XNA Framework Content Pipeline

Re: How to I add a text file to content

XXIst Century Boy — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:44:22 GMT

With 3.1 :

Solution -> Add -> New Project -> Content Pipeline Extension Library

name it "TextFileExtension", although it's not important, it's just to stay in line with the following code.

                            using System;         
            using Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Content.Pipeline;         
            using System.IO;         
                     
            // TODO: replace these with the processor input and output types.         
            using TInput = System.Array;         
            using TOutput = System.String;         
            // TODO: replace this with the type you want to import.         
            using TImport = System.Array;         
                     
            namespace TextFileExtension         
            {         
                /// <summary>         
                /// This class will be instantiated by the XNA Framework Content Pipeline         
                /// to apply custom processing to content data, converting an object of         
                /// type TInput to TOutput. The input and output types may be the same if         
                /// the processor wishes to alter data without changing its type.         
                ///         
                /// This should be part of a Content Pipeline Extension Library project.         
                ///         
                /// TODO: change the ContentProcessor attribute to specify the correct         
                /// display name for this processor.         
                /// </summary>         
                [ContentProcessor(DisplayName = "TextFileExtension.TextFileProcessor")]         
                public class TextFileProcessor : ContentProcessor<TInput, TOutput>         
                {         
                    public override TOutput Process(TInput input, ContentProcessorContext context)         
                    {         
                        return new String((char [])input);         
                    }         
                }         
                     
                /// <summary>         
                /// This class will be instantiated by the XNA Framework Content Pipeline         
                /// to import a file from disk into the specified type, TImport.         
                ///          
                /// This should be part of a Content Pipeline Extension Library project.         
                ///          
                /// TODO: change the ContentImporter attribute to specify the correct file         
                /// extension, display name, and default processor for this importer.         
                /// </summary>         
                [ContentImporter(".TXT", DisplayName = "TextFileExtension.TextFileImporter", DefaultProcessor = "TextFileExtension.TextFileProcessor")]         
                public class TextFileImporter : ContentImporter<TImport>         
                {         
                    public override TImport Import(string filename, ContentImporterContext context)         
                    {         
                        char[] result = null;         
                        FileStream fs = File.OpenRead(filename);         
                        StreamReader sr = new StreamReader(fs);         
                     
                        BinaryReader binReader = new BinaryReader(File.OpenRead(filename));         
                        try         
                        {         
                            byte[] sizeArray = new byte[2];         
                            int count = binReader.Read(sizeArray, 0, 2);         
                            if (count != 0)         
                            {         
                                binReader.BaseStream.Seek(0, SeekOrigin.Begin);         
                                result = binReader.ReadChars((int)fs.Length);         
                            }         
                        }         
                        catch (EndOfStreamException e)         
                        {         
                            Console.WriteLine("{0} caught and ignored. " +         
                                "Using default values.", e.GetType().Name);         
                        }         
                        finally         
                        {         
                            binReader.Close();         
                        }         
                        return result;         
                    }         
                }         
            }         

Just add a reference to that project in the content folder and set your text file to "compile" and the importer/processor to TextFileProcessor/TextFileImporter

This is for 3.1 of course, as it doesn't implement any ContentTypeWriter (I think that 3.1 automatically generate writers, but it might work on 3.0 because Strings might not need a custom writer... But what do I know...)

Re: How to I add a text file to content

TooMuchCaffeine — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:19:16 GMT

Bryon, Craig - just wanted to add my thanks. This was driving me mad but a search of the forums brought me to your advice. My game is now running smoothly again.

Re: How to I add a text file to content

nickE — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:10:15 GMT

hi craig. it worked after i followed Bryon's method. thanx a lot you guys. :-)

Re: How to I add a text file to content

Craig Martin — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:56:27 GMT

The right thing to do is use Byrons method.

When you open the file at runtime you need to specify the path from the 'Working Directory'. When running in debug mode, by default the 'Working Directioy' is \...\bin\x86\Debug\'. So if you put SomeFile.txt in your Content folder, then at build time it will be copied to the \...\bin\x86\Debug\Content folder, so you need to open @"Content\SomeFile.txt"

If you put SomeFile.txt in the root directory of your project, then at build time it will be copied to the \...\bin\x86\Debug folder, so you just need to open @"SomeFile.txt"

If you put SomeFile.txt in your Content\Maps\Special folder, then at build time it will be copied to the \...\bin\x86\Debug\Content\Maps\Special folder, so you need to open @"Content\Maps\Special\SomeFile.txt"

Re: How to I add a text file to content

nickE — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:31:07 GMT

hello MrLeebo

i pasted the code in the \...\bin\x86\Debug\ not in the \...\bin\x86\Debug\Content\. so whats the difference?

what's the right thing to do here? :-)

Re: How to I add a text file to content

MrLeebo — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:49:39 GMT

It will cause problems if you leave it like that. Most likely your code is searching \...\bin\x86\Debug\ for the file but you're sending it to \...\bin\x86\Debug\Content\

Either search in the place you put it or put it in the place you're searching.

