Problem passing data to an activeX - C# Discussion Boards

Thanx

MeLight5-Sep-07 8:57

MeLight

5-Sep-07 8:57

Bah, I should have thought of it myself D'Oh! | :doh:

Thanx

Re: Workaround global variables?

Dave Kreskowiak5-Sep-07 9:08

Dave Kreskowiak

5-Sep-07 9:08

And in the world of OOP, if you're trying to use global variables extensively, this is usually a sign of a bad design.

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007

sizeof

dino20945-Sep-07 8:26

dino2094

5-Sep-07 8:26

Hi,

I'm trying to write a method that is passed an array and do some bit operations. I'm trying to figure out a way to determine the number of bits an element of the arrray. I could hardcode the value but I'd like the flexibility just changing the header and nothing else.

int count(Uint16[] data){

//Try to do something like
int bitsInCell = sizeof(data[0])*8;

//Instead of
int bitsInCell = 16;

}

I'm trying to do it the first way so if I want to sent Uint32, I don't have to search the code for 16 and switch them to 32.

Thanks for your comments.

Re: sizeof

TJoe5-Sep-07 8:50

TJoe

5-Sep-07 8:50

You can use the Marshal class, which is defined in System.Runtime.InteropServices, like so:

int bitsInCell = Marshal.SizeOf(data[0]) * 8;

Take care,
Tom

-----------------------------------------------
Check out my blog at http://tjoe.wordpress.com

Re: sizeof

Luc Pattyn5-Sep-07 10:02

Luc Pattyn

5-Sep-07 10:02

Warning: Marshal.Sizeof() and sizeof() do not always agree. Try bool !

Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [My Articles]

this weeks tips:
- make Visual display line numbers: Tools/Options/TextEditor/...
- show exceptions with ToString() to see all information
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Re: sizeof

TJoe5-Sep-07 10:19

TJoe

5-Sep-07 10:19

Good point. Technically, Boolean (bool) in C# maps to BOOL (int) in C++. Probably because bool is not used in the Win32 API.

Plus, I believe a C++ long in a 64-bit environment will be 64 bits, but the C# int (a.k.a. Int32) is 32-bits.

Take care,
Tom

-----------------------------------------------
Check out my blog at http://tjoe.wordpress.com

Re: sizeof

dino20945-Sep-07 11:54

dino2094

5-Sep-07 11:54

Thank you my good man!

Problem passing data to an activeX

Paolo Vernazza5-Sep-07 6:55

Paolo Vernazza

5-Sep-07 6:55

I'm using in a project an activeX component with these 3 methods:

<br />
public void PutData(ref int pData, int nBytes);<br />
public int GetDataSize();<br />
public void GetData(ref int pData);<br />

The same functions, in a c++ project are:

<br />
void PutData(long* pData, long nBytes);<br />
long GetDataSize();<br />
void GetData(long* pData);<br />

With the first function I pass a buffer to the component and the component copies it in its own buffer.
With the third function I pass a buffer to the component and the component copies in my buffer the data that it previously stored in its own buffer.

I can't get the component work properly, because it seems to copy only the first 4 bytes (= the first integer).

I tried the component in a c++ project and it works properly, so I think that the problem is in the way I'm passing the data to the activex.

I use the functions in this way:

<br />
int[] buffer = new int[10];<br />
int[] buffer_check = new int[10];<br />
<br />
for (int i=0; i<10; i++)<br />
    buffer[i] = i;<br />
<br />
ocx.PutData(ref buffer[0], 10*sizeof(int));<br />
<br />
//That's works OK<br />
System.Diagnostics.Debug.Assert(ocx.GetDataSize() == 10*sizeof(int));<br />
<br />
ocx.GetData(ref buffer_check[0], 10*sizeof(int)); <br />
<br />
//This fails for any i != 0<br />
for (i=0; i<10; i++)<br />
      System.Diagnostics.Debug.Assert(buffer_check[i] == buffer[i]);<br />

Someone has any idea about what I'm doing wrong?
Thanks!

