Re: XML issues - Visual Basic Discussion Boards

It's been running rampant lately, in all forums. The worst is in the SB, you can get hammered there. I'm learning slowly to not get baited into posting in there. But yeah, give a reply the OP doesn't like (example, how can I make my application unterminatable by even the TaskManager = NO) you get 1 voted. It's quite annoying.

Hi All,

I have this function to retrieve the version from a vb.net manifest file that is giving me fits. I swear that it worked when I went to bed late, late, last night but when I got up this morning it would return nothing. It has to be something simple that I am overlooking, but for the life of me I can't see it and am starting to cuss Microsoft and their *&$#^# XML ^#%(($ reader piece of &^^#@**$ bla, bla, bla. So, if anybody can pull my fat out of the fire it would be appreciated. Here is the stoned stupid, bone simple, 3rd grade routine that I think outta work.

Private Function GetManifestVer(ByVal strManifestFile As String) As String
GetManifestVer = ""
Dim xmlr As XmlTextReader
xmlr = New XmlTextReader(strManifestFile)
While Not xmlr.EOF
xmlr.Read()
If xmlr.Name = "entryPoint" Then
If xmlr.IsStartElement Then
GetManifestVer = xmlr.GetAttribute("version")
Exit While
End If
End If
End While
xmlr.Close()
End Function

You can pass any vb.net manifest to it. I am using the [application].exe.manifest file created by a compile. I sure any manifest file will do for testing. So help me out before I start beating this computer like a red headed stepchild. Thanks - Stu

I tried this adapted version of your code:

Private Function GetManifestVer(ByVal strManifestFile As String) As String
    Try
        GetManifestVer = ""
        Dim xmlr As XmlTextReader
        xmlr = New XmlTextReader(strManifestFile)
        While Not xmlr.EOF
            xmlr.Read()
            If xmlr.Name = "entryPoint" Then
                If xmlr.IsStartElement Then
                    GetManifestVer = xmlr.GetAttribute("version")
                    Exit While
                Else
                    GetManifestVer = "StartElement not found"
                End If
            Else
                GetManifestVer = "entryPoint not found"
            End If
        End While
        xmlr.Close()
    Catch ex As Exception
        Return ex.Message
    End Try
End Function

It does not find "entryPoint". Can there be a simple syntax error, or maybe it is case sensitive or something ?

My advice is free, and you may get what you paid for.

Thanks for taking a look. Both my code and yours finds the 'entryPoint' element on my box but neither can find the 'version' attribute. Actually my code did work and then quit at some point. Go figure, makes me think that the Microsoft implementation of the XML reader is not ready for prime time. But as soon as I think that I am sure to get slapped in the face by an error that was my doing, that is usually the case. I would like to do it with XML, but it is costing to much time. I seem to be doing what all of the other examples on the web are doing. I guess it is back to the old fashion parse. Did you actually try it on your box? With a .exe.manifest file created from a build?

I am not entirely sure what it is you need to do, as I myself have never needed to access manifest files (in fact I never even looked at one until your post), so I just found one and ran it against your code.
All I got was "entryPoint not found"

My advice is free, and you may get what you paid for.

I am just trying to get the version value from a manifest file that was created by a build/compile. The file can be found in any applications \bin\Release\ServiceInvoice.exe.manifest folder. I am writing my own Application updater. I want my apps to be under easily accessible under the 'program files' directory so click-once publish is not an option. I have written a small routine that downloads the manifest from my \bin\Release folder (which is a virtual dir under my IIS) and then extracts the version via the routine (GetManifestVer) that we are discussing. compares it with its own version and makes a decision to download the 'exe' or not. Enclosed is the code, it is very raw and once working I will stick in more parameters and error trapping before it is done. But it will go something like this .

