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I know that I can include xpm file format into code:
and it will be included within the binary, adding on to the image size.Code:#include "image.xpm"
However my issue is that xpm files aren't very optimized for size so if I want to add anything large, like a banner, It adds a very large size to my file
I was wondering what other image formats can be included like a header file and can be added to the binary, preferably a format that can be compressed a good deal
Thank you!
Why do you want to include binary file in your source code? use resource files for adding binaries to the executableQuote:
Originally Posted by parad0x13
I'm embarrassed to say that I'm not familiar with this technique...
Are you saying that formats such as .jpg can be included within the binary through use of resource files?!
Any binary data could be included using resource files. How you'd like to manipulate them - it is another question. So what do you want to do with the picture file?Quote:
Originally Posted by parad0x13
Hey I checked out theForger's information on using resources, but I was wondering if someone knows where more information on how resources files work? i.e. How/where the compiler lumps the resources into the executable, and how they're handled when loaded into memory on execution. Is there a standard on how resources work, or is the compiler able to freely implement this?
Thanks
"Resources" are a Windows concept. Windows has a specific way of embedding resources into binary files (.exe's) and then retrieving them.Quote:
Originally Posted by neandrake
The idea of embedding program resources into a binary is not Windows-specific, but usually when people mention "resources" they are talking about Windows. If you're on Windows, you should be using the resource system. On other systems, there may be equivalents, or you may have to roll your own.
EDIT: Embedding resources may not be the right way to go. If you might want to change the resource, it's better to have it in an external file, so that you don't have to modify your program binary when you change the resource. On Windows, resource editors can do this for you, but it becomes problematic when you combine it with code-signing, since if the file changes, the signature becomes invalidated.
Remember that #include just copies and pastes the contents of a file, so you can include anything you want anywhere so long as it's compilable code or the compiler will bark.
Yes, and you can certainly include a file which defines an array of byte values, which is basically what an XPM file is -- but accessing this data will be specific to your own code. The Windows resource system helps by abstracting the idea of embedding and accessing resources, in a way that other programs can handle. It's good to have a standard way of doing this, even if it's platform-specific.Quote:
Originally Posted by Elysia
Oh yes, I was meant to answer that there is no "compilable" files that can be included, because the contents is just copied and pasted.
Embedding files into an executable is not done via includes (well, at least not directly).
I want to include an image banner inside the executable, so its easy to include xpm format for this purpose, however like I stated before it is very bulky.
If its true that I can include any bitmap format, then I guess I'm looking for a compressible bitmap format...
Just wondering if anyone has any background on this topic
Is this information stored in with the Portable Executable Header -- Windows takes care of discovering this information in the compiled binary, and loads it into memory when the program starts?Quote:
Originally Posted by brewbuck
If it's loaded into memory after it starts, I don't know. But I do know that you can load the resources (and thus if they aren't already loaded into memory, they are now), and then fool around with it.
That's pretty much what resources are.
My goal is to add the file directly in the binary at compile time, like you can with an xpm. I don't want the image to be loaded as a resource...
It's unfortunate that I can't include the image in any other format other than xpm, xbm
It is part of the binary, and yes, it is embedded at compile time.
But you can choose to load and use it at runtime.
Well, what do you expect? #include is a text replacement system; it literally includes the text of the target file in the source. What is a compiler supposed to do with binary data? XPM and XBM are just weird formats specifically designed to be included in C code.Quote:
Originally Posted by parad0x13
yes this is true, I was hoping there was a jpeg to array converter or something lol
this way I can load things like jpegs directly intothe binary and load it in a way that I'd like
You're writing code, right? So why can't you create such a tool yourself?Quote:
Originally Posted by parad0x13
Here it is anyway.
Code:/* anything2c.c */
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
FILE *infp;
char *comma = "";
int ch;
int i;
infp = fopen(argv[1], "rb");
if(infp == NULL) exit(1);
printf("unsigned char %s[] = {\n", argv[2]);
while((ch = fgetc(infp)) != EOF)
{
printf("%s 0x%02X", comma, ch);
comma = ",\n";
}
printf("\n};\n");
fclose(infp);
return 0;
}
Why is this such a problem?Quote:
Originally Posted by parad0x13
Why won't the normal resource system work well for you?
On a non-Windows system?Quote:
Originally Posted by Elysia
Well, there's been no mention of Linux, so I still have to ask o_O
Besides... are there not similar systems in other operating systems, as well?
I was assuming some UNIX-like system because the OP mentioned XPM format.Quote:
Originally Posted by Elysia
Well, not familiar with XPM formats, so I did not know...
XPM == "X Pixmap."Quote:
Originally Posted by Elysia
Yes, you are right. The program will be compatible with linux and windows so I want to include the image inside the binary for ease of portability