How to refer to Embedded Resources from XAML?

Question

I have several images that i want to be Embedded into the exe.

When i set the Build Action to Embedded Resource I get through out the code an error that the Resource isn't available and asking me to set the Build Action to Resource

I Tried several different methods :

 <ImageSource x:Key="Image_Background">YearBook;component/Resources/Images/darkaurora.png</ImageSource>   <ImageSource x:Key="Image_Background">Images/darkaurora.png</ImageSource>   <ImageSource x:Key="Image_Background">pack://application:,,,/Resources/Images/darkaurora.png</ImageSource> 

This code sits in a Resource file. But none worked, they all throw this error :

Cannot convert the string 'pack://application:,,,/Resources/Images/darkaurora.png' into a 'System.Windows.Media.ImageSource' object. Cannot locate resource 'resources/images/darkaurora.png'.  Error at object 'Image_Background' in markup file 'YearBook;component/Resources/ImageResources.xaml' Line 4 Position 6. 

And in different places in code i get :

the file 'YearBook;component/Resources/Images/shadowdrop.png' is not a part of the project or its 'Build Action' property is not set to 'Resource' 

So, What am i doing wrong?

Answer 1

When you set the BuildAction to Resource it goes as embedded resource in an assembly. Or you can set BuildAction to Content then it will bundled into the resulting .xap file. You can use any one of these BuildActions. By setting BuildAction to Content you can access Image like: "/Resources/Images/darkaurora.png" (must begin with slash). And when you use the BuildAction Resource then you can access image as "/YearBook;component/Resources/Images/darkaurora.png" (assemblyname;component/relativepath). Hope this will help.

Answer 2

Just for those using xamarin forms and bump into this question, this can be done by creating a custom xaml markup extension explained here:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/xamarin/xamarin-forms/user-interface/images?tabs=windows

in the "Embedded Images"->"Using XAML" section

Citation of custom extension

[ContentProperty (nameof(Source))] public class ImageResourceExtension : IMarkupExtension {  public string Source { get; set; }   public object ProvideValue (IServiceProvider serviceProvider)  {    if (Source == null)    {      return null;    }     // Do your translation lookup here, using whatever method you require    var imageSource = ImageSource.FromResource(Source, typeof(ImageResourceExtension).GetTypeInfo().Assembly);     return imageSource;  } } 

citation of how to use

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?> <ContentPage    xmlns="http://xamarin.com/schemas/2014/forms"    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"    xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WorkingWithImages;assembly=WorkingWithImages"    x:Class="WorkingWithImages.EmbeddedImagesXaml">  <StackLayout VerticalOptions="Center" HorizontalOptions="Center">    <!-- use a custom Markup Extension -->    <Image Source="{local:ImageResource WorkingWithImages.beach.jpg}" />  </StackLayout> </ContentPage>