Why can't I access a file using GetExecutingAssembly.GetFile()?

Question

This code is a simplified to aid my understanding. The actual code will be finding an xml file in a calling assembly. However, I can't even access an xml file in this simplified example. I have set the TestFile.xml as an Embedded Resource. Any ideas why this code doesn't work?

using System;
using System.Reflection;

namespace Testing
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            var test = new A();
            test.TestGettingAssemblies();

            Console.ReadKey();
        }
    }

    internal class A
    {
        internal void TestGettingAssemblies()
        {
            Console.WriteLine(Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().FullName);
            Console.WriteLine(Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetFile("TestFile.xml") == null);
            Console.WriteLine(Assembly.GetCallingAssembly().FullName);
        }
    }
}

Code, Results

Thanks for the formatting help. – Kaman Poole Jul 21 '16 at 21:49 — Kaman Poole, Jul 21 '16 at 21:49

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 21 '16 at 21:21

0

Solution:

var assembly = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly();
using(var stream = assembly.GetManifestResourceStream("TestFile.xml"))
using(TextReader tr = new StreamReader(stream))
{
      Console.WriteLine(tr.ReadToEnd());
}

For more information go here.

It it does not work, I would recommend you to call assembly.GetManifestResourceNames() and check if result contanins "TestFile.xml"

answered Jul 21 '16 at 21:21

Kedrzu

623
5
12

Thank you. I was able to get it with GetManifestResouceStream. It's weird that GetFile doesn't work. – Kaman Poole Jul 21 '16 at 21:50

Why can't I access a file using GetExecutingAssembly.GetFile()?

1 Answers1