How to Ignore Illegal Characters in Path when using StreamWriter? - vb.net

Question

Full code at bottom.
I've been getting an ArgumentException: "Illegal characters in path" whenever I attempt to save my text file in the program I've created.
My thoughts are that it has something to do with the directory path(path is chosen by user when prompted to open the file using an inputbox). My path on my computer being:
C:\Users\User\Desktop\HighScoreEditor
I've read tab characters can be the cause of this exception so my thoughts were maybe it's caused by the "\" in the directory path. I'm a 2nd year University Student so I may be completely wrong.
What I'm looking for is how to ignore this exception so that my file is saved, or a way to fix it so this exception does not occur.
My file is read from a directory path input by the user during an inputbox:
Dim message, title, defaultValue As String
Dim myValue As Object
Dim inFile As StreamReader
Dim strLine As String
' Set prompt.
message = "Enter a directory path to open your HighScore List."
' Set title.
title = "Which HighScore List should I open?"
defaultValue = "" ' Set default value.
' Display message, title, and default value.
myValue = InputBox(message, title, defaultValue)
' If user has clicked Cancel.
If myValue Is "" Then
Exit Sub
End If
Try
If File.Exists(myValue) = False Then
MessageBox.Show("Error: File/Directory Path """ & myValue & """ does not exist.")
ElseIf File.Exists(myValue) = True Then
inFile = File.OpenText(myValue)
Do While inFile.Peek <> -1
strLine = inFile.ReadLine()
txtScores.Text = txtScores.Text & vbCrLf & strLine
Loop
' Close the file.
inFile.Close()
End If
Catch ex As Exception
MessageBox.Show("Error: File/Directory Path """ & myValue & """ was found, however could not be opened." & vbCrLf & "" & vbCrLf & "Please make sure the list has a .txt file extension.")
End Try
Here is my code for my StreamWriter and save button:
Private Sub mnuFile_Save_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles mnuFile_Save.Click
Dim outFile As StreamWriter
outFile = File.CreateText(txtScores.Text)
outFile.WriteLine(txtScores.Text)
outFile.Close()
End Sub
------FULL CODE BELOW------
Imports System.IO
Public Class frmHighScore_Editor
Dim strTxt As String = "Click File > Open to display your HighScore List Here."
Private Sub mnuFile_Exit_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles mnuFile_Exit.Click
' Terminates the program.
Me.Close()
End Sub
Private Sub mnuFile_Open_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles mnuFile_Open.Click
Dim frmContinue As New frmContinue
frmContinue.ShowDialog()
Dim message, title, defaultValue As String
Dim myValue As Object
Dim inFile As StreamReader
Dim strLine As String
' Set prompt.
message = "Enter a directory path to open your HighScore List."
' Set title.
title = "Which HighScore List should I open?"
defaultValue = "" ' Set default value.
' Display message, title, and default value.
myValue = InputBox(message, title, defaultValue)
' If user has clicked Cancel.
If myValue Is "" Then
Exit Sub
End If
txtScores.Text = String.Empty
Try
If File.Exists(myValue) = False Then
txtScores.Text = strTxt
MessageBox.Show("Error: File/Directory Path """ & myValue & """ does not exist.")
ElseIf File.Exists(myValue) = True Then
txtScores.Text = String.Empty
If myValue.Contains("Blackjack.txt") Then
pbGame_Photo.Image = HighScores.My.Resources.Blackjack
lblGameName_Output.Text = "Blackjack"
ElseIf myValue.Contains("Mahjong.txt") Then
pbGame_Photo.Image = HighScores.My.Resources.Mahjong
lblGameName_Output.Text = "Mahjong"
ElseIf myValue.Contains("Minesweeper.txt") Then
pbGame_Photo.Image = HighScores.My.Resources.Minesweeper
lblGameName_Output.Text = "MineSweeper"
ElseIf myValue.Contains("Pinball.txt") Then
pbGame_Photo.Image = HighScores.My.Resources.Pinball
lblGameName_Output.Text = "Pinball"
ElseIf myValue.Contains("Solitaire.txt") Then
pbGame_Photo.Image = HighScores.My.Resources.Solitaire
lblGameName_Output.Text = "Solitaire"
Else
pbGame_Photo.Image = HighScores.My.Resources.Blank
lblGameName_Output.Text = "Your Game"
End If
inFile = File.OpenText(myValue)
Do While inFile.Peek <> -1
strLine = inFile.ReadLine()
Dim Res As String = ""
Dim Array(0) As Integer
For Each c As Char In strLine
If IsNumeric(c) Then
Res = Res & c
If CInt(Res) > Array(0) Then
Array(0) = CInt(Res)
End If
End If
Next
txtScores.Text = txtScores.Text & vbCrLf & strLine
lblScoreAchieved_Output.Text = Array(0)
Loop
' Close the file.
inFile.Close()
txtScores.Enabled = True
End If
Catch ex As Exception
txtScores.Text = strTxt
MessageBox.Show("Error: File/Directory Path """ & myValue & """ was found, however could not be opened." & vbCrLf & "" & vbCrLf & "Please make sure the list has a .txt file extension.")
End Try
End Sub
Private Sub frmHighScore_Editor_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
' Set the focus.
gbGameInfo.Focus()
pbGame_Photo.Image = HighScores.My.Resources.Blank
' Disable text box on load since it's empty anyways.
txtScores.Enabled = False
txtScores.Text = strTxt
End Sub
Private Sub mnuFile_Save_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles mnuFile_Save.Click
Dim outFile As StreamWriter
outFile = File.CreateText(txtScores.Text)
outFile.WriteLine(txtScores.Text)
outFile.Close()
End Sub
End Class
------FULL CODE ABOVE------

Answer 1

myValue = InputBox(message, title, defaultValue)
That's a very poor way to ask for a filename. Use SaveFileDialog instead. Short from the intuitive dialog that any Windows user knows how to operate, it also automatically avoids that exception.