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.NET Development
.NET Framework 3.5
System Namespace
Environment Class

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This page is specific to
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008/.NET Framework 3.5

Other versions are also available for the following:
.NET Framework Class Library
Environment Class

Provides information about, and means to manipulate, the current environment and platform. This class cannot be inherited.

Namespace:  System
Assembly:  mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)
Visual Basic (Declaration)
<ComVisibleAttribute(True)> _
Public NotInheritable Class Environment
Visual Basic (Usage)
You do not need to declare an instance of a static class in order to access its members.
C#
[ComVisibleAttribute(true)]
public static class Environment
Visual C++
[ComVisibleAttribute(true)]
public ref class Environment abstract sealed
JScript
public final class Environment

Use the Environment class to retrieve information such as command-line arguments, the exit code, environment variable settings, contents of the call stack, time since last system boot, and the version of the common language runtime.

The following example demonstrates displays a list of information about the current environment.

Visual Basic
' Sample for Environment class summary
Imports System
Imports System.Collections

Class Sample
   Public Shared Sub Main()
      Dim str As [String]
      Dim nl As [String] = Environment.NewLine
      '
      Console.WriteLine()
      Console.WriteLine("-- Environment members --")

      '  Invoke this sample with an arbitrary set of command line arguments.
      Console.WriteLine("CommandLine: {0}", Environment.CommandLine)

      Dim arguments As [String]() = Environment.GetCommandLineArgs()
      Console.WriteLine("GetCommandLineArgs: {0}", [String].Join(", ", arguments))

      '  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
      Console.WriteLine("CurrentDirectory: {0}", Environment.CurrentDirectory)

      Console.WriteLine("ExitCode: {0}", Environment.ExitCode)

      Console.WriteLine("HasShutdownStarted: {0}", Environment.HasShutdownStarted)

      '  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
      Console.WriteLine("MachineName: {0}", Environment.MachineName)

      Console.WriteLine("NewLine: {0}  first line{0}  second line{0}" & _
                        "  third line", Environment.NewLine)

      Console.WriteLine("OSVersion: {0}", Environment.OSVersion.ToString())

      Console.WriteLine("StackTrace: '{0}'", Environment.StackTrace)

      '  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
      Console.WriteLine("SystemDirectory: {0}", Environment.SystemDirectory)

      Console.WriteLine("TickCount: {0}", Environment.TickCount)

      '  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
      Console.WriteLine("UserDomainName: {0}", Environment.UserDomainName)

      Console.WriteLine("UserInteractive: {0}", Environment.UserInteractive)

      '  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
      Console.WriteLine("UserName: {0}", Environment.UserName)

      Console.WriteLine("Version: {0}", Environment.Version.ToString())

      Console.WriteLine("WorkingSet: {0}", Environment.WorkingSet)

      '  No example for Exit(exitCode) because doing so would terminate this example.

      '  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
      Dim query As [String] = "My system drive is %SystemDrive% and my" & _
                              " system root is %SystemRoot%"
      str = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables(query)
      Console.WriteLine("ExpandEnvironmentVariables: {0}  {1}", nl, str)

      Console.WriteLine("GetEnvironmentVariable: {0}  My temporary directory is {1}.", _
                        nl, Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("TEMP"))

      Console.WriteLine("GetEnvironmentVariables: ")
      Dim environmentVariables As IDictionary = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariables()
      Dim de As DictionaryEntry
      For Each de In environmentVariables
         Console.WriteLine("  {0} = {1}", de.Key, de.Value)
      Next de

      Console.WriteLine("GetFolderPath: {0}", _
              Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.System))

      Dim drives As [String]() = Environment.GetLogicalDrives()
      Console.WriteLine("GetLogicalDrives: {0}", [String].Join(", ", drives))
   End Sub 'Main
End Class 'Sample
'
'This example produces results similar to the following:
'(Any result that is lengthy or reveals information that should remain 
'secure has been omitted and marked "!---OMITTED---!".)
'
'C:\>env0 ARBITRARY TEXT
'
'-- Environment members --
'CommandLine: env0 ARBITRARY TEXT
'GetCommandLineArgs: env0, ARBITRARY, TEXT
'CurrentDirectory: C:\Documents and Settings\!---OMITTED---!
'ExitCode: 0
'HasShutdownStarted: False
'MachineName: !---OMITTED---!
'NewLine:
'  first line
'  second line
'  third line
'OSVersion: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600.0
'StackTrace: '   at System.Environment.GetStackTrace(Exception e)
'   at System.Environment.GetStackTrace(Exception e)
'   at System.Environment.get_StackTrace()
'   at Sample.Main()'
'SystemDirectory: C:\WINNT\System32
'TickCount: 17995355
'UserDomainName: !---OMITTED---!
'UserInteractive: True
'UserName: !---OMITTED---!
'Version: !---OMITTED---!
'WorkingSet: 5038080
'ExpandEnvironmentVariables:
'  My system drive is C: and my system root is C:\WINNT
'GetEnvironmentVariable:
'  My temporary directory is C:\DOCUME~1\!---OMITTED---!\LOCALS~1\Temp.
'GetEnvironmentVariables: 
'  !---OMITTED---!
'GetFolderPath: C:\WINNT\System32
'GetLogicalDrives: A:\, C:\, D:\
'