Private Sub UpdateApp()
Dim MVer As String = ""
Dim AVer() As String = Split(My.Application.Info.Version.ToString, ".", True)
Dim AName As String = My.Application.Info.AssemblyName
Dim LocalPath As String = My.Application.Info.DirectoryPath
Dim LocalApp As String = LocalPath & "\" & AName & ".exe"
Dim RemoteApp As String = "http://Stu-Laptop/IMS/" & AName & "/" & AName & ".exe"
Dim RemoteManifestFile As String = "http://Stu-Laptop/IMS/" & AName & "/" & AName & ".exe.manifest"
Dim LocalManifestFile As String = My.Application.Info.DirectoryPath & "\Manifest.xml"
Dim xmlr As XmlTextReader
Dim WebConnection As New WebClient()
Dim CurV() As String

Try
If File.Exists(LocalManifestFile) Then File.Delete(LocalManifestFile)
WebConnection.DownloadFile(RemoteManifestFile, LocalManifestFile)
Catch ex As Exception
MsgBox("Error retrieving web file", ex.Message)
Exit Sub
End Try

xmlr = New XmlTextReader(LocalManifestFile)
While Not xmlr.EOF
xmlr.Read()
If xmlr.Name = "entryPoint" Then
If xmlr.IsStartElement Then
MVer = xmlr.GetAttribute("version")
Exit While
End If
End If
End While
xmlr.Close()

If File.Exists(LocalManifestFile) Then File.Delete(LocalManifestFile)

If MVer = "" Then Exit Sub
CurV = Split(MVer, ".", True)

If (AVer(0) < CurV(0)) Or (AVer(1) < CurV(1)) Or (AVer(2) < CurV(2)) Or (AVer(3) < CurV(3)) Then
FileCopy(LocalApp, LocalPath & "\" & AName & ".old")
WebConnection.DownloadFile(RemoteApp, LocalApp)
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(LocalApp)
End If

End Sub

Thanks again for your continued interest. Stu

I just opened up a few of these manifest files (with PSPad) and they all look something like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
<assemblyIdentity version="1.0.0.0" name="MyApplication.app"/>
<trustInfo xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v2">
<security>
<requestedPrivileges xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v3">
<requestedExecutionLevel level="asInvoker" uiAccess="false"/>
</requestedPrivileges>
</security>
</trustInfo>
</assembly>

Neither the ones made with VS 2003 nor the ones made with VS 2008 had any mention of a tag or attribute called "entryPoint", they do however all have the tag "assemblyIdentity" with a "version" attribute.

Is it possible that the manifest file you used (late the day-before-yesterday) is/was for some reason different from the average manifest file ?
As the problem seems to be that the element "entryPoint" is simply not found, perhaps you should try to open your manifest with some editor, and see if there isn't some other element you could check for?

My advice is free, and you may get what you paid for.

Yes my manifests seen a little more complicated. But I am glad to inform you that I have resolved the issue. Like usual it was me. When you work very late into the night strange things happen, specially when there is a full moon. I usually quit when the computer gives a loud beep in response to some error & it scares me out of my chair mumbling something like 'What the *)%(&^^ was that?'. below is a piece of my manifest.

<asmv1:assembly manifestversion="1.0" xsi:schemalocation="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1 assembly.adaptive.xsd" xmlns:asmv3="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v3" xmlns:dsig="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#" xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v2" xmlns:asmv1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" xmlns:asmv2="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v2" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:co.v1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:clickonce.v1">
<asmv1:assemblyidentity version="1.0.0.19" name="ServiceInvoice.exe" publickeytoken="0000000000000000" language="neutral" processorarchitecture="msil" type="win32">
<application>
<entrypoint>
<assemblyidentity name="ServiceInvoice" version="1.0.41220.731" publickeytoken="D1E735326A597357" language="neutral" processorarchitecture="msil">
<commandline file="ServiceInvoice.exe" parameters="">

<trustinfo> <security>
<applicationrequestminimum>
<permissionset unrestricted="true" id="Custom" samesite="site">
<defaultassemblyrequest permissionsetreference="Custom">

Its a pretty long manifest - would take 2 to 3 pages to print out. The correct node to search for is assemblyIdentity not entry point. Both my raw code and your error trapped code works correctly when given the right value. I have finished my routines and it works like a dream, a seamless, silent, transparent check of the version & then download if necessary of a new exe and kick off. User never sees a thing. It reverts back to the old exe if it fails at any point. Its nice now, all I have to do is compile, nothing else is required, I don't have to make any files set any flags etc.

