CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#visual-studio-2012
TrespassersW
TrespassersW

Reputation: 413

How can I share resources across multiple projects within a C# solution?

I have multiple projects in a solution and I'd like them all to share one pool of graphics resources. I've tried this:

1 - Created project1, made its resource file public, added some graphics to it.

2 - Created project2, Alt+dragged Resources.resx from project1\Properties to project2 (not in the Properties folder)

3 - Add reference in project2 to project1

So, now all the images from project1 are available in project2. So far, so good. I can use them at design time just fine.

But, when I want to access them at runtime, I try this (in project2)...

Image img = project1.Properties.Resources.image14;

And that crashes with a MissingManifestResourceException.

What am I doing wrong here? Is there a better way I could approach this? All I'm trying to do is maintain all my graphics in one place, so if I add a resource, it becomes available to all projects in the solution.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 4858

Answers (2)

gustavodidomenico
gustavodidomenico

Reputation: 4681

Just built an example following these steps:

  1. Create a class library do hold the resources (Project 1)
  2. Create the consumer project (Project 2)
  3. Add a resource file (GlobalResources.resx) in the Project 1 and add a resource item Information
  4. Change the BuildAction of the resource file to Embedded Resource
  5. Change the Do not copy of the resource file to False
  6. Check if the Custom Tool of the resource file is set to PublicResXFileCodeGenerator
  7. Add a reference to the class library (Project 1) to the consumer project (Project2).
  8. Add the resource namespace reference wherever you want to use it.
  9. Finally it is working: GlobalResources.Information

It should be simple.

Edit:

You are concerned about using an external resource file inside the design time property editor. Sorry to inform that there is no standard support for this :(

However, if you think that the benefits are greater than the effort:

Issue with shared WinForms resources across projects in Visual Studio

How do I get the Windows Forms Designer to use resources from external assembly?

Hope it helps.

Upvotes: 4

clarkitect
clarkitect

Reputation: 1730

Choose the referenced file in your solution explorer, then properties, then see what the "copy to output" property looks like. I suspect it's not set to "Copy Always" or "Copy if Newer" of which either should be fine.

Once it's being copied, let's also check to see where it's being copied. Is the output path for that particular item the same as where the program ultimately expects? Is it being copied to the bin\Debug of the correct project?

Make sure it's being copied to the path where the MissingManifestResourceException says it's failed to find the resource.

Finally, given additional information in our comments, I would also suggest you verify the following:

  1. culture the resources are targeting. Check spelling and capitalization.
  2. any culture settings of your build xml or publish xml.
  3. culture setting(s?) of your host system that's running this code.

Upvotes: 0

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