C#
// Sample for Environment class summary
using System;
using System.Collections;

class Sample 
{
    public static void Main() 
    {
    String str;
    String nl = Environment.NewLine;
//
    Console.WriteLine();
    Console.WriteLine("-- Environment members --");

//  Invoke this sample with an arbitrary set of command line arguments.
    Console.WriteLine("CommandLine: {0}", Environment.CommandLine);

    String[] arguments = Environment.GetCommandLineArgs();
    Console.WriteLine("GetCommandLineArgs: {0}", String.Join(", ", arguments));

//  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
    Console.WriteLine("CurrentDirectory: {0}", Environment.CurrentDirectory);

    Console.WriteLine("ExitCode: {0}", Environment.ExitCode);

    Console.WriteLine("HasShutdownStarted: {0}", Environment.HasShutdownStarted);

//  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
    Console.WriteLine("MachineName: {0}", Environment.MachineName);

    Console.WriteLine("NewLine: {0}  first line{0}  second line{0}  third line",
                          Environment.NewLine);

    Console.WriteLine("OSVersion: {0}", Environment.OSVersion.ToString());

    Console.WriteLine("StackTrace: '{0}'", Environment.StackTrace);

//  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
    Console.WriteLine("SystemDirectory: {0}", Environment.SystemDirectory);

    Console.WriteLine("TickCount: {0}", Environment.TickCount);

//  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
    Console.WriteLine("UserDomainName: {0}", Environment.UserDomainName);

    Console.WriteLine("UserInteractive: {0}", Environment.UserInteractive);

//  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
    Console.WriteLine("UserName: {0}", Environment.UserName);

    Console.WriteLine("Version: {0}", Environment.Version.ToString());

    Console.WriteLine("WorkingSet: {0}", Environment.WorkingSet);

//  No example for Exit(exitCode) because doing so would terminate this example.

//  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
    String query = "My system drive is %SystemDrive% and my system root is %SystemRoot%";
    str = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables(query);
    Console.WriteLine("ExpandEnvironmentVariables: {0}  {1}", nl, str);

    Console.WriteLine("GetEnvironmentVariable: {0}  My temporary directory is {1}.", nl,
                           Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("TEMP"));

    Console.WriteLine("GetEnvironmentVariables: ");
    IDictionary    environmentVariables = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariables();
    foreach (DictionaryEntry de in environmentVariables)
        {
        Console.WriteLine("  {0} = {1}", de.Key, de.Value);
        }

    Console.WriteLine("GetFolderPath: {0}", 
                 Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.System));

    String[] drives = Environment.GetLogicalDrives();
    Console.WriteLine("GetLogicalDrives: {0}", String.Join(", ", drives));
    }
}
/*
This example produces results similar to the following:
(Any result that is lengthy or reveals information that should remain 
secure has been omitted and marked "!---OMITTED---!".)

C:\>env0 ARBITRARY TEXT

-- Environment members --
CommandLine: env0 ARBITRARY TEXT
GetCommandLineArgs: env0, ARBITRARY, TEXT
CurrentDirectory: C:\Documents and Settings\!---OMITTED---!
ExitCode: 0
HasShutdownStarted: False
MachineName: !---OMITTED---!
NewLine:
  first line
  second line
  third line
OSVersion: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600.0
StackTrace: '   at System.Environment.GetStackTrace(Exception e)
   at System.Environment.GetStackTrace(Exception e)
   at System.Environment.get_StackTrace()
   at Sample.Main()'
SystemDirectory: C:\WINNT\System32
TickCount: 17995355
UserDomainName: !---OMITTED---!
UserInteractive: True
UserName: !---OMITTED---!
Version: !---OMITTED---!
WorkingSet: 5038080
ExpandEnvironmentVariables:
  My system drive is C: and my system root is C:\WINNT
GetEnvironmentVariable:
  My temporary directory is C:\DOCUME~1\!---OMITTED---!\LOCALS~1\Temp.
GetEnvironmentVariables: 
  !---OMITTED---!
GetFolderPath: C:\WINNT\System32
GetLogicalDrives: A:\, C:\, D:\

*/

Visual C++
// Sample for Environment class summary
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Collections;
int main()
{
   String^ str;
   String^ nl = Environment::NewLine;

