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");

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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..:-)

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.

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.

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? :-)

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"

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