Read file in Shared Library Xamarin c#

Question

I have saved some .json files in the shared library.

I have managed to read just fine in iOS by the code

string fileName = $\"Files/file_name.json\";

v         


        

Answer 1

1. Add your "shared" file to your solution (in a folder within your PCL/NetStd/Shared project is fine, just set the build type to None).

2. In your Android project, create a link to the file in the Assets with a build type of AndroidAsset.

3. In your iOS project, create a link to the file with a build type of BundleResource.

Android Example:

  
    
      Assets\her.png
    
  

iOS Example:

  
    
      her.png
    
 

Note: You can manually edit the .csproj or perform a drop/drop from Finder/Explorer using the starting location of the file in your PCL/NetStd library but make you select create a link when you drop the file.

Now you can either use your own platform-dependent code via DI or use Xamarin.Essentials to access these read-only app bundled files from your PCL/NetStd library.

Xamarin.Essentials

using (var stream = await FileSystem.OpenAppPackageFileAsync("her.png"))
{
     ~~~
}