Specify encoding when reading file from Resource

Question

I have an UTF8 file, which I have added to my project in Resources.resx, called Template.txt

If I read the file normally like this:

string template = File.ReadAllText(@"filepath\Template.txt", Encoding.UTF8);

Everything works fine.

However if I read it like this:

string template = Properties.Resources.Template

It is filled with Japanese characters, and thus has the wrong encoding.

byte[] bytes = Encoding.Default.GetBytes(Properties.Resources.Template);
string template = Encoding.UTF8.GetString(bytes);

This also still gives Japanese characters.

Does anyone know the cause? If I just double click the Template.txt file in Visual Studio, I can just read it normally also.

Answer 1

As Hans Passant said in the comments, encoding the file so that it includes the UTF-8 BOM (Byte Order Mark) fixed the issue.

Answer 2

In VS, select the Resources.resx file, then go File > Save Resources.resx As...

and Save with Encoding... and select Unicode(UTF-8 without signature) - Codepage 65001 and OK.