Copying embedded resource as file to disk in C#

GPX picture GPX · Dec 10, 2010 · Viewed 21.6k times · Source

I have an INF file saved as an embedded resource in my C# project. I am trying to save this file to a local location on demand. I am using this method.

public static void SaveResourceToDisk(string ResourceName, string FileToExtractTo)
{
    Stream s = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceStream(ResourceName);
    FileStream resourceFile = new FileStream(FileToExtractTo, FileMode.Create);

    byte[] b = new byte[s.Length + 1];
    s.Read(b, 0, Convert.ToInt32(s.Length));
    resourceFile.Write(b, 0, Convert.ToInt32(b.Length - 1));
    resourceFile.Flush();
    resourceFile.Close();

    resourceFile = null;
}

When I try to call this method (passing the resource name along with the namespace name), I get the error:

Object reference not set to an instance of an object

What am I doing wrong here?

Answer

dreadwail picture dreadwail · Dec 10, 2010

You could call

System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceNames();

And inspect which embedded resources are accessible. Then you can compare that against what you are passing in to see if you are indeed accomplishing what you expected to.

Also, you should consider the using keyword to dispose of your streams:

using(FileStream ResourceFile = new FileStream(FileToExtractTo, FileMode.Create))
{
    //do stuff
}

Good luck.