I do have another issue though. It seems like I got myself into some kind of debug/Edit purgatory where I can't edit in the debug mode. It started when I put some values in the debug properties window for testing my command line functions. I get cute little padlocks on my code page tab and a error that says 'Changes are not allowed when the debugger has been attached to an already running process or the code being debugged has been optimized at build or run time' a search of the net and trying other peoples workarounds have not resolved it and its really starting to piss me off. Oh well, being of German heritage, I am stubborn and as tenacious as a rabid pit bull and sure that I will figure it out even if I have to trash & rebuild the project (none of my other apps are doing it). If you are familiar with this particular animal, then drop me a line.

Thanks again for all of the time you have spent and interest shown. You are the first guy that has ever responded to an issue that I have posted (I don't post often) and it is appreciated.

It seems that I need quotes around the XML. Let me try that again.

"'<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<asmv1:assembly manifestVersion="1.0" xsi:schemaLocation="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1 assembly.adaptive.xsd" xmlns:asmv3="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v3" xmlns:dsig="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#" xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v2" xmlns:asmv1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" xmlns:asmv2="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v2" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:co.v1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:clickonce.v1">
<asmv1:assemblyIdentity version="1.0.0.19" name="ServiceInvoice.exe" publicKeyToken="0000000000000000" language="neutral" processorArchitecture="msil" type="win32" />
<application />
<entryPoint>
<assemblyIdentity name="ServiceInvoice" version="1.0.41220.731" publicKeyToken="D1E735326A597357" language="neutral" processorArchitecture="msil" />
<commandLine file="ServiceInvoice.exe" parameters="" />
</entryPoint>
<trustInfo>
<security>
<applicationRequestMinimum>
<PermissionSet Unrestricted="true" ID="Custom" SameSite="site" />
<defaultAssemblyRequest permissionSetReference="Custom" />
</applicationRequestMinimum>'"

You should also considering laying off the late night coding parties, and get yourself some good old fashion sex, drugs and rock 'n roll... and if you feel you must, some sleep. Wink | ;)

My advice is free, and you may get what you paid for.

You got that right, but unfortunately those days are gone, over here in the US, unemployment is running rampant. The programming field has been decimated by outsourcing. H1 Visa's get what jobs are left. The government has declared war on the citizens, stealing everything we got & giving it away to their cronies who will give some of it back to them by way of speaker fees, campaign contributions, and graft of all sorts. Our Constitution has been totally trashed by an imaginary war on terror as if we didn't know who is really behind it. Sex?, Drugs?, Rock & Roll?, Sleep? All of those things a dim memory of days long gone. Hope things are better where your at. Enjoy it while you can. The New World Order is comming....

Thanks again for your support Stu.

"Truth is treason in the Empire of Lies."

Can any one tell me how to make delegates in multithreading
for grid view or a control having parameters in its property

Best Of regards,

Mirza Rahman

softdev_sup wrote:
a control having parameters in its property

How do you mean ?

Delegates will work in a multi threaded environment.

Christian Graus

Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista.

like below code how can i create delegate for Grid View Control Property like
grid.item(col,row).value=AAA
Delegate Sub SetTextCallback(ByVal [text] As String)
Private Sub SetText(ByVal [text] As String)

If Me.TextBox1.InvokeRequired Then
Dim d As New SetTextCallback(AddressOf SetText)
Me.Invoke(d, New Object() {[text]})

Else
Me.TextBox1.Text = [text]
End If

End Sub

Best of Regards
Mirza Rahman

Hi

I would like to populate data from a database into a treeview in vb6.0 application.

I have a table in this format

Child Parent 1st Level 2nd Level 3rd Level
50000011 50014561 GB_3623 GB_3440
50000012 50000012 GB_3908 GB_5000
50000012 50000012 GB_3908 GB_5000
50000013 50026347
50000014 50010875 GB_6135 GB_5000
50000015 50010414
50000017 50000017 GB_3922 GB_3900 GB_5000
50000018 50000018 GB_3220
50000018 50000018 GB_3220
50000019 50010473 GB_3440
50000019 50010473 GB_3440
etc
etc
etc.

