Question

(using vb.net)

Hi,

I have an ini file where I need to post an RTF file as a single line in the ini file – like…

[my section]
rtf_file_1=bla bla bla (the content of the rtf file)

To avoid linebreaks, special codes etc. in the RTF file from wrapping in the ini file, how can I encode (and decode) it as a single string?

I was thing if there was a function to convert a string (in my case the content of the RTF file) into a line of numbers and then decode it back?

What would you do?

Thanks!

Answer 1

You can encode them using base64 encoding. Like that the content gets treated binary –> it can be any type of file.
But of course in the config file you wont be able to read the content of the file.

Here a Snippet to Base64 encode / decode

//Encode
string filePath = "";
string base64encoded = null;
using (StreamReader r = new StreamReader(File.OpenRead(filePath)))
{
    byte[] data = System.Text.ASCIIEncoding.ASCII.GetBytes(r.ReadToEnd());
    base64encoded = System.Convert.ToBase64String(data);
}

//decode --> write back
using(StreamWriter w = new StreamWriter(File.Create(filePath)))
{
    byte[] data = System.Convert.FromBase64String(base64encoded);

    w.Write(System.Text.ASCIIEncoding.ASCII.GetString(data));
}

and in VB.NET:

    Dim filePath As String = ""
    Dim base64encoded As String = vbNull

    'Encode()
    Using r As StreamReader = New StreamReader(File.OpenRead(filePath))
        Dim data As Byte() = System.Text.ASCIIEncoding.ASCII.GetBytes(r.ReadToEnd())
        base64encoded = System.Convert.ToBase64String(data)
    End Using

    'decode --> write back
    Using w As StreamWriter = New StreamWriter(File.Create(filePath))
        Dim data As Byte() = System.Convert.FromBase64String(base64encoded)
        w.Write(System.Text.ASCIIEncoding.ASCII.GetString(data))
    End Using