ResW File Code Generator
A Visual Studio Custom Tool for generating a strongly typed helper class for accessing localized resources from a .ResW file.
Features
- Define custom namespace for the generated file
- Auto-updating of generated code file when changes are made to the .ResW Resource file
- XML documentation style comments like "Localized resource similar to '[the value]'"
- Supports Visual Studio 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022
- Supports dotted keys - Replaces
. with _ (e.g. Something.Awesome = Something_Awesome)
- ReswFileCodeGenerator - Generates a public class
- InternalReswFileCodeGenerator - Generates an internal (C#) / friend (VB) class
Supported Languages
Screenshots
Example C# Usage
string test1, test2, test3, test4;
void LoadLocalizedStrings()
{
test1 = CSharpUwpApp.Properties.Resources.Test1;
test2 = CSharpUwpApp.Properties.Resources.Test2;
test3 = CSharpUwpApp.Properties.Resources.Test3;
test4 = CSharpUwpApp.Properties.Resources.Test_With_Dotted_Keys;
}
Example VB Usage
Dim test1, test2, test3, test4
Private Sub LoadLocalizedStrings()
test1 = VisualBasicUwpApp.Properties.Resources.Test1
test2 = VisualBasicUwpApp.Properties.Resources.Test2
test3 = VisualBasicUwpApp.Properties.Resources.Test3
test4 = VisualBasicUwpApp.Properties.Resources.Test_With_Dotted_Keys
End Sub
Example Generated C# Code
//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// <auto-generated>
// This code was generated by a tool.
// Runtime Version:4.0.30319.42000
//
// Changes to this file may cause incorrect behavior and will be lost if
// the code is regenerated.
// </auto-generated>
//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// <auto-generated>
// This code was generated by ResW File Code Generator (http://bit.ly/reswcodegen)
// ResW File Code Generator was written by Christian Resma Helle
// and is under GNU General Public License version 2 (GPLv2)
//
// This code contains a helper class exposing property representations
// of the string resources defined in the specified .ResW file
//
// Code generation environment:
// Time and Date: 4/29/2025 11:49:45 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
// Computer Name: my-pc.my-domain.net
// User Name : MY-DOMAIN\JohnDoe
// </auto-generated>
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
namespace CSharpUwpApp.Properties
{
public sealed partial class Resources
{
private static global::Windows.ApplicationModel.Resources.ResourceLoader resourceLoader;
/// <summary>
/// Get or set ResourceLoader implementation
/// </summary>
public static global::Windows.ApplicationModel.Resources.ResourceLoader Resource
{
get
{
if ((resourceLoader == null))
{
Resources.Initialize();
}
return resourceLoader;
}
set
{
resourceLoader = value;
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Localized resource similar to "Test 1 value"
/// </summary>
public static string Test1
{
get
{
return Resource.GetString("Test1");
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Localized resource similar to "Test 2 value"
/// </summary>
public static string Test2
{
get
{
return Resource.GetString("Test2");
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Localized resource similar to "Test 3 value"
/// </summary>
public static string Test3
{
get
{
return Resource.GetString("Test3");
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Localized resource similar to "Test With Dotted Keys"
/// </summary>
public static string Test_With_Dotted_Keys
{
get
{
return Resource.GetString("Test/With/Dotted/Keys");
}
}
public static void Initialize()
{
string executingAssemblyName;
executingAssemblyName = global::System.Reflection.Assembly.GetEntryAssembly().GetName().Name;
string currentAssemblyName;
currentAssemblyName = typeof(Resources).AssemblyQualifiedName;
string[] currentAssemblySplit;
currentAssemblySplit = currentAssemblyName.Split(',');
currentAssemblyName = currentAssemblySplit[1].Trim();
if ((global::Windows.UI.Core.CoreWindow.GetForCurrentThread() == null))
{
if (executingAssemblyName.Equals(currentAssemblyName))
{
resourceLoader = global::Windows.ApplicationModel.Resources.ResourceLoader.GetForViewIndependentUse("Resources");
}
else
{
resourceLoader = global::Windows.ApplicationModel.Resources.ResourceLoader.GetForViewIndependentUse(currentAssemblyName + "/Resources");
}
}
else
{
if (executingAssemblyName.Equals(currentAssemblyName))
{
resourceLoader = global::Windows.ApplicationModel.Resources.ResourceLoader.GetForCurrentView("Resources");
}
else
{
resourceLoader = global::Windows.ApplicationModel.Resources.ResourceLoader.GetForCurrentView(currentAssemblyName + "/Resources");
}
}
}
}
}
Example Generated Visual Basic Code
'------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' <auto-generated>
' This code was generated by a tool.