Paolo

Re: Problem passing data to an activeX

TJoe5-Sep-07 8:23

TJoe

5-Sep-07 8:23

Hi Paolo,

The ActiveX is expecting a pointer to, presumably, an array of long values. But from C# you are only passing a single Int32. You need to use an IntPtr to pass the data back and forth, like so:

// Create buffer
Int32[] buffer = new Int32[10];
buffer[5] = 1;

// Allocate and copy to unmanaged memory
IntPtr ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(Int32)) * 10);
Marshal.Copy(buffer, 0, ptr, 10);

// Change buffer, so we can see that the ptr has restores the
//   old value
buffer[5] = 2;

// Copy from unmanged memory back to array
Marshal.Copy(ptr, buffer, 0, 10);

// Free memory, or else we will leak it
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);

Note: The Marshal class is in the System.Runtime.InteropServices namespace.

Take care,
Tom

-----------------------------------------------
Check out my blog at http://tjoe.wordpress.com

Re: Problem passing data to an activeX

Paolo Vernazza6-Sep-07 1:57

Paolo Vernazza

6-Sep-07 1:57

It doesn't work Frown | :(

Your code works, but it stops if I use different unmanaged memory areas when storing and when retrieving or if I change the data in the unmanaged memory.

For example, this code doesn't work:

<br />
// Create buffer<br />
Int32[] buffer = new Int32[10];<br />
buffer[5] = 1;<br />
<br />
// Allocate and copy to unmanaged memory<br />
IntPtr ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(Int32)) * 10);<br />
Marshal.Copy(buffer, 0, ptr, 10);<br />
<br />
// **** Need to add this, otherwise c# complains about not being able to convert IntPtr to int<br />
int bptr = (int)ptr;<br />
ocx.PutData(ref bptr, Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(Int32)) * 10);<br />
<br />
// Change buffer, so we can see that the ptr has restored the<br />
//   old value<br />
buffer[5] = 2;<br />
<br />
// **** Allocate another are to retrieve data<br />
IntPtr ptr2 = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(Int32)) * 10);<br />
int bptr2 = (int)ptr2;<br />
<br />
ocx.GetData(ref bptr2);<br />
// **** Here there is the problem: when GetData() returns, <br />
// the bptr2 variable has been changed and its value is = bptr = (int ptr) <br />
<br />
// Copy from unmanged memory back to array<br />
Marshal.Copy(ptr2, buffer, 0, 10);<br />
<br />
// Free memory, or else we will leak it<br />
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);<br />
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr2);<br />

Re: Problem passing data to an activeX

TJoe6-Sep-07 2:13

TJoe

6-Sep-07 2:13

Do you have access to the ActiveX source code? Or is it publicly available? If you have access, could you post examples of PutData and GetData. If it's publicly available, could you please provide a link.

If GetData is updating bptr2 so that it has the same value as bptr, then I would assume that PutData simply stored the long* that was passed in (instead of copying it). Then GetData is simply passing out the same long*. If this is the case then you do not need to allocate ptr2, because GetData does not required you to pass in a pre-allocated buffer.

This really depends on how the OCX methods are written and you would need a full understanding of how they work to properly use them. For example, if the PutData does in fact save the long* that was passed in, then the code below would cause access violations:

// Create buffer
Int32[] buffer = new Int32[10];
buffer[5] = 1;

// Allocate and copy to unmanaged memory
IntPtr ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(Int32)) * 10);
Marshal.Copy(buffer, 0, ptr, 10);

// **** Need to add this, otherwise c# complains about not being able to convert IntPtr to int
int bptr = (int)ptr;
ocx.PutData(ref bptr, Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(Int32)) * 10);

// Change buffer, so we can see that the ptr has restored the
// old value
buffer[5] = 2;

// Free memory, or else we will leak it
Marshal.FreeHGlobal(ptr);

// ... Somewhere else in code


// **** Allocate another are to retrieve data
IntPtr ptr2 = IntPtr.Zero;
int bptr2 = (int)ptr2;

ocx.GetData(ref bptr2);

// Copy from unmanged memory back to array
Marshal.Copy(ptr2, buffer, 0, 10);

In the code above, the long* that was cached is freed and then is accessed later. If you are only using the OCX in a serial fashion like your example, then it would be fine.

Let me know if this makes sense.

