OpenFileDialog on .NET Core

Question

On .NET Framework you can use System.Windows.Forms.OpenFileDialog for open files with the native Windows UI but that only works on Windows.

There is a System.Windows.Forms.OpenFileDialog implementation for .Net Core or another alternative?

Answer 1

Since .NET Core added support for Windows desktop applications, WPF and Windows Forms applications that target .NET Core can use the OpenFileDialog and SaveFileDialog APIs exactly the same way as they would do in the .NET Framework.

These APIs have been ported to the Windows specific desktop packs that sit on top of .NET Core 3 and later.

Answer 2

With new and shiny .NET 5.0 Windows Application using WPF controls it is possible to use OpenFileDialog() method from Microsoft.Win32 library. It's not identical to Windows Forms version, for example - ShowDialog() method returns bool? instead of DialogResult.

Here is sample MyWpfView.xaml.cs code:

using Microsoft.Win32;
using System.Windows;

namespace TestProject {     
    public partial class MyWpfView 
    {
        public MyWpfView()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }
        
        private void BrowseButton_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
        {
            var fileDialog = new OpenFileDialog();
            if (fileDialog.ShowDialog() == true)
            {
                FileTextBox.Text = fileDialog.FileName;
            }
        }
    }
}