   //
   Console::WriteLine();
   Console::WriteLine( "-- Environment members --" );

   //  Invoke this sample with an arbitrary set of command line arguments.
   Console::WriteLine( "CommandLine: {0}", Environment::CommandLine );
   array<String^>^arguments = Environment::GetCommandLineArgs();
   Console::WriteLine( "GetCommandLineArgs: {0}", String::Join( ", ", arguments ) );

   //  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
   Console::WriteLine( "CurrentDirectory: {0}", Environment::CurrentDirectory );
   Console::WriteLine( "ExitCode: {0}", Environment::ExitCode );
   Console::WriteLine( "HasShutdownStarted: {0}", Environment::HasShutdownStarted );

   //  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
   Console::WriteLine( "MachineName: {0}", Environment::MachineName );
   Console::WriteLine( "NewLine: {0}  first line {0}  second line {0}  third line", Environment::NewLine );
   Console::WriteLine( "OSVersion: {0}", Environment::OSVersion );
   Console::WriteLine( "StackTrace: ' {0}'", Environment::StackTrace );

   //  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
   Console::WriteLine( "SystemDirectory: {0}", Environment::SystemDirectory );
   Console::WriteLine( "TickCount: {0}", Environment::TickCount );

   //  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
   Console::WriteLine( "UserDomainName: {0}", Environment::UserDomainName );
   Console::WriteLine( "UserInteractive: {0}", Environment::UserInteractive );

   //  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
   Console::WriteLine( "UserName: {0}", Environment::UserName );
   Console::WriteLine( "Version: {0}", Environment::Version );
   Console::WriteLine( "WorkingSet: {0}", Environment::WorkingSet );

   //  No example for Exit(exitCode) because doing so would terminate this example.
   //  <-- Keep this information secure! -->
   String^ query = "My system drive is %SystemDrive% and my system root is %SystemRoot%";
   str = Environment::ExpandEnvironmentVariables( query );
   Console::WriteLine( "ExpandEnvironmentVariables: {0} {1}", nl, str );
   Console::WriteLine( "GetEnvironmentVariable: {0}  My temporary directory is {1}.", nl, Environment::GetEnvironmentVariable( "TEMP" ) );
   Console::WriteLine( "GetEnvironmentVariables: " );
   IDictionary^ environmentVariables = Environment::GetEnvironmentVariables();
   IEnumerator^ myEnum = environmentVariables->GetEnumerator();
   while ( myEnum->MoveNext() )
   {
      DictionaryEntry^ de = safe_cast<DictionaryEntry^>(myEnum->Current);
      Console::WriteLine( " {0} = {1}", de->Key, de->Value );
   }

   Console::WriteLine( "GetFolderPath: {0}", Environment::GetFolderPath( Environment::SpecialFolder::System ) );
   array<String^>^drives = Environment::GetLogicalDrives();
   Console::WriteLine( "GetLogicalDrives: {0}", String::Join( ", ", drives ) );
}

/*
This example produces results similar to the following:
(Any result that is lengthy or reveals information that should remain 
secure has been omitted and marked S"!---OMITTED---!".)

C:\>env0 ARBITRARY TEXT

-- Environment members --
CommandLine: env0 ARBITRARY TEXT
GetCommandLineArgs: env0, ARBITRARY, TEXT
CurrentDirectory: C:\Documents and Settings\!---OMITTED---!
ExitCode: 0
HasShutdownStarted: False
MachineName: !---OMITTED---!
NewLine:
  first line
  second line
  third line
OSVersion: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600.0
StackTrace: '   at System::Environment::GetStackTrace(Exception e)
   at System::Environment::GetStackTrace(Exception e)
   at System::Environment::get_StackTrace()
   at Sample::Main()'
SystemDirectory: C:\WINNT\System32
TickCount: 17995355
UserDomainName: !---OMITTED---!
UserInteractive: True
UserName: !---OMITTED---!
Version: !---OMITTED---!
WorkingSet: 5038080
ExpandEnvironmentVariables:
  My system drive is C: and my system root is C:\WINNT
GetEnvironmentVariable:
  My temporary directory is C:\DOCUME~1\!---OMITTED---!\LOCALS~1\Temp.
GetEnvironmentVariables:
  !---OMITTED---!
GetFolderPath: C:\WINNT\System32
GetLogicalDrives: A:\, C:\, D:\

*/

System..::.Object
  System..::.Environment
Any public static (Shared in Visual Basic) members of this type are thread safe. Any instance members are not guaranteed to be thread safe.

Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Starter Edition, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98, Windows CE, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, Xbox 360, Zune

The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.

.NET Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, 1.0

.NET Compact Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 2.0, 1.0

XNA Framework

Supported in: 3.0, 2.0, 1.0
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