Why when creating the directory i'm getting error that the given format is not valid?

Question

``` Directory.CreateDirectory(@"c:	emp
ewimages" + "SecondProcess_" + DateTime.Now); ``` What i want to create is a directory at c:	emp
ewimages\ For example: c:	emp
ewimages\SecondProcess_5/13/2014-2:33 NotsupportedException: The given path's format is not supported ``` System.NotSupportedException was unhandled HResult=-2146233067 Message=The given path's format is not supported. Source=mscorlib StackTrace: at System.Security.Util.StringExpressionSet.CanonicalizePath(String path, Boolean needFullPath) at System.Security.Util.StringExpressionSet.CreateListFromExpressions(String[] str, Boolean needFullPath) at System.Security.Permissions.FileIOPermission.AddPathList(FileIOPermissionAccess access, AccessControlActions control, String[] pathListOrig, Boolean checkForDuplicates, Boolean needFullPath, Boolean copyPathList) at System.Security.Permissions.FileIOPermission..ctor(FileIOPermissionAccess access, String[] pathList, Boolean checkForDuplicates, Boolean needFullPath) at Syst…

Accepted Answer

You have invalid characters in the file name - forward slashes and colons are not allowed.

You'll have to output the date in a format that's allowed, something like the following.

```
var path = Path.Combine(@"c:	emp
ewimages",
    String.Concat("SecondProcess_", DateTime.Now.ToString("MMddyyyy-HHmm")));
```

And I'd suggest using `Path.Combine` to safely build the file path, instead of using string concatenation.

Why when creating the directory i'm getting error that the given format is not valid?

Solution

Problem