Create a Recent File List Menu and Save to File

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Introduction

When creating an application, sometimes it's useful if you want to create a recent file list as a shortcut to open a previously-opened file. This makes opening a file look simple and handy.

Using the Code

To create a recent file list, we need just three methods:

• Save file list

  This method is called whenever you want to add an item to a list and save it. Usually, this item is a path to a previously-opened file.

• Load file list

  This method is to load a list from file but doesn't insert it to menu. Usually, this method is called at form_load and whenever you want to refresh list and list menu.

• Recent file click

  This is a click handler when user clicks the menus. Usually, this reopens a file.

The Code

Save File List

private void SaveRecentFile(string path)
{
    //clear all recent list from menu
    recentToolStripMenuItem.DropDownItems.Clear(); 
    LoadRecentList(); //load list from file
    if (!(MRUlist.Contains(path))) //prevent duplication on recent list
       MRUlist.Enqueue(path); //insert given path into list
    //keep list number not exceeded the given value
    while (MRUlist.Count > MRUnumber ) 
    {
       MRUlist.Dequeue();
    }
    foreach (string  item in MRUlist )
    {
       //create new menu for each item in list
       ToolStripMenuItem fileRecent = new ToolStripMenuItem
					(item, null, RecentFile_click);  
       //add the menu to "recent" menu
       recentToolStripMenuItem.DropDownItems.Add(fileRecent); 
    }
    //writing menu list to file
    //create file called "Recent.txt" located on app folder
    StreamWriter stringToWrite = 
	new StreamWriter(System.Environment.CurrentDirectory + "\\Recent.txt"); 
    foreach (string  item in MRUlist )
    {
       stringToWrite.WriteLine(item); //write list to stream
    }
    stringToWrite.Flush(); //write stream to file
    stringToWrite.Close(); //close the stream and reclaim memory
}

Load File List

private void LoadRecentList()
{//try to load file. If file isn't found, do nothing
   MRUlist.Clear();
   try
   {
      //read file stream
      StreamReader listToRead = 
	new StreamReader(System.Environment.CurrentDirectory + "\\Recent.txt"); 
      string line;
      while ((line = listToRead.ReadLine()) != null) //read each line until end of file
         MRUlist.Enqueue(line); //insert to list
      listToRead.Close(); //close the stream
   }
   catch (Exception){}
}

Recent File Click

private void RecentFile_click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
   //just load a file
   richTextBox1.LoadFile(sender.ToString (), RichTextBoxStreamType.PlainText); 
}

And here's where those methods are called:

private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
   LoadRecentList(); //load a configuration-like file containing recent list
   foreach (string  item in MRUlist )
   {
       //populating menu
       ToolStripMenuItem fileRecent = 
		new ToolStripMenuItem(item, null, RecentFile_click);  
       //add the menu to "recent" menu
       recentToolStripMenuItem.DropDownItems.Add(fileRecent); 
    }
}
private void openToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{ ...
   //insert new item after open a file
   SaveRecentFile(openFileDialog1.FileName); 
 ...
}

So that's it -simple but useful code.

History

• 2^nd January, 2009: Initial post