Take care,
Tom

-----------------------------------------------
Check out my blog at http://tjoe.wordpress.com

Re: Problem passing data to an activeX

Paolo Vernazza6-Sep-07 4:33

Paolo Vernazza

6-Sep-07 4:33

No, I haven't access to the activeX source code, but the activeX it is freely available at http://www.kolbasoft.com/

I put the test projects (c# and c++), the link to the activeX and a a few notes in www.vernazza.org/Vecad.zip

I agree with you, it seems that GetData is passing out the long* that I passed it before instead of the data pointed, but I can't understand why it works while I call that function from c++ , and it doesn't when I call it from c#!

Re: Problem passing data to an activeX

TJoe6-Sep-07 5:08

TJoe

6-Sep-07 5:08

You may want to use AllocCoTaskMem[^] instead (and it's associated free method), but I don't think that is your problem.

Looking at the put code:

IntPtr ptr = Marshal.AllocHGlobal(Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(Int32)) * 10);
Marshal.Copy(buffer, 0, ptr, 10);
int bptr = (int)ptr;
axVecad1.PutExData(ref bptr, 10 * 4);

After the first line, ptr points to the allocated block of memory. The array is then copied to the allocated block. Next ptr is cast to an int, so bptr now holds the correct address to the buffer. Now, when passing in the address to the PutExData, the address of the bptr is passed in (ref bptr). What you really want to pass in is the value of bptr. So really you are passing in a pointer to bptr which has a pointer to the actual data (so a pointer to a pointer).

Basically, the signature for the PutExData should have the first parameter as an "IntPtr", not as a "ref Int32". I don't think there is a way to properly pass in the IntPtr address when the signature has the ref value there. Because you would need to create an Int32 value at the same location as the allocated buffer.

I realize that VS generated the signature of the method for you (more specifically, aximp.exe generates it). The best work-around (short of hand-writing all the code you need) I found was here[^]. Be sure to read the whole thread, he talks about activeX controls later in the thread.

Hopefully this helps.

UPDATE: Actually, it looks like aximp.exe can generate C# source code now, so that would probably be your best option.

Take care,
Tom

-----------------------------------------------
Check out my blog at http://tjoe.wordpress.com

How to limit maximum size of other windows?

Trickster-SWE5-Sep-07 6:33

Trickster-SWE

5-Sep-07 6:33

I would like to create a sidebar type application that sits on the right side of the client area. This application will always be executing, and I want it to always be visible.

Is there any way of controlling _other_ windows so that the won't maximise or be resized over/under that application? Optimally I would like another window to maximize to the full screen _except_ for the right X pixels where my sidebar application is residing.

Always on top will fix the "always visible" parameter, but using this other windows will be hidden behind it..

Preferrably I would like to set a registry value or such setting max size, but the next best case is to do this programmatically in my app.

Would really appreciate an answer!

Best regards

// T

Re: How to limit maximum size of other windows?

TJoe5-Sep-07 8:06

TJoe

5-Sep-07 8:06

Check out http://www.codeproject.com/csharp/csdoesshell3.asp[^]

Take care,
Tom

-----------------------------------------------
Check out my blog at http://tjoe.wordpress.com

Re: How to limit maximum size of other windows?

Trickster-SWE5-Sep-07 22:33

Trickster-SWE

5-Sep-07 22:33

That hit the spot!

Thanks for the help!

Really appreciate it!

// T

Regex replace question

Vodstok5-Sep-07 6:13

Vodstok

5-Sep-07 6:13

I have an issue that hopefully has a quick answer (dont we always...)

I have some code that uses this as an identifying tag:
[:: ::]

So i would mark something as [::Text_In_Here::], and I would identify that there was a tag with this expression:
\[:: (.|\n)+?::\]

this works fantastically. But, in some cases, i need to be able to identify the tag, and replace the outer portion with another tag. SO what I need is to able to find [::Text_In_Here::] and turn it into <input type='hidden' value= 'Text_In_Here'/>
any ideas? i am using Regex.Replace in other areas, but it doesnt appear to have an overload that will do what I need.

______________________
Mr Griffin, eleventy billion is not a number... WTF | :WTF:

Re: Regex replace question

TJoe5-Sep-07 8:00

TJoe

5-Sep-07 8:00

You would need to modify your regex so that it captures the entire inner portion of the tag. Then when replacing you can reference the inner portion using $1.

Note: I added "?:" to the inner parenthesis so that the character matched by it is not captured. Instead, the entire inner portion is captured.

