File.ReadAllLines() with resources are rejected each time.

[davebold370]

So, Here is the question I have.
Why does, file located in stated area, work: File.ReadAllLines(AppPath & "\filename.txt")
While this one, files uploaded into resource and saved then restarted, File.ReadAllLines(My.Resources.filename) doesn't?
The files are in the correct locations. The resource is in the resource folder using the VB.net system and the appPath files are in the appPath be a copy and paste.

The error is the resources has illegal characters in the path name. What could be causing this problem?

Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        Dim appPath As String = My.Application.Info.DirectoryPath.ToString()
        Dim reVeadAsString As String() = IO.File.ReadAllLines(My.Resources.vead)
        RichTextBox1.Text = reVeadAsString(15)
    End Sub

[stanav]

What kind of file is embedded in My.Resources.vead?

[davebold370]

@Stanav basic text files with lists of words.

[dunfiddlin]

Files held in resources are stored as a byte array. A text file in resources cannot therefore be read as a text file (or indeed a file of any kind) because it isn't one. If you want to store text in a resource file you should do so as a string and split on CrLf to get the lines. If you insist on storing a text file in resources then you have no choice but to write the array to a temporary file and then read that in the normal way.

[davebold370]

@Dunfiddlin That makes a lot of sense. So, it will be best not even to use the resource text file system and just reference to the folder inside the AppPath.

[stanav]

As Dunfiddlin explained, most files stored as byte array in my.resource except a few file types such as icon, image and text files. With text file, as in your case, it is stored the content of the file as a string, which is the equivalence of what you get when calling io.file.readalltext(filepath). Thus, to get to the individual lines of that string, you will need to split it into an array of text lines. If you don't want the user to mess with your file, or simply want to deploy a single exe file then embedding the file in my.resources is the way to go... Otherwise, it is easier/more efficient to work with a physical file than with a resource.

[davebold370]

Thank you all for your help. I am trying to make a single instance program that calls from three different text files but single lines in each text file. I tried:

        Dim lines As New ArrayList()
        Try
            Using reader As New StreamReader(My.Resources.vead)
                While Not (reader.Peek() = -1)
                    lines.Add(reader.ReadLine())
                End While
            End Using
        Catch ex As IOException
messagebox.Show("error","error")
        End Try
        RichTextBox1.Text = lines(15)

But Got the same error message. I have never pulled from the resources before and I'm trying to figure it out.

[stanav]

Try this:

Dim lines() as string = My.Resources.vead.Split(Environment.NewLine)
If lines.Length > 15 Then
     RichTextBox1.Text = lines(15)
End If

[davebold370]

Thank you. So far, it's pulling from the file like I want it to, but the problem is it's pulling with new lines which breaks up how the program works.

Dim rand As New Random
        Dim lines() As String = My.Resources.vead.Split(CChar(Environment.NewLine))
        Dim length As Integer
        Dim Rad As Integer
        Dim vead As String
        For i = 0 To 5
            length = CInt(lines.Length.ToString())
            Rad = rand.Next(1, (length - 1))
            vead = lines(Rad)
            RichTextBox1.Text = RichTextBox1.Text & " " & vead
        Next i

I have attached the vead.txt file which I am pulling from.

[probuddha]

Pro Tip. Read up on Files Input Output
http://www.programmer-tutorials.com/...-net-files-io/

[dunfiddlin]

You can't convert Environment.NewLine (or vbCrLf which makes the point for you!) into a char because it's two! You need to use the string delimiter syntax which is ..

Dim lines() As String = My.Resources.vead.Split({Environment.NewLine}, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries)

[techgnome]

Also.... this line... is doing work that is unnecessary and dangerous...
length = CInt(lines.Length.ToString())

well, it's a bad habit at any rate...

Lines.Length returns an integer... it can't return anything else... so there's no point in using .ToString on it... ESPECIALLY if you're then going to convert it right back to an integer with CInt....

length = lines.Length ... nothing more, nothing less...

only time you should use .ToString on a number like that... is if you're going to display it... and even then, there's (arguably) better ways.

-tg