Where to store files for Azure function?

Question

I have files that I reference from inside by C# code such as:

public static string Canonical()
{
    return File.ReadAllText(@"C:\\myapp\\" + "CanonicalMessage.xml");
}

How do I reference this file from within an Azure Function?

public static async Task<HttpResponseMessage> Run(HttpRequestMessage req, TraceWriter log)
{
    var data = File.ReadAllText(@"c:\\myapp\\" + "CanonicalMessage.xml");

    //etc
}

Perhaps I can simply embed this resource in the project?

Answer 1

Yes, put the file at the root of Azure Function project and set its property Copy to Output Directory to Copy if newer. Use code below.

public static async Task<HttpResponseMessage> Run(HttpRequestMessage req, TraceWriter log, ExecutionContext context)
{
    var data = File.ReadAllText(context.FunctionAppDirectory+"/CanonicalMessage.xml");

    //etc
}

Check the doc for more details.

If we need to add this file from anywhere locally, right click on Function project, Edit <FunctionProjectName>.csproj. Add Item below, relative or absolute path are both ok.

<ItemGroup>
  <None Include="c:\\myapp\\CanonicalMessage.xml">
    <CopyToOutputDirectory>PreserveNewest</CopyToOutputDirectory>
  </None>
</ItemGroup>