Icon Extraction from Imageres.dll

Quick Start

Extract Windows system icons with a single method call:

// Extract a shield icon at default size (32x32)
var shieldIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Shield);

// Extract a lock icon at large size (96x96)
var lockIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Lock, IconSize.Large);

What You Need to Know

The Method

public static Icon? ExtractIconFromImageres(int iconId, IconSize iconSize = IconSize.Medium, IconSelectionStrategy selectionStrategy = IconSelectionStrategy.OSBased)

Parameters

• iconId: Choose from the comprehensive ImageresIconID enum (200+ icons available) - cast to int
• iconSize: Optional size parameter (defaults to 32x32 pixels)
• selectionStrategy: Optional strategy for theme-aware selection (defaults to OS-based)

Returns

• Icon?: The extracted icon, or null if extraction fails

Available Icon Sizes

Size	Pixels	Use Case
IconSize.Small	8x8	Very small UI elements
IconSize.Small	16x16	Toolbars, menus
IconSize.Small	20x20	Standard small icons
IconSize.Medium	24x24	Standard medium icons
IconSize.Medium	32x32	Default - Standard size
IconSize.Medium	40x40	Dialogs, larger buttons
IconSize.Medium	48x48	High-DPI displays
IconSize.Large	64x64	Large buttons, headers
IconSize.Large	128x128	Very large displays
IconSize.Large	256x256	Maximum quality

Common Icon Categories

Security Icons

var shieldIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Shield);
var lockIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Lock);
var unlockIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Unlock);
var keyIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Key);

User & System Icons

var userIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.User);
var usersIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Users);
var computerIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Computer);
var networkIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Network);

File & Folder Icons

var folderIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Folder);
var fileIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.File);
var fileTextIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.FileText);
var fileImageIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.FileImage);

Application Icons

var settingsIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.ApplicationSettings);
var helpIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.ApplicationHelp);
var infoIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.ApplicationInfo);
var warningIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.ApplicationWarning);

Media Icons

var playIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.MediaPlay);
var pauseIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.MediaPause);
var stopIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.MediaStop);
var volumeIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.MediaVolume);

Practical Examples

1. Button Icons

// Create a button with a shield icon
var button = new KryptonButton();
button.Text = "Run as Administrator";
button.Image = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Shield, IconSize.Small)?.ToBitmap();

// Create a settings button
var settingsButton = new KryptonButton();
settingsButton.Text = "Settings";
settingsButton.Image = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.ApplicationSettings, IconSize.Small)?.ToBitmap();

2. Menu Items

// Add icons to menu items
var menuItem = new KryptonContextMenuItem("Save");
menuItem.Image = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.ActionSave, IconSize.Small)?.ToBitmap();

var helpMenuItem = new KryptonContextMenuItem("Help");
helpMenuItem.Image = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.ApplicationHelp, IconSize.Small)?.ToBitmap();

3. Toolbar Icons

// Create toolbar buttons with system icons
var toolbar = new KryptonToolStrip();

var newButton = new KryptonToolStripButton();
newButton.Image = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.ActionAdd, IconSize.Small)?.ToBitmap();
newButton.Text = "New";

var openButton = new KryptonToolStripButton();
openButton.Image = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.ActionOpen, IconSize.Small)?.ToBitmap();
openButton.Text = "Open";

toolbar.Items.Add(newButton);
toolbar.Items.Add(openButton);

4. Status Bar Icons

// Add status indicators
var statusStrip = new KryptonStatusStrip();

var statusLabel = new KryptonStatusStripLabel();
statusLabel.Image = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.SystemStatusOk, IconSize.Small)?.ToBitmap();
statusLabel.Text = "Ready";

statusStrip.Items.Add(statusLabel);

5. Error Handling

// Safe icon extraction with fallback
public Image? GetSafeIcon(int iconId, IconSize size = IconSize.Medium)
{
    try
    {
        var icon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres(iconId, size);
        return icon?.ToBitmap();
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        // Log the error and return null or a fallback icon
        Debug.WriteLine($"Failed to extract icon {iconId}: {ex.Message}");
        return null;
    }
}

// Usage
var icon = GetSafeIcon((int)ImageresIconID.Shield) ?? Properties.Resources.DefaultShield;

