title: VB.Net how to read a compressed text file directly into an array of strings
body: <p>Is it possible to read a zipped text file like a normal text file without having to extract it first, and if so, how? Currently, I have to extract the file, read all the lines to an array of strings, and then delete the extracted file.</p>
  
  <pre><code>Dim arrLines() As String
  Try
      oApp.Namespace(Application.StartupPath).CopyHere(oApp.Namespace(strZipFilename).Items.Item(CStr(filename)))
      arrLines = IO.File.ReadAllLines(Application.StartupPath &amp; "\" &amp; filename)
      Dim FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
      FSO.DeleteFile(Application.StartupPath &amp; "\" &amp; filename)
  Catch ex As Exception
      Return False
  End Try
  'do stuff with arrLines...
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I would prefer not to need to do this. If someone could tell me how to do something like <code>IO.File.ReadAllLines(oApp.Namespace(strZipFilename).Items.Item(CStr(filename)))</code> WITHOUT using third-party libraries, I would really appreciate it.</p>