output Directory= Copy Always

Accessing the file in the unit test method as below-

string fileName = System.IO.Path.Combine(
            System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(
            System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location), "TestData\\TestExcel2007File1.xlsx");

XmlDocument actual;
actual.Load(fileName);       //Throws exception saying cannot find part of the file path

I also tried using the Method attribute as-

[TestMethod, DeploymentItem(@"Test Data\", @"Test Data\")]

None seems to work.

The file path generated is

"D:\\MyProject\\TestResults\\MACHINE_NAME 2015-01-23 05_21_45\\Out\\TestData\\TestExcel2007File1.xlsx"

And the Out folder does not have the TestData folder, or the Excel file.

EDIT: My referenced assemblies are present in the Out folder. I am using Visual Studio 2010.

I did the same steps in a different project in Visual Studio 2012 and that seem to find the file in place and work as expected.

EDIT 2: I found that the TestData folder is copied in bin\debug folder, not in the path generated. But the referenced assemblies are copied in the generated path!

EDIT 3: Added a testsetting file and checked the Enable Deployment Menu, added the TestData folder in the Additional Files and directory to deploy list, still didn't work.

Answer 1

I work with xUnit and do it this way:

public static string GetImportPath()
{
    string[] importPaths =
    {
            @"TestData", @"..\TestData", @"..\..\TestData",
    };
    string importPath = importPaths.FirstOrDefault(Directory.Exists);
    Guard.NotNull(importPath, "importPath not found");
    return importPath;
}

I have the folder TestData in my Project folder, same level as bin, Properties etc.

In your case you'd use it like this:

string fileName = Path.Combine(GetImportPath(), "TestExcel2007File1.xlsx");

Answer 2

Restarting the visual studio made it work. Not even closing and reopening the solution was enough!!!