How do I: Dynamically embed resource files (specifically, XML) (...)

  • Thread starter Thread starter CodeLeon
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C

CodeLeon

Hi, All. I am creating a setup program. The way it works is that the
user creates their setup info, my program generates the C# code for a
setup executable, embeds the xml file containing the info for the
setup, and compiles the whole thing into one EXE. How do i embed
resources, and access them, into that assembly?
 
Hi,

When you compile the assembly with the C# compiler use a /resource switch
for each resource that you want to embed:

C# Language Reference
/resource (Embed Resource File to Output) (C# Compiler Options)
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/c0tyye07(VS.80).aspx

You can use the resgen tool to create binary resources from an xml resource
file (.resx) that you can supply to the C# compiler:

..NET Framework Tools
Resource File Generator (Resgen.exe)
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ccec7sz1(VS.80).aspx
 
Thank you for your reply. It is much appreciated. So, how would I do
this programatically, usang an ICodeCompiler or similar class? How
would I use a simple (ie, serialized) XML file?

Thanks again!
 
Hi,

The following link contains an example:

CompilerParameters.EmbeddedResources Property
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/li...ler.compilerparameters.embeddedresources.aspx

To create the resource file you can write it to a temporary file on disk for
use with the CodeDOM:

..NET Framework Class Library
ResourceWriter Class
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.resources.resourcewriter(VS.80).aspx

Here's an example that I've derived based on the links above (your
serialized xml can be a byte[] or string here):

string temp = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(),
Path.GetTempFileName());

try
{
using (FileStream stream = new FileStream(temp))
// Unfortunately, the EmbeddedResources property is a
// StringCollection and accepts only file paths, not resource
// streams, so MemoryStream can't be used here
{
using (ResourceWriter writer = new ResourceWriter(stream))
{
// your xml can be byte[] or a string
writer.AddResource("name", yourXml);
writer.AddResource("name2", yourXml2);
}
}

CompilerParameters cp = new CompilerParameters();

// provider is an instance of CodeDomProvider
if (provider.Supports(GeneratorSupport.Resources))
{
cp.EmbeddedResources.Add(temp);
}
...
CompilerResults cr =
provider.CompileAssemblyFromFile(cp, sourceFile);
...
}
finally
{
File.Delete(temp);
}


I haven't tested the code myself so beware :)
 
Thank you! I do have a question: can EmbeddedResources contain binary
data, like for self-extraction, or text data, like for an html page?
Your links above really answered my question :) I appreciate your
reply!

Dave said:
Hi,

The following link contains an example:

CompilerParameters.EmbeddedResources Property
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/li...ler.compilerparameters.embeddedresources.aspx

To create the resource file you can write it to a temporary file on disk for
use with the CodeDOM:

.NET Framework Class Library
ResourceWriter Class
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.resources.resourcewriter(VS.80).aspx

Here's an example that I've derived based on the links above (your
serialized xml can be a byte[] or string here):

string temp = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(),
Path.GetTempFileName());

try
{
using (FileStream stream = new FileStream(temp))
// Unfortunately, the EmbeddedResources property is a
// StringCollection and accepts only file paths, not resource
// streams, so MemoryStream can't be used here
{
using (ResourceWriter writer = new ResourceWriter(stream))
{
// your xml can be byte[] or a string
writer.AddResource("name", yourXml);
writer.AddResource("name2", yourXml2);
}
}

CompilerParameters cp = new CompilerParameters();

// provider is an instance of CodeDomProvider
if (provider.Supports(GeneratorSupport.Resources))
{
cp.EmbeddedResources.Add(temp);
}
...
CompilerResults cr =
provider.CompileAssemblyFromFile(cp, sourceFile);
...
}
finally
{
File.Delete(temp);
}


I haven't tested the code myself so beware :)

--
Dave Sexton
http://davesexton.com/blog

CodeLeon said:
Thank you for your reply. It is much appreciated. So, how would I do
this programatically, usang an ICodeCompiler or similar class? How
would I use a simple (ie, serialized) XML file?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Hi,

It can be any format that you want. Use the
System.Resources.ResourceManager to load the resource later. e.g., Use the
GetStream method for binary or GetString method for a string resource.

