Storing WPF Image Resources

Question

For a WPF application which will need 10 - 20 small icons and images for illustrative purposes, is storing these in the assembly as embedded resources the right way to go?

Answer 1

In code to load a resource in the executing assembly where my image Freq.png was in the folder Icons and defined as Resource:

this.Icon = new BitmapImage(new Uri(@"pack://application:,,,/" 
    + Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetName().Name 
    + ";component/" 
    + "Icons/Freq.png", UriKind.Absolute)); 

I also made a function:

/// <summary>
/// Load a resource WPF-BitmapImage (png, bmp, ...) from embedded resource defined as 'Resource' not as 'Embedded resource'.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="pathInApplication">Path without starting slash</param>
/// <param name="assembly">Usually 'Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly()'. If not mentionned, I will use the calling assembly</param>
/// <returns></returns>
public static BitmapImage LoadBitmapFromResource(string pathInApplication, Assembly assembly = null)
{
    if (assembly == null)
    {
        assembly = Assembly.GetCallingAssembly();
    }

    if (pathInApplication[0] == '/')
    {
        pathInApplication = pathInApplication.Substring(1);
    }
    return new BitmapImage(new Uri(@"pack://application:,,,/" + assembly.GetName().Name + ";component/" + pathInApplication, UriKind.Absolute)); 
}

Usage (assumption you put the function in a ResourceHelper class):

this.Icon = ResourceHelper.LoadBitmapFromResource("Icons/Freq.png");

Note: see MSDN Pack URIs in WPF:
pack://application:,,,/ReferencedAssembly;component/Subfolder/ResourceFile.xaml

Answer 2

1. Visual Studio 2010 Professional SP1.
2. .NET Framework 4 Client Profile.
3. PNG image added as resource on project properties.
4. New file in Resources folder automatically created.
5. Build action set to resource.

This worked for me:

<BitmapImage x:Key="MyImageSource" UriSource="Resources/Image.png" />

Answer 3

The following worked and the images to be set is resources in properties:

    var bitmapSource = Imaging.CreateBitmapSourceFromHBitmap(MyProject.Properties.Resources.myImage.GetHbitmap(),
                                      IntPtr.Zero,
                                      Int32Rect.Empty,
                                      BitmapSizeOptions.FromEmptyOptions());
    MyButton.Background = new ImageBrush(bitmapSource);
img_username.Source = bitmapSource;

Answer 4

Full description how to use resources: WPF Application Resource, Content, and Data Files

And how to reference them, read "Pack URIs in WPF".

In short, there is even means to reference resources from referenced/referencing assemblies.