6. Theme-Aware Icons

// Refresh icons when theme changes
KryptonManager.GlobalPaletteChanged += (sender, e) =>
{
    // Re-extract icons to match new theme
    RefreshAllIcons();
};

private void RefreshAllIcons()
{
    // Re-extract all icons used in your application
    button1.Image = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Shield, IconSize.Small)?.ToBitmap();
    button2.Image = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.ApplicationSettings, IconSize.Small)?.ToBitmap();
    // ... refresh other icons
}

7. Conditional Icons

// Show different icons based on application state
public void UpdateStatusIcon(bool isConnected)
{
    var iconId = isConnected ? (int)ImageresIconID.SystemStatusOk : (int)ImageresIconID.SystemStatusError;
    statusLabel.Image = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres(iconId, IconSize.Small)?.ToBitmap();
}

Best Practices

1. Choose Appropriate Sizes

// Use smaller sizes for toolbars and menus
var toolbarIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.ActionSave, IconSize.Small);

// Use larger sizes for buttons and dialogs
var buttonIcon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Shield, IconSize.Medium);

2. Cache Frequently Used Icons

private static readonly Dictionary<int, Image> _iconCache = new();

public static Image? GetCachedIcon(int iconId, IconSize size = IconSize.Medium)
{
    var key = $"{iconId}_{size}";
    
    if (!_iconCache.ContainsKey(iconId))
    {
        var icon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres(iconId, size);
        _iconCache[iconId] = icon?.ToBitmap();
    }
    
    return _iconCache[iconId];
}

3. Handle Null Returns

// Always check for null returns
var icon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Shield);
if (icon != null)
{
    button.Image = icon.ToBitmap();
}
else
{
    // Use fallback icon or handle gracefully
    button.Image = Properties.Resources.DefaultShield;
}

4. Dispose Icons Properly

// Icons should be disposed when no longer needed
using var icon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Shield);
if (icon != null)
{
    button.Image = icon.ToBitmap();
}

Common Use Cases

UAC Shield Buttons

// Create an "Run as Administrator" button
var adminButton = new KryptonButton();
adminButton.Text = "Run as Administrator";
adminButton.Image = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Shield, IconSize.Small)?.ToBitmap();

Security Dialogs

// Use lock icon for security dialogs
var securityForm = new KryptonForm();
securityForm.Icon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Lock, IconSize.Medium);

File Operations

// Use appropriate icons for file operations
var openButton = new KryptonButton();
openButton.Image = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.ActionOpen, IconSize.Small)?.ToBitmap();

var saveButton = new KryptonButton();
saveButton.Image = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.ActionSave, IconSize.Small)?.ToBitmap();

Application Settings

// Settings and configuration icons
var settingsButton = new KryptonButton();
settingsButton.Image = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.ApplicationSettings, IconSize.Small)?.ToBitmap();

var helpButton = new KryptonButton();
helpButton.Image = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.ApplicationHelp, IconSize.Small)?.ToBitmap();

Troubleshooting

Icon Not Found

// Check if icon extraction failed
var icon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Shield);
if (icon == null)
{
    // Icon extraction failed - use fallback
    Debug.WriteLine("Failed to extract shield icon from imageres.dll");
}

Performance Issues

// For frequently used icons, cache them
private static Image? _cachedShieldIcon;

public static Image GetShieldIcon()
{
    if (_cachedShieldIcon == null)
    {
        var icon = GraphicsExtensions.ExtractIconFromImageres((int)ImageresIconID.Shield);
        _cachedShieldIcon = icon?.ToBitmap();
    }
    return _cachedShieldIcon;
}

Theme Changes

// Clear cache when theme changes
KryptonManager.GlobalPaletteChanged += (sender, e) =>
{
    _cachedShieldIcon = null; // Force re-extraction
    RefreshIcons();
};

Summary

The ExtractIconFromImageres method provides easy access to Windows system icons with:

• 200+ available icons across multiple categories
• 10 different sizes from 8x8 to 256x256 pixels
• Automatic theme integration with Krypton Toolkit
• Simple API - just one method call
• Robust error handling with null returns

Use this feature to create professional, consistent user interfaces that match the Windows design language while maintaining your application's branding.