embed ttf as embeded resource: can't reference it

Question

I've just added a ttf file to the project (c# 2008 express) as "file" and build option to embedded resource.

I'm having problems when trying to set this font like this: (I know the next line is wrong...)

this.label1.Font = AlarmWatch.Properties.Resources.Baby_Universe;

Error 1 Cannot implicitly convert type 'byte[]' to 'System.Drawing.Font' C:\Users\hongo\Documents\Visual Studio 2008\Projects\AlarmWatch\AlarmWatch\Form1.Designer.cs 57 32 AlarmWatch

I know it is byte[] cause I've set the option build as embedded resource, but comparing with this line that is correct:

this.label1.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("OCR A Extended",
                           24F, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Regular,
                           System.Drawing.GraphicsUnit.Point, ((byte)(0)));

How can I set this.label1 to use the new font?

Answer 1

I solved the problem by reading this previous answer at C# : Using an embedded font on a textbox

thanks Tomas for the link.

Answer 2

There is a AddMemoryFont method in the System.Drawing.Text namespace, which loads a font from a memory (it takes a pointer to the memory block, so you'll need to do some unsafe operation to get pointer to your byte array - I found an example here). More about the method on MSDN.

There is also a related StackOverflow question showing how to import Win API function to load the font directly (in case the above .NET method doesn't work).

EDIT A translation of the key part from Visual Basic might look like this (haven't checked it though):

// This should be probably a field of some class
PrivateFontCollection pfc = new PrivateFontCollection();

// allocate memory and copy byte[] to the location
IntPtr data = Marshal.AllocCoTaskMem(yourByteArray.Length);
Marshal.Copy(yourFontArray, 0, data, yourFontArray.Length);

// pass the font to the font collection
pfc.AddMemoryFont(data, fontStream.Length)

// Free the unsafe memory
Marshal.FreeCoTaskMem(data)

Once you have this, you should be able to refer to the font using its usual name.

Answer 3

private static void AddFontFromResource(PrivateFontCollection privateFontCollection, string fontResourceName)
{
    var fontBytes = GetFontResourceBytes(typeof (App).Assembly, fontResourceName);
    var fontData = Marshal.AllocCoTaskMem(fontBytes.Length);
    Marshal.Copy(fontBytes, 0, fontData, fontBytes.Length);
    privateFontCollection.AddMemoryFont(fontData, fontBytes.Length);
    Marshal.FreeCoTaskMem(fontData);
}

private static byte[] GetFontResourceBytes(Assembly assembly, string fontResourceName)
{
    var resourceStream = assembly.GetManifestResourceStream(fontResourceName);
    if (resourceStream == null)
        throw new Exception(string.Format("Unable to find font '{0}' in embedded resources.", fontResourceName));
    var fontBytes = new byte[resourceStream.Length];
    resourceStream.Read(fontBytes, 0, (int)resourceStream.Length);
    resourceStream.Close();
    return fontBytes;
}

Answer 4

here there is a very good post, exactly what you need. Embedding ttf fonts to your application, take in consideration about what you embed and its licenses.

How to Add ttf to your C# project as and embedded resource