Program.cs

string? choice;
string fileName = "courseData.txt";
// Resolve the actual file path so running from bin\Debug or the project root both find the file.
string file = ResolveDataFilePath(fileName);

// Local helper: look for the file in the exe directory and parent folders, then in the current directory and parents.
string ResolveDataFilePath(string name)
{
    // 1) Search from the application's base directory (where the exe runs)
    string dir = AppContext.BaseDirectory ?? Environment.CurrentDirectory;
    for (int i = 0; i < 8; i++)
    {
        string candidate = Path.Combine(dir, name);
        if (File.Exists(candidate)) return candidate;
        var parent = Directory.GetParent(dir);
        if (parent == null) break;
        dir = parent.FullName;
    }

    // 2) Search from the current working directory
    dir = Environment.CurrentDirectory;
    for (int i = 0; i < 8; i++)
    {
        string candidate = Path.Combine(dir, name);
        if (File.Exists(candidate)) return candidate;
        var parent = Directory.GetParent(dir);
        if (parent == null) break;
        dir = parent.FullName;
    }

    // 3) Not found — default to current directory path (file will be created there when writing)
    return Path.Combine(Environment.CurrentDirectory, name);
}

do
{
    Console.Clear();
    Console.WriteLine("1) Read data from file.");
    Console.WriteLine("2) Create file from data.");
    Console.WriteLine("3) Wah");
    Console.WriteLine("Enter any other key to exit.");

    choice = Console.ReadLine();

    if (choice == "1")
    {
        Console.Clear();
        if (File.Exists(file))
        {
            using (StreamReader sr = new(file))
            {
                while (!sr.EndOfStream)
                {
                    string? line = sr.ReadLine();

                    string[] arr = String.IsNullOrEmpty(line) ? Array.Empty<string>() : line.Split('|');

                    if (arr.Length >= 3)
                    {
                        Console.WriteLine("ID: " + arr[0]);
                        Console.WriteLine("Name : " + arr[1]);
                        Console.WriteLine("Realationship to Mario: " + arr[2]);
                        Console.WriteLine("-----------------------");
                    }
                    else if (arr.Length > 0)
                    {
                        Console.WriteLine("Malformed line: " + line);
                        Console.WriteLine("-----------------------");
                    }
                    // else empty line -> skip
                }
            }
            Console.WriteLine("Press Enter to continue...");
            string? go = Console.ReadLine();
            if (go != null) { Console.Clear(); }

        }
        else
        {
            Console.Clear();
            Console.WriteLine("File does not exist");
        }
    }
    else if (choice == "2")
    {
        Console.Clear();
        // Open the file for appending so existing data is preserved
        using (StreamWriter sw = new(file, append: true))
        {
            int id = 1;
            // If file already has entries, set id to next available
            if (File.Exists(file))
            {
                try
                {
                    var lines = File.ReadAllLines(file);
                    foreach (var l in lines)
                    {
                        if (String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(l)) continue;
                        var parts = l.Split('|');
                        if (parts.Length >= 1 && int.TryParse(parts[0], out int parsed))
                        {
                            if (parsed >= id) id = parsed + 1;
                        }
                    }
                }
                catch
                {
                    // ignore read errors; start id at 1
                    id = 1;
                }
            }

            int added = 0;
            for (;;)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Enter a character? (Y to add, any other key to stop)");

                string? resp = Console.ReadLine()?.ToUpper();

                if (resp != "Y")
                {
                        break; // enough entries added
                }

                Console.WriteLine("Enter the characters name.");

                string? name = Console.ReadLine();

                Console.WriteLine("Enter the characters relationship to Mario.");

                string? relationship = Console.ReadLine();
                sw.WriteLine($"{id}|{name}|{relationship}");
                id++;
                added++;

                Console.Clear();
            }
        }
        Console.Clear();
    } else if (choice == "3")
    {
        Console.Clear();
        for (int i = 0; i < 255; i++){
            Thread.Sleep(10);
            Console.WriteLine("Waaah!");
        }
        
    }
} while (choice == "1" || choice == "2");