/// <summary>
        /// Gets the file from the filepath, validates the file, and converts it to the application model
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="filePath">File path for the application_config.json file to be used to convert</param>
        /// <returns>ApplicationModel if successful or null if unsuccessful</returns>
        public AppModel GetApplicationModelFromFile(string filePath)
        {
            AppModel model = null;
            string   json  = null;

            try
            {
                //read application config file into string
                using (StreamReader sr = new StreamReader(filePath))
                {
                    json = sr.ReadToEnd();
                }
            }
            catch (Exception e)
            {
                MessageBox.Show("The application config file could not be read from the file. Please check that it exists.", "Error", MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Error);
                _log.Error(e);
                return(model);
            }
            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(json))
            {
                MessageBox.Show("Application JSON file is empty. Please check that the application config is correct.", "Warning", MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Warning);
                _log.Warn("Application JSON file is empty after loading file.");
                return(model);
            }
            else
            {
                SchemaModel schemaModel = new SchemaModel();
                if (ValidateJSON(json, schemaModel.GetApplicationSchema()))
                {
                    //if correct json format, write it into applicationModel
                    try
                    {
                        model = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject <AppModel>(json);
                    }
                    catch (Exception e)
                    {
                        MessageBox.Show("Could not convert application config file. Please be sure that application config file is correct.", "Error", MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Error);
                        _log.Error(e);
                        return(model);
                    }
                }
                else
                {
                    MessageBox.Show("Could not validate application config file. Please be sure that application config file is correct.", "Warning", MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Warning);
                    _log.Warn("Could not validate application config file.");
                    return(model);
                }
            }
            return(model);
        }