C# XNA 4.0 Exception: “Cannot Open File”

Question

I am working in XNA 4.0 Game Studio (C#), and I am trying to load an image using the LoadContent() method. I have loaded numerous image files into this game and they all work 100% fine, but for some reason, XNA will not open files inside one of my loadContent methods. Here is the method:

    protected override void LoadContent()
    {
        //spriteBatch = new SpriteBatch(GraphicsDevice);
        //Sets up an array of textures to be used in the Icon class
        Texture2D[] icons = new Texture2D[24];

        #region Loading talent textures
        //These are all of the icons that need to be loaded for the talents
        //Paladin
        icons[0] = Content.Load<Texture2D>(@"C:\Users\Student\Desktop\Dropbox\Public\platformer\Platformer\Content\Talents\blade_of_light3.jpg");
        icons[1] = Content.Load<Texture2D>("Talents\\divine_grace");
        icons[2] = Content.Load<Texture2D>("Talents\\divine_storm");
        icons[3] = Content.Load<Texture2D>("Talents\\hammer_of_the_righteous");
        icons[4] = Content.Load<Texture2D>("Talents\\healing_hands");
        icons[5] = Content.Load<Texture2D>("Talents\\heavenly_fury");
        icons[6] = Content.Load<Texture2D>("Talents/momentum_of_light");
        icons[7] = Content.Load<Texture2D>("Talents/retribution");
        icons[8] = Content.Load<Texture2D>("Talents/righteous_fury");
        icons[9] = Content.Load<Texture2D>("Talents/sanctuary");
        icons[10] = Content.Load<Texture2D>("Talent/searing_light");
        icons[11] = Content.Load<Texture2D>("Talent/wrath_of_the_heavens");

        //Warrior
        icons[12] = Content.Load<Texture2D>(@"Talents\bloodstorm");
        icons[13] = Content.Load<Texture2D>(@"Talents\bloodthirst");
        icons[14] = Content.Load<Texture2D>(@"Talents\die_by_the_sword");
        icons[15] = Content.Load<Texture2D>(@"Talents\furious_blades");
        icons[16] = Content.Load<Texture2D>(@"Talents\unleash_rage");
        icons[17] = Content.Load<Texture2D>(@"Talents\lifeblood");
        icons[18] = Content.Load<Texture2D>(@"Talents\red_like_my_rage");
        icons[19] = Content.Load<Texture2D>(@"Talents\eternal_thirst");
        icons[20] = Content.Load<Texture2D>(@"Talents\bladesurge");
        icons[21] = Content.Load<Texture2D>(@"Talents\bathed_in_blood");
        icons[22] = Content.Load<Texture2D>(@"Talents\bladerunner");
        icons[23] = Content.Load<Texture2D>(@"Talents\bloodfury");
        icons[24] = Content.Load<Texture2D>(@"Talents\grapple_chain");
        #endregion

As you can see, I have tried using the ENTIRE file location. It finds the file, but throws an exception when the LoadContent() method is called and says "Cannot open file blade_of_light3."

I do not get any errors about escape paths or anything like that, and I have used this sort of file path for other images, and they work fine. It's just here, in this class, in this loadContent method, that they won't work.

Answer 1

The Content.Load methods does not load files, it loads specialized content or assets. Have a look at this . You can't load files directly, you can only load assets. These assets are generated via the content pipeline . This is mainly to provide an abstract layer for content. Because XNA is platform independent, and on one machine you may be use a bigger image or different image, you only need to change the asset in the pipeline and can reuse the code.

Answer 2

Just to add to dowhilefor's excellent answer , if you want to load a raw .jpg file (or .png ), you can do so like this:

using(var s = File.OpenRead(fileName))
{
    Texture2D texture = Texture2D.FromStream(GraphicsDevice, s);
}

Unlike when you load something using ContentManager , you "own" it in this case. This means you are responsible for calling Dispose() on it in UnloadContent .

Also unlike when you go through the content pipeline (using the default settings), the texture that you load will not have premultiplied-alpha. You need to apply premultiplication yourself, or render it with BlendState.NonPremultiplied .

Of course, unless you are unable to for some reason (eg: you're downloading images from the internet, or you're letting your end user pick them), you should use the content pipeline .