Store bitmap in text file

Question

I want to store small bitmaps in a text file similar to the way Delphi does it with it's dfm files.

Is there a function in the RTL or VCL that I could use to do this?

Answer 1

I suggest that you do the following:

1. Save to an in memory stream. Use TMemoryStream, and call SaveToStream on the bitmap.
2. Compress the stream, perhaps using the zlib unit. This step is optional.
3. Encode the stream using base64. For example you can use the functionality provided by Soap.EncdDecd.

And in the opposite direction, well you just reverse the steps.