How to load an XML file from a file in the solution, build with Embedded Resource?

Question

Here's an outline of my solution:

enter image description here

I've set the build to Embedded Resource and when I generate the application the XML file doesn't appear in the /Release folder. This is correct, I want this behavior.

Now I'm trying to load that file into an XDocument so I can parse the data within:

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Parsing XML.");

        XDocument championXml = XDocument.Load("Champions.xml");

        Console.ReadKey();
    }
}

And I get a file not found error because it's trying to find the xml file in the full path of the release folder.

How can I properly load this data into my XDocument?

You need to load the resource, not the file in your project. — jrummell, Dec 06 '11 at 21:00
@jrummell: My project doesn't have any resource file. Can you elaborate? — Only Bolivian Here, Dec 06 '11 at 21:01
Related and good answear. https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3314140/how-to-read-embedded-resource-text-file/3314213#3314213 — p__d, May 30 '17 at 12:27

score 5 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 06 '11 at 21:07

Reference the resource property directly and use Parse instead of load:

XDocument championXml = XDocument.Parse(Properties.Resources.ChampionsXML);
                                                             ^^^^^^^^^^^^
                                           //Name of your resource |

The namespace will be somewhat different depending on your project structure.

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 06 '11 at 21:02

4

Use GetManifestResourceStream():

var asm = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly();
using(var stream = asm.GetManifestResourceStream("Namespace.Champions.xml"))
{
    // ...
}

The exact names used to reference resources can be found by calling GetManifestResourceNames().

answered Dec 06 '11 at 21:02

Cole Campbell

4,826
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I'm using .NET 3.5, and it seems the `XDocument.Load(stream)` is only available for .NET 4 and up. I can't use it in my application. How do I use this stream and turn it into xml? http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc838349%28v=vs.95%29.aspx – Only Bolivian Here Dec 06 '11 at 21:09
Found my answer in another question. Thanks! Will mark this as answer. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3281714/how-to-read-xml-file-using-system-io-stream-with-linq – Only Bolivian Here Dec 06 '11 at 21:13

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 06 '11 at 21:03

1

You should get stream from assembly:

Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceStream(name)

Where name will be something like: 'LinqToXml.Champions.xml'

answered Dec 06 '11 at 21:03

Krzysztof

15,648
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How to load an XML file from a file in the solution, build with Embedded Resource?

3 Answers3

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