How to make a Resource ( .resx ) File and Read Data From .resx File

Resource ( .Resx ) File :

—A resource file is a collection of resources like images and audio files. —Resources are stored in key-value pairs. The Key identifies the resource by name, and the value refers to the resource, as in a hash table. 

You can add up to 4 GB of data in Resource file.

How to make a resource file:

The Resgen.exe utility comes along with .Net Framework SDK. This utility is used to create resource files. Steps are given below to make a resource file.

• Make an empty .txt file on Notepad for example faisal.txt, save it in any folder and copy the address of that folder.
• Open Visual Studio Command Prompt, write command "cd [path of folder]" and press enter to go on that path.
• Then write "resgen faisal.txt" to make a resource file. Do not close Command Prompt.

• 

• A resource file will be made on the folder where you save .txt file, mine made on desktop

• Now write resources on it using C# Application, by using Console Application with following code:

using System;

using System.Collections.Generic;

using System.Linq;

using System.Text;

using System.Resources;

using System.Drawing;

namespace lab4_rosource_reader

{

    class Program

    {

        static void Main(string[] args)

        {

            try // using try and catch so if any exception occur, it will show the error

            {

                ResourceWriter rw = new ResourceWriter(@"C:\Users\Faisal\Desktop\faisal.resources"); // it is the name of text file which exists on the desktop

                Image img;

                img = Image.FromFile(@"1.jpg"); // name of a jpg image exist on debug folder of program so we have not to enter the path like above

                rw.AddResource("1Image", img); 

                rw.AddResource("1Name", "Faisal Jabbar"); //name

                rw.AddResource("1Phone", "0092333*******"); // Phone Number

                img = Image.FromFile(@"2.jpg");

                rw.AddResource("2Image", img);

                rw.AddResource("2Name", "Abdul Jabbar");

                rw.AddResource("2Phone", "00920333*******");

                img = Image.FromFile(@"3.jpg");

                rw.AddResource("3Image", img);

                rw.AddResource("3Name", "Aqib");

                rw.AddResource("3Phone", "00920333*******");

                img = Image.FromFile(@"4.jpg");

                rw.AddResource("4Image", img);

                rw.AddResource("4Name", "Zohaib");

                rw.AddResource("4Phone", "00920333*******");

                img = Image.FromFile(@"5.jpg");

                rw.AddResource("5Image", img);

                rw.AddResource("5Name", "tabish");

                rw.AddResource("5Phone", "00920333*******");

                img = Image.FromFile(@"6.jpg");

                rw.AddResource("6Image", img);

                rw.AddResource("6Name", "Junaid");

                rw.AddResource("6Phone", "00920333*******");

                img = Image.FromFile(@"6.jpg");

                rw.AddResource("7Image", img);

                rw.AddResource("7Name", "Saqib");

                rw.AddResource("7Phone", "0333*******");

                Console.WriteLine("Resources written over resource file");

                rw.Close();

            }

            catch (Exception ex)

            {

                Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);

            }

        

        }

    }

}

• Now make .resx file of that resource file by again going to command prompt and writing "resgen faisal.resource faisal.resx"

• A file will be made on desktop or wherever your .resources file is name "faisal.resx".
• Attach that file to any Application by going to Solution Explorer and add existing item and use that resource.
• Code is given below:

private void btn_data_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

        {

            try

            {

                assembly = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly();

                rm = new ResourceManager("lab5_resourse_writer.faisal", assembly);  // resx file that is attached using solution explorer

                for (int Count = 1; Count <= 7; Count++) // there are data of 7 people

                {

                    this.img_Resources.Images.Add((Image)rm.GetObject(Count + "Image"));

                    this.listBox1.Items.Add(rm.GetString(Count + "Name"));

                    this.Phone_no.Add(rm.GetString(Count + "Phone"));

                }

                pictureBox1.Image = this.img_Resources.Images[0];

                this.listBox1.SelectedIndex = 0;

                this.btn_next.Enabled = true;

            }

            catch(Exception ex)

            {

                MessageBox.Show(ex.Message + "\n" + ex.StackTrace);

            }

        }

        private void listBox1_SelectedIndexChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)

        {

            this.txt_phone.Text = (string)this.Phone_no[this.listBox1.SelectedIndex];

            this.pictureBox1.Image = this.img_Resources.Images[this.listBox1.SelectedIndex];

        }

Output:

The Win Form App will read data from .resx file and generate the output:

Thank You for reading. Like this if you understood, It helps a lot to keep us motivated.