The working directory does not exist

Question

I am using Visual Studio 2010.

I wanted to study some code that dumps relevant data in a database, find out how it works and adapt it to my own version.

I only got as far as loading the solution in VS 2010, hitting the "Start Debugging" button, and then I got this error:

The working directory does not exist:
'D:\Dev\CodeProject\articles\smartcardfmwk\Smartcard_Framework

How can I fix this error?

The source code in question is Smart Card Framework, from Code Project

I downloaded the "Updated Project (VS2010)" and I can open it in VS2010, as well as build, but debugging just wouldn't work.

I did not try replicating the path yet, but as this is a working project, my company requires that it is placed on a very specific location accessible by others.

Answer 1

Nevermind, I got it. It was so simple, I'm sorry for wasting anyone's time.

The source Solution had a lot of Projects under them. I figured at least one of them was pointing to a directory that doesn't exist, so I waded through the Projects,

• I right-clicked a Project and clicked the Properties
• This will open up the ProjectName Property Tab
• Under the Debug tab, there is a filed called "Working Directory"; I changed it to where the project is currently located.

This solved my problem, for now, unless there's a Project I missed. I am wondering, though, if I have to do this again if I move the Solution elsewhere.

Answer 2

This happened also in VS 2019 after importing / upgrading an old C# project. I was not able to see any project properties to change. Finally it was fixed by manually editing the file <ProjName>.user.csproj as follows:

Replace

<StartWorkingDirectory>[wrong directory name]</StartWorkingDirectory>

with

<StartWorkingDirectory>.\</StartWorkingDirectory>