How do you embed app.config in C# projects?

Question

When you compile a C# project, the app settings from app.config are saved along with the exe file. For example, if the program name is "solve_np.exe", there will be a "solve_np.exe.config" next to it, making it look less neat than I want it to. How can you embed it into the .exe?

I tried to set Build Action to Embed Resource, but that did not do the trick.

Answer 1

Aha. I guess you're falling foul of Visual Studio automatically placing stuff in configuration that you DONT want configured by the end user.

In this case use resources. Simply add a new file of type .resx. With this you'll be able to add things like strings and images to the resource file. After you build this it should provide static access to the resources (it typically generates a code file from the resources for you so you don't have to access ResourceManager yourself).

E.G. If I made resources.resx with a string called MyConfigValue after a build I should be able to access this like:

textBox.Text = Resources.MyConfigValue;

If you want values that are kinda variable but shouldn't be configurable then this is the right place to put them.

HTH.

Answer 2

It isn't unprofessional to have an app.config file shipped alongside your exe. I think the word you may be looking for is untidy. I personally don't find this is the case myself however everyone is different! Perhaps you could simply make the app.config file hidden by default?

Or another alternative is to create your own config file which you could save to the App Data folder or even storing the settings in the registry instead.