How to use binary files as resources in VB 2005

15 Oct 2006 11:28 AM

FreewareGuy

I want to add binary files to my VB 2005 executable to make a single
exe with all the required files which I can extract at will through my
code, how do I do this pls. guide o how to add binary file (.exe) and
extract them using resource files.

I got answer for this at Vbcity forums but the code provided was in C#
, pls. help me convert it to VB 2005

http://www.vbcity.com/forums/attachment.asp?id=17127

15 Oct 2006 12:37 PM

Michel Posseth [MCP]

i do not see the problem ,,,, there is a resource editor in the IDE in fact
a resource editor was already availlable in the ide since VB6 , i cannot
see the code on devcity as i do not have an account there .

regards

Michel

Show quoteHide quote

"FreewareGuy" <version***@gmail.com> schreef in bericht
news:1160911706.902342.187350@m7g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...
>I want to add binary files to my VB 2005 executable to make a single
> exe with all the required files which I can extract at will through my
> code, how do I do this pls. guide o how to add binary file (.exe) and
> extract them using resource files.
>
> I got answer for this at Vbcity forums but the code provided was in C#
> , pls. help me convert it to VB 2005
>
> http://www.vbcity.com/forums/attachment.asp?id=17127
>

15 Oct 2006 4:30 PM

FreewareGuy

Thanks for the reply, I had already added the Exe file as a resource to
my Vb 2005 project but I need to extract that to a file, I am using the
code below:

C# (WORKING)

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Reflection;
using System.IO;
using System.Diagnostics;

namespace ExtractEmbeddedApp
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void btnExtract_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            SaveFileDialog objSFD = new SaveFileDialog();
            objSFD.InitialDirectory = "C:\\";
            objSFD.Filter = "Executable (*.exe)|*.exe";
            objSFD.Title = "Save embedded resource to...";

            if (objSFD.ShowDialog() == DialogResult.OK)
            {
                Stream str =
Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceStream(
                    "ExtractEmbeddedApp.EmbeddedApp.exe");

                byte[] fileBytes = new byte[str.Length];

                str.Read(fileBytes, 0, fileBytes.Length);

                str.Close();
                str.Dispose();

                FileStream fs = File.Create(objSFD.FileName);
                fs.Write(fileBytes, 0, fileBytes.Length);
                fs.Flush();
                fs.Close();
                fs.Dispose();

                Process.Start(objSFD.FileName);
            }
        }
    }
}

I want the same functionality in VB 2005

Tried below code without sucess , produces error (Error location marked
as <<== in code below):
System.NullReferenceException was unhandled Message="Object reference
not set to an instance of an object.":

Imports System
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.IO

Public Class frmMain

    Private Sub btnSandboxie_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal
e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnSandboxie.Click

        Dim m As IO.MemoryStream = LoadResource(Me.GetType.Namespace &
".MyApp1.exe")

        SaveFile("c:\app1.exe", m)
    End Sub

    Private Function LoadResource(ByVal ResourceName As String) As
IO.MemoryStream
        Dim ResourceStream As IO.Stream
        ResourceStream =
Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly.GetManifestResourceStream(ResourceName)
        If ResourceStream Is Nothing Then Return Nothing
        Dim byts(CInt(ResourceStream.Length - 1)) As Byte
        Dim Len As Integer = ResourceStream.Read(byts, 0,
CInt(ResourceStream.Length))
        Dim MemStream As New IO.MemoryStream(byts, 0, Len)
        Return MemStream
    End Function

    Private Sub SaveFile(ByVal FilePath As String, ByVal mstream As
System.IO.MemoryStream)
        'save file to path specified
        Dim FS As New FileStream(FilePath, IO.FileMode.Create,
IO.FileAccess.Write)
        mstream.WriteTo(FS)
        mstream.Flush()
        FS.Close()
    End Sub
End Class

Show quoteHide quote

On Oct 15, 5:37 pm, "Michel Posseth [MCP]" <M***@posseth.com> wrote:
> i do not see the problem ,,,, there is a resource editor in the IDE in fact
> a resource editor was already availlable in the ide since VB6 , i cannot
> see the code on devcity as i do not have an account there .
>
> regards
>
> Michel
>
> "FreewareGuy" <version***@gmail.com> schreef in berichtnews:1160911706.902342.187***@m7g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...
>
> >I want to add binary files to my VB 2005 executable to make a single
> > exe with all the required files which I can extract at will through my
> > code, how do I do this pls. guide o how to add binary file (.exe) and
> > extract them using resource files.
>
> > I got answer for this at Vbcity forums but the code provided was in C#
> > , pls. help me convert it to VB 2005
>
> >http://www.vbcity.com/forums/attachment.asp?id=17127

