Develop Reference

How to embed a file and then save it to a location?

I've added a test.zip to a C# project by creating a Resource1.resx and dragged to the resx tab. It is now visible in the Solution Explorer as a child of Resources.
When the program runs, I'd like to move it from the .exe to a location on the computer like My Documents.
I've a feeling I need to convert the resource to a memory stream before I can write it to file but I'm not sure how to access the file as resource or how to convert it.
I think the following extracts the resource object (then again, it doesn't error no matter what the first param is) but I'm not sure how to proceed:
var resource = new ResourceManager("test", Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly());

Since you activate the resources you have already a ResourceManager.Just use GetObject method,get the bytes of your file and write the them to a new file with File.WriteAllBytes:
var bytes = Properties.Resources.ResourceManager.GetObject("resourceName") as byte[];
File.WriteAllBytes("newFile.zip", bytes);

You should use Assembly.GetManifestResourceStream.
using (Stream x = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceStream("test"))
{
...
}
Reference to MSDN.

Access an XSLT file as resource from same project?

I have an XSLT file that I want to load and use to transform an XML file. I've added the file to the same project as the code that uses it and put it in the "Resources" folder and set the Build Action to "Resource".
This is the code that tries to access the file:
XslCompiledTransform myXslTransform = new XslCompiledTransform();
myXslTransform.Load(#"[projectName];component/Resources/OrderManagement/OrderOverview.xslt");
... where [projectName] is the name of the project. However this doesn't seem to work. I've played around with different paths, but somehow I don't seem to get it right. I'm sure it's just a little thing, but none of the articles I have found on the internet (or here) have helped me.
Can anyone help?

A co-worker has helped me find a solution. We added the resource via the properties of the project, so that I can access its content easily and used the following code.
using (var reader = new StringReader(Resources.OrderOverview)) {
using (XmlReader xmlReader = XmlReader.Create(reader)) {
myXslTransform.Load(xmlReader);
myXslTransform.Transform(fileName, arguments, xmlTextWriter);
}
}
This is very similar to what outcoldman suggested with the subtle difference that the resource is accessed differently.

Change the build action from Resource to Embedded Resource, after this you can do something like
XslCompiledTransform myXslTransform = new XslCompiledTransform();
var assembly = typeof(SomeTypeFromAssemblyWithResource).Assembly;
using (var stream = assembly.GetManifestResourceStream("Resources.OrderManagement.OrderOverview.xslt"))
{
using (var xmlReader = XmlReader.Create(stream))
{
myXslTransform.Load(xmlReader );
}
}
Resource name in dll can be tricky so maybe you want first to know the resource name with Assembly.GetManifestResourceNames. Compiler generates name based on the folder and assembly.

Adding resources(XML) to DLL in C#

I have follow project structure
/build-out/MyApp.dll
/dependencies/ResFile.xml
/src/MyFile.cs
In MyFile.cs I want to open mine ResFile.xml that is in /dependencies directory and read it for some needs. All works like a charm in Visual Studio but when I make an dll and use it with another apps(as external library) I get an error because it can't find dependencies/ResFile.xml file.
So, how resorce file can be added to result MyApp.dll file?

There are a few articles on StackOverflow about it, but some quick notes and code ...
Make sure you mark the file as an "Embedded Resource" in the properties under Build Action.
I am using some code to read html files from a DLL and this is roughly how I get it into a string. Gives you the general idea I hope.
foreach (string resource in Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceNames())
{
if (resource.EndsWith("Snippet.htm"))
{
Stream s = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceStream(resource);
byte[] buff = new byte[s.Length];
s.Read(buff, 0, buff.Length);
string snippet = Encoding.UTF8.GetString(buff);
}
}

Accessing Resources at Runtime

I have an XML file included as part of my Silverlight 4.0 project that I'd like to access at runtime. I have the file saved in a directory named Resources with the Build Action set to "Content" and the Copy to Output Directory set to "Do not copy". If I decompress the XAP file, I see the XML file in the location I expect it to be, but I'm not sure how to reference it from code. I currently have the following:
Stream stream = System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceStream(#"/AssemblyName;component/Resources/MyFile.xml")
Unfortunately, stream is null after running the code above. In addition to the path mentioned above, I've tried "/Resources/MyFile.xml", "/MyFile.xml" and "MyFile.xml", but they all experience the same behavior.
What is the correct way to access an XML file embedded as a resource in a Silverlight application?

A resource with build action "Content" just gets embedded into the xap file, with the same relative directory structure as the application. It does not get embedded as a resource in the assembly.
When set to build action "Content", you should be able to just load the file using something like (or whatever suits your needs):
XElement.Load(<relative directory>/<file>)
The method you're using currently (using a resource stream) is for embedded resources (which have their build action set to "Resource"). And for those, although I haven't tried yet if your method works, usually you'll get the resources using
Application.GetResourceStream

I have used the code snip below to get access to drawables. Not sure it's completely relevant, but hoping this will give you a hint one way or another ...
Resources res = getResources();
spec = tabHost.newTabSpec("groups").setIndicator("Groups", res.getDrawable(R.drawable.ic_tab_groups)).setContent(intent);

As was mentioned by Willem van Rumpt, "content" resources are not usual resources (they aren't stored in assembly). I've checked out this article and could't found at all that you could reference resource, marked as "content" from other assembly.
So, you have two options:
Define XML as embedded resource
Define XML as resource
In first case stream request looks like:
var a = Assembly.Load("AssemblyName");
var s = a.GetManifestResourceStream(#"DefaultNamespace.Resources.XMLFile2.xml");
In second case:
var a = Assembly.Load("AssemblyName");
var rm = new ResourceManager("AssemblyName.g", a);
using (var set = rm.GetResourceSet(CultureInfo.CurrentCulture, true, true))
{
var ums = (UnmanagedMemoryStream)set.GetObject(#"Resources/XMLFile1.xml", true);
}
Hope this helps.

Embedding a binary file inside a class library

Is it possible to embed a custom binary file inside a C# class library and then at runtime read it with a binary reader?
I'm guessing it might be possible through resources.
Many thanks

You can do this by adding the file to the Resources through the project properties. Visual studio will then give you a handy class to access your file using the following code
byte[] theFile = myNamespace.Properties.Resources.theBinaryFile;
Where the resource name is theBinaryFile.

Yes it is easy:
Add the file to your project and set the "Build action" to "Embedded resource".
In your program do
foreach (string name in Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceNames())
{
if (name.EndsWith("<name>", StringComparison.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase))
{
using (Stream stream = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceStream(name))
{
// ...
}
break;
}
}
Finding the right resource is a little bit complicating because there is stuff in front of the file name (namespaces etc. set a breakpoint to the if(...) to see the real resource name).