How to read embedded resource text file

Question

How do I read an embedded resource (text file) using StreamReader and return it as a string? My current script uses a Windows form and textbox that allows the

Answer 1

Read Embedded TXT FILE on Form Load Event.

Set the Variables Dynamically.

string f1 = "AppName.File1.Ext";
string f2 = "AppName.File2.Ext";
string f3 = "AppName.File3.Ext";

Call a Try Catch.

try 
{
     IncludeText(f1,f2,f3); 
     /// Pass the Resources Dynamically 
     /// through the call stack.
}

catch (Exception Ex)
{
     MessageBox.Show(Ex.Message);  
     /// Error for if the Stream is Null.
}

Create Void for IncludeText(), Visual Studio Does this for you. Click the Lightbulb to AutoGenerate The CodeBlock.

Put the following inside the Generated Code Block

Resource 1

var assembly = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly();
using (Stream stream = assembly.GetManifestResourceStream(file1))
using (StreamReader reader = new StreamReader(stream))
{
string result1 = reader.ReadToEnd();
richTextBox1.AppendText(result1 + Environment.NewLine + Environment.NewLine );
}

Resource 2

var assembly = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly();
using (Stream stream = assembly.GetManifestResourceStream(file2))
using (StreamReader reader = new StreamReader(stream))
{
string result2 = reader.ReadToEnd();
richTextBox1.AppendText(
result2 + Environment.NewLine + 
Environment.NewLine );
}

Resource 3

var assembly = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly();
using (Stream stream = assembly.GetManifestResourceStream(file3))

using (StreamReader reader = new StreamReader(stream))
{
    string result3 = reader.ReadToEnd();
    richTextBox1.AppendText(result3);
}

If you wish to send the returned variable somewhere else, just call another function and...

using (StreamReader reader = new StreamReader(stream))
{
    string result3 = reader.ReadToEnd();
    ///richTextBox1.AppendText(result3);
    string extVar = result3;

    /// another try catch here.

   try {

   SendVariableToLocation(extVar)
   {
         //// Put Code Here.
   }

       }

  catch (Exception ex)
  {
    Messagebox.Show(ex.Message);
  }

}

What this achieved was this, a method to combine multiple txt files, and read their embedded data, inside a single rich text box. which was my desired effect with this sample of Code.

Answer 2

I read an embedded resource text file use:

    /// <summary>
    /// Converts to generic list a byte array
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="content">byte array (embedded resource)</param>
    /// <returns>generic list of strings</returns>
    private List<string> GetLines(byte[] content)
    {
        string s = Encoding.Default.GetString(content, 0, content.Length - 1);
        return new List<string>(s.Split(new[] { Environment.NewLine }, StringSplitOptions.None));
    }

Sample:

var template = GetLines(Properties.Resources.LasTemplate /* resource name */);

template.ForEach(ln =>
{
    Debug.WriteLine(ln);
});

Answer 3

This is a class which you might find very convenient for reading embedded resource files from the current Assembly:

using System.IO;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;

public static class EmbeddedResourceUtils
{
    public static string ReadFromResourceFile(string endingFileName)
    {
        var assembly = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly();
        var manifestResourceNames = assembly.GetManifestResourceNames();

        foreach (var resourceName in manifestResourceNames)
        {
            var fileNameFromResourceName = _GetFileNameFromResourceName(resourceName);
            if (!fileNameFromResourceName.EndsWith(endingFileName))
            {
                continue;
            }

            using (var manifestResourceStream = assembly.GetManifestResourceStream(resourceName))
            {
                if (manifestResourceStream == null)
                {
                    continue;
                }

                using (var streamReader = new StreamReader(manifestResourceStream))
                {
                    return streamReader.ReadToEnd();
                }
            }
        }

        return null;
    }
    
    // https://stackoverflow.com/a/32176198/3764804
    private static string _GetFileNameFromResourceName(string resourceName)
    {
        var stringBuilder = new StringBuilder();
        var escapeDot = false;
        var haveExtension = false;

        for (var resourceNameIndex = resourceName.Length - 1;
            resourceNameIndex >= 0;
            resourceNameIndex--)
        {
            if (resourceName[resourceNameIndex] == '_')
            {
                escapeDot = true;
                continue;
            }

            if (resourceName[resourceNameIndex] == '.')
            {
                if (!escapeDot)
                {
                    if (haveExtension)
                    {
                        stringBuilder.Append('\\');
                        continue;
                    }

                    haveExtension = true;
                }
            }
            else
            {
                escapeDot = false;
            }

            stringBuilder.Append(resourceName[resourceNameIndex]);
        }

        var fileName = Path.GetDirectoryName(stringBuilder.ToString());
        return fileName == null ? null : new string(fileName.Reverse().ToArray());
    }
}

Answer 4

I know this is old, but I just wanted to point out for NETMF (.Net MicroFramework), you can easily do this:

string response = Resources.GetString(Resources.StringResources.MyFileName);

Since NETMF doesn't have GetManifestResourceStream