16 Oct 2006 5:07 PM

FreewareGuy

Anybody pls. :(

FreewareGuy wrote:
Show quoteHide quote

> Thanks for the reply, I had already added the Exe file as a resource to
> my Vb 2005 project but I need to extract that to a file, I am using the
> code below:
>
> C# (WORKING)
>
> using System;
> using System.Collections.Generic;
> using System.ComponentModel;
> using System.Data;
> using System.Drawing;
> using System.Text;
> using System.Windows.Forms;
> using System.Reflection;
> using System.IO;
> using System.Diagnostics;
>
> namespace ExtractEmbeddedApp
> {
>     public partial class Form1 : Form
>     {
>         public Form1()
>         {
>             InitializeComponent();
>         }
>
>         private void btnExtract_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
>         {
>             SaveFileDialog objSFD = new SaveFileDialog();
>             objSFD.InitialDirectory = "C:\\";
>             objSFD.Filter = "Executable (*.exe)|*.exe";
>             objSFD.Title = "Save embedded resource to...";
>
>             if (objSFD.ShowDialog() == DialogResult.OK)
>             {
>                 Stream str =
> Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceStream(
>                     "ExtractEmbeddedApp.EmbeddedApp.exe");
>
>                 byte[] fileBytes = new byte[str.Length];
>
>                 str.Read(fileBytes, 0, fileBytes.Length);
>
>                 str.Close();
>                 str.Dispose();
>
>                 FileStream fs = File.Create(objSFD.FileName);
>                 fs.Write(fileBytes, 0, fileBytes.Length);
>                 fs.Flush();
>                 fs.Close();
>                 fs.Dispose();
>
>                 Process.Start(objSFD.FileName);
>             }
>         }
>     }
> }
>
> I want the same functionality in VB 2005
>
> Tried below code without sucess , produces error (Error location marked
> as <<== in code below):
> System.NullReferenceException was unhandled Message="Object reference
> not set to an instance of an object.":
>
> Imports System
> Imports System.Windows.Forms
> Imports System.Reflection
> Imports System.IO
>
> Public Class frmMain
>
>     Private Sub btnSandboxie_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal
> e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnSandboxie.Click
>
>         Dim m As IO.MemoryStream = LoadResource(Me.GetType.Namespace &
> ".MyApp1.exe")
>
>         SaveFile("c:\app1.exe", m)
>     End Sub
>
>     Private Function LoadResource(ByVal ResourceName As String) As
> IO.MemoryStream
>         Dim ResourceStream As IO.Stream
>         ResourceStream =
> Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly.GetManifestResourceStream(ResourceName)
>         If ResourceStream Is Nothing Then Return Nothing
>         Dim byts(CInt(ResourceStream.Length - 1)) As Byte
>         Dim Len As Integer = ResourceStream.Read(byts, 0,
> CInt(ResourceStream.Length))
>         Dim MemStream As New IO.MemoryStream(byts, 0, Len)
>         Return MemStream
>     End Function
>
>     Private Sub SaveFile(ByVal FilePath As String, ByVal mstream As
> System.IO.MemoryStream)
>         'save file to path specified
>         Dim FS As New FileStream(FilePath, IO.FileMode.Create,
> IO.FileAccess.Write)
>         mstream.WriteTo(FS)
>         mstream.Flush()
>         FS.Close()
>     End Sub
> End Class
>
> On Oct 15, 5:37 pm, "Michel Posseth [MCP]" <M***@posseth.com> wrote:
> > i do not see the problem ,,,, there is a resource editor in the IDE in fact
> > a resource editor was already availlable in the ide since VB6 , i cannot
> > see the code on devcity as i do not have an account there .
> >
> > regards
> >
> > Michel
> >
> > "FreewareGuy" <version***@gmail.com> schreef in berichtnews:1160911706.902342.187***@m7g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...
> >
> > >I want to add binary files to my VB 2005 executable to make a single
> > > exe with all the required files which I can extract at will through my
> > > code, how do I do this pls. guide o how to add binary file (.exe) and
> > > extract them using resource files.
> >
> > > I got answer for this at Vbcity forums but the code provided was in C#
> > > , pls. help me convert it to VB 2005
> >
> > >http://www.vbcity.com/forums/attachment.asp?id=17127

22 Oct 2006 3:57 PM

M. Posseth

sorry ... i lost track of this thread in my newsgroup reader

The answer to your problem is simple , bit odd that those guys at vbcity
showed you a C# example it isn`t C# city isn`t it ?? :-)

<imports>
Option Strict On
Option Explicit On
Imports System
Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.IO
</imports>

<methods>
Private Function GetResourceStream(ByVal resfile As String) As Stream
        Dim asm As Assembly = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly
        Return asm.GetManifestResourceStream(resfile)
End Function
</methods>

<Usage>

With (GetResourceStream("NameSpaceOfProg.Filename.Extension"))
            Dim count As Integer
            Dim byteArray As Byte()

            ' Read the first 20 bytes from the stream.
            byteArray = _
                New Byte(CType(.Length, Integer)) {}
            count = .Read(byteArray, 0, 20)

            ' Read the remaining Bytes, Byte by Byte.
            While (count < .Length)
                byteArray(count) = _
                    Convert.ToByte(.ReadByte())
                count += 1
            End While