' Runtime Version:4.0.30319.42000
'
' Changes to this file may cause incorrect behavior and will be lost if
' the code is regenerated.
' </auto-generated>
'------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Option Strict Off
Option Explicit On
'---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'<auto-generated>
' This code was generated by ResW File Code Generator (http://bit.ly/reswcodegen)
' ResW File Code Generator was written by Christian Resma Helle
' and is under GNU General Public License version 2 (GPLv2)
'
' This code contains a helper class exposing property representations
' of the string resources defined in the specified .ResW file
'
' Code generation environment:
' Time and Date: 4/30/2025 12:04:30 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
' Computer Name: my-pc.my-domain.net
' User Name : MY-DOMAIN\JohnDoe
'</auto-generated>
'---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Partial Public NotInheritable Class Resources
Private Shared resourceLoader As Global.Windows.ApplicationModel.Resources.ResourceLoader
'''<summary>
'''Get or set ResourceLoader implementation
'''</summary>
Public Shared Property Resource() As Global.Windows.ApplicationModel.Resources.ResourceLoader
Get
If (resourceLoader Is Nothing) Then
Resources.Initialize
End If
Return resourceLoader
End Get
Set
resourceLoader = value
End Set
End Property
'''<summary>
'''Localized resource similar to "Test 1 value"
'''</summary>
Public Shared ReadOnly Property Test1() As String
Get
Return Resource.GetString("Test1")
End Get
End Property
'''<summary>
'''Localized resource similar to "Test 2 value"
'''</summary>
Public Shared ReadOnly Property Test2() As String
Get
Return Resource.GetString("Test2")
End Get
End Property
'''<summary>
'''Localized resource similar to "Test 3 value"
'''</summary>
Public Shared ReadOnly Property Test3() As String
Get
Return Resource.GetString("Test3")
End Get
End Property
'''<summary>
'''Localized resource similar to "Test With Dotted Keys"
'''</summary>
Public Shared ReadOnly Property Test_With_Dotted_Keys() As String
Get
Return Resource.GetString("Test/With/Dotted/Keys")
End Get
End Property
Public Shared Sub Initialize()
Dim executingAssemblyName As String
executingAssemblyName = Global.System.Reflection.[Assembly].GetEntryAssembly.GetName.Name
Dim currentAssemblyName As String
currentAssemblyName = GetType(Resources).AssemblyQualifiedName
Dim currentAssemblySplit() As String
currentAssemblySplit = currentAssemblyName.Split(Global.Microsoft.VisualBasic.ChrW(44))
currentAssemblyName = currentAssemblySplit(1).Trim
If (Global.Windows.UI.Core.CoreWindow.GetForCurrentThread Is Nothing) Then
If executingAssemblyName.Equals(currentAssemblyName) Then
resourceLoader = Global.Windows.ApplicationModel.Resources.ResourceLoader.GetForViewIndependentUse("Resources")
Else
resourceLoader = Global.Windows.ApplicationModel.Resources.ResourceLoader.GetForViewIndependentUse(currentAssemblyName + "/Resources")
End If
Else
If executingAssemblyName.Equals(currentAssemblyName) Then
resourceLoader = Global.Windows.ApplicationModel.Resources.ResourceLoader.GetForCurrentView("Resources")
Else
resourceLoader = Global.Windows.ApplicationModel.Resources.ResourceLoader.GetForCurrentView(currentAssemblyName + "/Resources")
End If
End If
End Sub
End Class
