C# byte array into variables

Question

I have a byte array and I would like to get values from it into variables. I know the values format like string, unsigned int etc.

byte[] buffer = File.ReadAllBytes("binarydata.bin");
string value1 = ???
uint16 value2 = ???
string value3 = ???
uint32 value4 = ???

How can i assign the values? I know that the first value is a string of 8, i know the second value is a usigned 16bit int, and the third value is a string of 12 and the forth is a unsigned 32 bit int.

How was this file created? This is important to know, because the string value will need some metadata to be present in the file to indicate the length of the string. (Usually length prefixed, but who knows?) — Matthew Watson
– Matthew Watson, Commented Jun 1, 2018 at 8:19
Using BitConverter and ToString i get the value as hexadecimal instead of human readable text, how can I get it so its readable? — Tim Svensson
– Tim Svensson, Commented Jun 1, 2018 at 9:00

TheGeneral · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-01 07:55:52Z

3

You could simply use BinaryReader

Reads primitive data types as binary values in a specific encoding

Example

using (BinaryReader reader = new BinaryReader(File.Open(fileName, FileMode.Open)))
{
    var aspectRatio = reader.ReadSingle();
    var tempDirectory = reader.ReadString();
    var autoSaveTime = reader.ReadInt32();
    var showStatusBar = reader.ReadBoolean();

    Console.WriteLine("Aspect ratio set to: " + aspectRatio);
    Console.WriteLine("Temp directory is: " + tempDirectory);
    Console.WriteLine("Auto save time set to: " + autoSaveTime);
    Console.WriteLine("Show status bar: " + showStatusBar);
}

Update from xanatos

ReadString Reads a string from the current stream. The string is prefixed with the length, encoded as an integer seven bits at a time.

edited Jun 1, 2018 at 7:55

answered Jun 1, 2018 at 7:49

TheGeneral

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1 Comment

xanatos Over a year ago

Put a note on the format the ReadString() expects. I don't think anyone else codifies strings in the same way.

user9729877 · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-01 07:55:05Z

You can use BinaryReader ,this example writes data as binary. After reads binary data and assigns to variables.

using System;
using System.IO;

class ConsoleApplication
{
const string fileName = "AppSettings.dat";

static void Main()
{
    WriteDefaultValues();
    DisplayValues();
}

public static void WriteDefaultValues()
{
    using (BinaryWriter writer = new BinaryWriter(File.Open(fileName, FileMode.Create)))
    {
        writer.Write(1.250F);
        writer.Write(@"c:\Temp");
        writer.Write(10);
        writer.Write(true);
    }
}

public static void DisplayValues()
{
    float aspectRatio;
    string tempDirectory;
    int autoSaveTime;
    bool showStatusBar;

    if (File.Exists(fileName))
    {
        using (BinaryReader reader = new BinaryReader(File.Open(fileName, FileMode.Open)))
        {
            aspectRatio = reader.ReadSingle();
            tempDirectory = reader.ReadString();
            autoSaveTime = reader.ReadInt32();
            showStatusBar = reader.ReadBoolean();
        }

        Console.WriteLine("Aspect ratio set to: " + aspectRatio);
        Console.WriteLine("Temp directory is: " + tempDirectory);
        Console.WriteLine("Auto save time set to: " + autoSaveTime);
        Console.WriteLine("Show status bar: " + showStatusBar);
        }
    }
}

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