Regex regex = new Regex(@"\[: Cry | :((

?:.|\n)+?)::\]");
String output = regex.Replace("[::Testing::]",
"<intput type='hidden' value='$1'/>");

Take care,
Tom

-----------------------------------------------
Check out my blog at http://tjoe.wordpress.com

row doesn't get deleted

gericooper5-Sep-07 5:27

gericooper

5-Sep-07 5:27

Hi
row adding (after adding + saving, reloading the form) is OK to 1 of my table but delete is not... Here's what I've done:
since DeleteCommand didn't exist to that table I defined a simple one (at dataset designer mode to the tableadapter):

DELETE FROM Felhaszn_Egyeb
WHERE     (TetelArId = @TetelArId) AND (EgyebId = @EgyebId) AND (Mennyiseg = @Mennyiseg)

similarly UpdateCommand is defined as follows:

UPDATE    Felhaszn_Egyeb
SET              TetelArId = @TetelArId, EgyebId = @EgyebId, Mennyiseg = @Mennyiseg
WHERE     (TetelArId = @Original_TetelArId) AND (EgyebId = @Original_EgyebId)

upon the user clicks the delete button, the bindingsource.removecurrent() & bindinsource.endedit()
& [dataset].acceptchanges() are invoked row is deleted from the datagridview
upon user clicks save the well known invoked (thistableadapter.update(thisdataset.thisdatatable)

upon reloading the form it still fills the table with 1 row, which shouldn't be there
thx for your thread...g

Visual Studio Menu Layout

DanB19835-Sep-07 5:13

DanB1983

5-Sep-07 5:13

Hey

I like the way menus can be slid in and out of view in Visual Studio (such as solution explorer and the properties window) and would like to use something similar for a project I am working on.

I assume this is a control you can drag onto a form in visual studio that when the mouse moves over shows panels in a specific position. Does any one know which control I should use?

Also If i want to make the menus slightly transparent is it a case of inheriting from say a panel then overriding its draw command using GDI? I may be way off the mark with this one as I have not done this before (only made my own items using GDI)

Thanks

Dan

Re: Visual Studio Menu Layout

martin_hughes5-Sep-07 5:54

martin_hughes

5-Sep-07 5:54

I don't think it's built in, but there is a free control (I haven't used it, but many folks here have): http://sourceforge.net/projects/dockpanelsuite[^]

Me: Can you see the "up" arrow?
User:Errr...ummm....no.
Me: Can you see an arrow that points upwards?
User: Oh yes, I see it now!

-Excerpt from a support call taken by me, 08/31/2007

Form problem

sajid.salim.khan5-Sep-07 4:52

sajid.salim.khan

5-Sep-07 4:52

I am new to C#the problem is this that i m making an employee database for a firm the informATION will be filled in three forms serial vise for example

1 Employee personal
2 Service history
3 Expertise

when i fill the first form then when i click next i want to fill the second service history form in the same window so how it could be possible i dont want a separate window to be opened as many softwares do the same procedure by pressing next and going on filling the information in same window in different criterias

SAS

Re: Form problem

Christian Graus5-Sep-07 5:07

Christian Graus

5-Sep-07 5:07

One easy way to do this is to build your different views as controls and show/hide them on the form.

However, my overall advice would be that if you're new to C#, you should not be writing code that anyone is going to use for anything, unless you have a strong background in another language.

Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++

"I am working on a project that will convert a FORTRAN code to corresponding C++ code.I am not aware of FORTRAN syntax" ( spotted in the C++/CLI forum )

Re: Form problem

sajid.salim.khan5-Sep-07 5:53

sajid.salim.khan

5-Sep-07 5:53

The above suggestion is best but what about if i use MDI will it solve the problem and how to displaydifferentforms ibn window

SAS

Re: Form problem

Christian Graus5-Sep-07 8:26

Christian Graus

5-Sep-07 8:26

Doesn't make any difference. You don't display different forms in a window, you display different controls. A form is a window.

Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++

"I am working on a project that will convert a FORTRAN code to corresponding C++ code.I am not aware of FORTRAN syntax" ( spotted in the C++/CLI forum )

Use Ctrl+Left/Right to switch messages, Ctrl+Up/Down to switch threads, Ctrl+Shift+Left/Right to switch pages.