How do I use an icon that is a resource in WPF?

Question

I have a .ico file that is embedded as a resource (build action set to resource). I am trying to create a NotifyIcon. How can I reference my icon?

notifyIcon = new NotifyIcon(); notifyIcon.Icon = ??     // my icon file is called MyIcon.ico and is embedded 

Answer 1

Your icon file should be added to one of your project assemblies and its Build Action should be set to Resource. After adding a reference to the assembly, you can create a NotifyIcon like this:

System.Windows.Forms.NotifyIcon icon = new System.Windows.Forms.NotifyIcon(); Stream iconStream = Application.GetResourceStream( new Uri( "pack://application:,,,/YourReferencedAssembly;component/YourPossibleSubFolder/YourResourceFile.ico" )).Stream; icon.Icon = new System.Drawing.Icon( iconStream ); 

Answer 2

A common usage pattern is to have the notify icon the same as the main window's icon. The icon is defined as a PNG file.

To do this, add the image to the project's resources and then use as follows:

var iconHandle  = MyNamespace.Properties.Resources.MyImage.GetHicon(); this.notifyIcon.Icon = System.Drawing.Icon.FromHandle(iconHandle); 

In the window XAML:

<Window x:Class="MyNamespace.Window1" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation" xmlns:local="clr-namespace:Seahorse" xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml" Height="600" Icon="images\MyImage.png">