            Using sw As Stream = File.Open("Filename.Extension",
FileMode.Create, FileAccess.Write)
                'create a binary write so we can use this to access the
underlying stream
                Using bw As New BinaryWriter(sw)
                    'write the byte array in one action
                    bw.Write(byteArray)
                    bw.Close()
                End Using
                sw.Close()
            End Using
        End With

</usage>

you can download a working and tested example here , this project extracts a
Access mdb to the working directory from the resource manifest
http://www.vbdotnetcoder.com/Downloads/Examples/authormp/ExtractFromResourceTest.zip

regards

Michel Posseth [MCP]

Show quoteHide quote

"FreewareGuy" wrote:

> Anybody pls. :(
>
> FreewareGuy wrote:
> > Thanks for the reply, I had already added the Exe file as a resource to
> > my Vb 2005 project but I need to extract that to a file, I am using the
> > code below:
> >
> > C# (WORKING)
> >
> > using System;
> > using System.Collections.Generic;
> > using System.ComponentModel;
> > using System.Data;
> > using System.Drawing;
> > using System.Text;
> > using System.Windows.Forms;
> > using System.Reflection;
> > using System.IO;
> > using System.Diagnostics;
> >
> > namespace ExtractEmbeddedApp
> > {
> >     public partial class Form1 : Form
> >     {
> >         public Form1()
> >         {
> >             InitializeComponent();
> >         }
> >
> >         private void btnExtract_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
> >         {
> >             SaveFileDialog objSFD = new SaveFileDialog();
> >             objSFD.InitialDirectory = "C:\\";
> >             objSFD.Filter = "Executable (*.exe)|*.exe";
> >             objSFD.Title = "Save embedded resource to...";
> >
> >             if (objSFD.ShowDialog() == DialogResult.OK)
> >             {
> >                 Stream str =
> > Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceStream(
> >                     "ExtractEmbeddedApp.EmbeddedApp.exe");
> >
> >                 byte[] fileBytes = new byte[str.Length];
> >
> >                 str.Read(fileBytes, 0, fileBytes.Length);
> >
> >                 str.Close();
> >                 str.Dispose();
> >
> >                 FileStream fs = File.Create(objSFD.FileName);
> >                 fs.Write(fileBytes, 0, fileBytes.Length);
> >                 fs.Flush();
> >                 fs.Close();
> >                 fs.Dispose();
> >
> >                 Process.Start(objSFD.FileName);
> >             }
> >         }
> >     }
> > }
> >
> > I want the same functionality in VB 2005
> >
> > Tried below code without sucess , produces error (Error location marked
> > as <<== in code below):
> > System.NullReferenceException was unhandled Message="Object reference
> > not set to an instance of an object.":
> >
> > Imports System
> > Imports System.Windows.Forms
> > Imports System.Reflection
> > Imports System.IO
> >
> > Public Class frmMain
> >
> >     Private Sub btnSandboxie_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal
> > e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnSandboxie.Click
> >
> >         Dim m As IO.MemoryStream = LoadResource(Me.GetType.Namespace &
> > ".MyApp1.exe")
> >
> >         SaveFile("c:\app1.exe", m)
> >     End Sub
> >
> >     Private Function LoadResource(ByVal ResourceName As String) As
> > IO.MemoryStream
> >         Dim ResourceStream As IO.Stream
> >         ResourceStream =
> > Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly.GetManifestResourceStream(ResourceName)
> >         If ResourceStream Is Nothing Then Return Nothing
> >         Dim byts(CInt(ResourceStream.Length - 1)) As Byte
> >         Dim Len As Integer = ResourceStream.Read(byts, 0,
> > CInt(ResourceStream.Length))
> >         Dim MemStream As New IO.MemoryStream(byts, 0, Len)
> >         Return MemStream
> >     End Function
> >
> >     Private Sub SaveFile(ByVal FilePath As String, ByVal mstream As
> > System.IO.MemoryStream)
> >         'save file to path specified
> >         Dim FS As New FileStream(FilePath, IO.FileMode.Create,
> > IO.FileAccess.Write)
> >         mstream.WriteTo(FS)
> >         mstream.Flush()
> >         FS.Close()
> >     End Sub
> > End Class
> >
> > On Oct 15, 5:37 pm, "Michel Posseth [MCP]" <M***@posseth.com> wrote:
> > > i do not see the problem ,,,, there is a resource editor in the IDE in fact
> > > a resource editor was already availlable in the ide since VB6 , i cannot
> > > see the code on devcity as i do not have an account there .
> > >
> > > regards
> > >
> > > Michel
> > >
> > > "FreewareGuy" <version***@gmail.com> schreef in berichtnews:1160911706.902342.187***@m7g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...
> > >
> > > >I want to add binary files to my VB 2005 executable to make a single
> > > > exe with all the required files which I can extract at will through my
> > > > code, how do I do this pls. guide o how to add binary file (.exe) and
> > > > extract them using resource files.
> > >
> > > > I got answer for this at Vbcity forums but the code provided was in C#
> > > > , pls. help me convert it to VB 2005
> > >
> > > >http://www.vbcity.com/forums/attachment.asp?id=17127
>
>