--
Dave Sexton
http://davesexton.com/blog

CodeLeon said:
Thank you! I do have a question: can EmbeddedResources contain binary
data, like for self-extraction, or text data, like for an html page?
Your links above really answered my question :) I appreciate your
reply!

Dave said:
Hi,

The following link contains an example:

CompilerParameters.EmbeddedResources Property
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/li...ler.compilerparameters.embeddedresources.aspx

To create the resource file you can write it to a temporary file on disk
for
use with the CodeDOM:

.NET Framework Class Library
ResourceWriter Class
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.resources.resourcewriter(VS.80).aspx

Here's an example that I've derived based on the links above (your
serialized xml can be a byte[] or string here):

string temp = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(),
Path.GetTempFileName());

try
{
using (FileStream stream = new FileStream(temp))
// Unfortunately, the EmbeddedResources property is a
// StringCollection and accepts only file paths, not resource
// streams, so MemoryStream can't be used here
{
using (ResourceWriter writer = new ResourceWriter(stream))
{
// your xml can be byte[] or a string
writer.AddResource("name", yourXml);
writer.AddResource("name2", yourXml2);
}
}

CompilerParameters cp = new CompilerParameters();

// provider is an instance of CodeDomProvider
if (provider.Supports(GeneratorSupport.Resources))
{
cp.EmbeddedResources.Add(temp);
}
...
CompilerResults cr =
provider.CompileAssemblyFromFile(cp, sourceFile);
...
}
finally
{
File.Delete(temp);
}


I haven't tested the code myself so beware :)

--
Dave Sexton
http://davesexton.com/blog

CodeLeon said:
Thank you for your reply. It is much appreciated. So, how would I do
this programatically, usang an ICodeCompiler or similar class? How
would I use a simple (ie, serialized) XML file?

Thanks again!

Dave Sexton wrote:
Hi,

When you compile the assembly with the C# compiler use a /resource
switch
for each resource that you want to embed:

C# Language Reference
/resource (Embed Resource File to Output) (C# Compiler Options)
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/c0tyye07(VS.80).aspx

You can use the resgen tool to create binary resources from an xml
resource
file (.resx) that you can supply to the C# compiler:

.NET Framework Tools
Resource File Generator (Resgen.exe)
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ccec7sz1(VS.80).aspx

--
Dave Sexton
http://davesexton.com/blog

Hi, All. I am creating a setup program. The way it works is that the
user creates their setup info, my program generates the C# code for
a
setup executable, embeds the xml file containing the info for the
setup, and compiles the whole thing into one EXE. How do i embed
resources, and access them, into that assembly?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
How are you compiling the generated source code? Are you calling csc or
using the CSharpCodeProvider class? In the former case, you should specify
the /resource: option [2], in the latter, specify embedded resources with
the EmbeddedResouces [1] property of the CompilerParameters instance you are
using when creating the code provider.

[1]
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/li...ler.compilerparameters.embeddedresources.aspx
[2]
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/e...ompiler.asp?frame=true#csharpcompiler_topic12
 
I believe I am going with the latter, so the library handling the
dynamic generation can easily be deployed to PCs without direct access
to the csc. Thank You!
How are you compiling the generated source code? Are you calling csc or
using the CSharpCodeProvider class? In the former case, you should specify
the /resource: option [2], in the latter, specify embedded resources with
the EmbeddedResouces [1] property of the CompilerParameters instance you are
using when creating the code provider.

[1]
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/li...ler.compilerparameters.embeddedresources.aspx
[2]
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/e...ompiler.asp?frame=true#csharpcompiler_topic12

CodeLeon said:
Hi, All. I am creating a setup program. The way it works is that the
user creates their setup info, my program generates the C# code for a
setup executable, embeds the xml file containing the info for the
setup, and compiles the whole thing into one EXE. How do i embed
resources, and access them, into that assembly?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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