FileToCppArray

Convert any file into a C++ array header file (.h) using Python.

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Features

• Convert any file (binary or text) into a C++ array.
• Optional chunking for very large files.
• Generates a single header file (.h) with:
  • All chunks combined in a single array
  • Array length
  • Optional helper functions
• Automatic safe array name generation from file names.

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Requirements

• Python 3.6+

No external packages are required.

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Usage

python file2cpp.py -i <input_file> [-o <output_header>] [-n <array_name>] [-chunk <size>]

Options

• -i / --input : Input file path (required)
• -o / --output : Output header file (default: output.h)
• -n / --name : Array name (optional; generated from file name if empty)
• -chunk : Chunk size in bytes for splitting large files (default: 0 = no chunking)

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Example

Convert example.png into a C++ header:

python file2cpp.py -i example.png

Generated output.h:

#pragma once
#include <vector>
#include <cstring>

size_t example_pngLen = 532;

unsigned char example_png[] = {
  0x23, 0x20, 0x49, 0x66, 0x20, ...
};

inline std::vector<unsigned char> getexample_pngVector() {
    std::vector<unsigned char> result;
    result.insert(result.end(), example_png, example_png + sizeof(example_png));
    return result;
}

OR :

python file2cpp.py -i example.png -o example.h -n example -chunk 500

Generated example.h:

#pragma once
#include <vector>
#include <cstring>

size_t exampleLen = 532;

unsigned char example_0[] = {
  0x23, 0x20, 0x49, 0x66, 0x20, ...
};

unsigned char example_1[] = {
  0x6F, 0x2E, 0x77, 0x6F, ...
};

inline std::vector<unsigned char> getexampleVector() {
    std::vector<unsigned char> result;
    result.insert(result.end(), example_0, example_0 + sizeof(example_0));
    result.insert(result.end(), example_1, example_1 + sizeof(example_1));
    return result;
}

inline unsigned char* getexampleBytes() {
    static unsigned char combined[532];
    size_t offset = 0;
    memcpy(combined + offset, example_0, sizeof(example_0)); offset += sizeof(example_0);
    memcpy(combined + offset, example_1, sizeof(example_1)); offset += sizeof(example_1);
    return combined;
}

Include this header in any C++ project to access file contents directly.

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Notes

• Chunking is optional; if not used, a single array is generated.
• Array names are sanitized to valid C++ identifiers.
• Works across multiple C++ source files without duplication issues.

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