# IOpenFileDialogService.Show method

Shows an open file dialog and blocks until the user closes it.

```csharp
public string[] Show(IWindow? owner = null, OpenFileDialogOptions? options = null)
```

| parameter | description |
| --- | --- |
| owner | The window the dialog is shown on top of. When `null`, the active application window is used. |
| options | The dialog configuration — caption, filters, start folder, multiple selection. When `null`, platform defaults apply. |

## Return Value

The selected file paths, or an empty array if the user cancelled the dialog or no owner window could be resolved.

## Remarks

The synchronous variant holds the thread on a nested message loop. Prefer [`ShowAsync`](./ShowAsync.md) in new code.

## See Also

* interface [IWindow](../IWindow.md)
* class [OpenFileDialogOptions](../OpenFileDialogOptions.md)
* interface [IOpenFileDialogService](../IOpenFileDialogService.md)
* namespace [Eremex.AvaloniaUI.Controls.ApplicationServices](../index.md)

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