Now from this table to my vb6 form
3rd Level is GreatGreatGrandparent,
2nd Level is GreatGrandparent,
1st Level is Grandparent,
Parent is parent
& Child is is child

I want to represent this in a tree view control in vb6.0 and when I search from my form for any of the five fields mentioned above, the treeview should highlight that particular node and set the expanders on that particular hierarchy.

I am not familiar with treeview control at all. Can someone help me please?

Yours desperately ,

Kumar.

Why on earth are you writing code in VB6 ?

Christian Graus

Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista.

Hello everyone.
I am using Crystal Report with vb.net 2005,... i have a query(using query builder) which joins two table and gets some record depending on the foreign key...it works fine in data grid and other query design...But in crystal report viewer, some data are getting repeated.....
Could anyone please tell me why is that strange behavior of CR? Is it a problem with my query?

Thank You in advance,
Himangshu S

I am a learner Always

can you post your query so i rectify the problem?

also how can you supply data to crystal report(run time or design time)?

Rupesh Kumar Swami
Software Developer,
Integrated Solution,
Bikaner (India)

My Company
Award: Best VB.NET article of June 2008: Create Column Charts Using OWC11

thanks for your reply,

Sorry...the query is not with me right now..I will post it by tomorrow for sure...
But for the time being let me explain you, What I have done is....
create a new crystal report, with the wizard option select ms Access data and select fields and all from both the table...than in a separate from which has cr viewer and a button with a combo box....I select the id in the combo box and press the (refresh) button where I have written code(with the querry) to retrieve the records and put it to the cr viewer....that's how I did it...
Could you please tell me what can go wrong

Regards,
Himangshu

I am a learner Always

try following
make a query in MSAccess database which contains all fields of both table.Now go to following steps
1. select Data menu item
2. select Add new Data Source
3. select appropriate database and then select query

above three steps generate a dataset say dataset1

Now open your crystal report and perform following steps

1. From field explorer, right click on Database Fields and select Database Expert. This open a window
2. go Project Data-->ADO.Net dataset--->select the dataset (in this case select dataset1)
3. select this dataset and click on Ok button

Now this dataset show all fields of both tables in field explorer.Place required fields on report

Now on the form which have crystalReportViewer,combo and button, place following code to click event of button

Dim ob As New report1'( report1 is your crystal report)<br />
'here populate dataset(ds) for selected id <br />
ob.SetDataSource(ds.Tables(0))<br />
        CrystalReportViewer1.ReportSource = ob<br />
        CrystalReportViewer1.Refresh()

hope this helps

Rupesh Kumar Swami
Software Developer,
Integrated Solution,
Bikaner (India)

My Company
Award: Best VB.NET article of June 2008: Create Column Charts Using OWC11

thanks,
But my data retrieval should happen dynamically....More over I am deploying the project.....In that case will it create any problem,since I want it to be dynamic..

I am a learner Always

himangshuS wrote:
But my data retrieval should happen dynamically..

yaa.For design crystal report, you must have some structure of table or query so i suggest to create data source from data menu.

i also mention in previous post that how can you supplied data at run time(see lower section of my previos post)

himangshuS wrote:
More over I am deploying the project.....In that case will it create any problem,since I want it to be dynamic..

add prerequistie "Crystal report for .Net framework 2.0" from Menu Project--->Project Properties--->Publish

Rupesh Kumar Swami
Software Developer,
Integrated Solution,
Bikaner (India)

My Company
Award: Best VB.NET article of June 2008: Create Column Charts Using OWC11

yes even i am having the same exact problem,
but we dont want to use the dataset concept because we are selecting the database when creating this which will not be in the same path while we are deploying the project the database may be saved in a different location

I'm trying to make a project in vb6 that i need to list all the files when a open any folder?

Please help me.

try[^]

Rupesh Kumar Swami
Software Developer,
Integrated Solution,
Bikaner (India)

My Company
Award: Best VB.NET article of June 2008: Create Column Charts Using OWC11