Re: How to I add a text file to content

nickE — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 23:14:57 GMT

Hi byron

i was able to solve the problem but in a very unusual way. I just thought, the program was looking for the text file in the following directory:

C:\Users\Nico\Documents\Visual Studio 2008\Projects\ZombieSmashers\MapEditor\bin\x86\Debug

so i copied my text file into that directory and it worked. but i was just worried if it'll cause some bugs later on in the project. Your opinions are fully appreciated bro.

thnx in advance.

Re: How to I add a text file to content

nickE — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:48:47 GMT

hi byron!

I also have the same errors when adding text files in my projects. but when i followd your solution to the problem, another exception appeared. here is the copy of the exception:

System.IO.FileNotFoundException was unhandled
Message="Could not find file 'C:\\Users\\Nico\\Documents\\Visual Studio 2008\\Projects\\ZombieSmashers\\MapEditor\\bin\\x86\\Debug\\maps'."
Source="mscorlib"
FileName="C:\\Users\\Nico\\Documents\\Visual Studio 2008\\Projects\\ZombieSmashers\\MapEditor\\bin\\x86\\Debug\\maps"
StackTrace:
       at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath)
       at System.IO.FileStream.Init(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, Int32 rights, Boolean useRights, FileShare share, Int32 bufferSize, FileOptions options, SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES secAttrs, String msgPath, Boolean bFromProxy)
       at System.IO.FileStream..ctor(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, FileShare share, Int32 bufferSize, FileOptions options)
       at System.IO.StreamReader..ctor(String path, Encoding encoding, Boolean detectEncodingFromByteOrderMarks, Int32 bufferSize)
       at System.IO.StreamReader..ctor(String path)
       at MapEditor.MapClasses.Map.ReadSegmentDefinitions() in C:\Users\Nico\Documents\Visual Studio 2008\Projects\ZombieSmashers\MapEditor\MapClasses\Map.cs:line 24
       at MapEditor.MapClasses.Map..ctor() in C:\Users\Nico\Documents\Visual Studio 2008\Projects\ZombieSmashers\MapEditor\MapClasses\Map.cs:line 20
       at MapEditor.Game1.Initialize() in C:\Users\Nico\Documents\Visual Studio 2008\Projects\ZombieSmashers\MapEditor\Game1.cs:line 48
       at Microsoft.Xna.Framework.Game.Run()
       at MapEditor.Program.Main(String[] args) in C:\Users\Nico\Documents\Visual Studio 2008\Projects\ZombieSmashers\MapEditor\Program.cs:line 14
InnerException:

Could you helpo me out? what could possibly be wrong here?
Thanx in advance..:-)

Re: How to I add a text file to content

akira32 — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:49:11 GMT

Byron Nelson:
I've got some text files in my content directory. I just drop them in, open properites, set Build Action to None, Copy to Output Directory to "Copy Always" (( mine change often )) and leave the other fields blank & it works fine for me.

Thank you,Byron Nelson!! I had solved this problem by your way.

Re: How to I add a text file to content

Byron Nelson — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:14:03 GMT

I've got some text files in my content directory. I just drop them in, open properites, set Build Action to None, Copy to Output Directory to "Copy Always" (( mine change often )) and leave the other fields blank & it works fine for me.

Re: How to I add a text file to content

akira32 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:51:30 GMT

Count:
Add the text file to the Content folder in your project workspace. Set its 'Copy to Output Folder' property. Then you can load it from "Content/myfilename.txt" in the game.

If I just add text file to Content and do not select Content Importer and Content Processor, it will appear the error as below:

Content\aaa.txt : error : Cannot autodetect which importer to use for "aaa.txt". There are no importers which handle this file type. Specify the importer that handles this file type in your project.
Done building project "Content.contentproj" -- FAILED.

Re: How to I add a text file to content

MrLeebo — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:07:03 GMT

If it's just going to be a text string file, you could also use a Resource file instead (.resx) since then you'll get compile-time validation on the string keys and a resource file can store other objects like pictures. This way you can support language translation of in-game textures such as sign posts.

Re: How to I add a text file to content

Count — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:37:45 GMT

Add the text file to the Content folder in your project workspace. Set its 'Copy to Output Folder' property. Then you can load it from "Content/myfilename.txt" in the game.

How to I add a text file to content

akira32 — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:54:55 GMT

How to I add a text file to content?
How to set the Content Importer and the Content Processor for text file?

string output = System.IO.File.ReadAllText("FileContainingAllMyGameText.txt");