Visual Basic

9-Sep-09 13:53

Hi,

I'm fairly new to vb and have managed quite a lot so far but the part I'm stuck on is adding a line number to my text file.

On my form the user submits information entered into a textbox - this line is appended to a text file log . I would like to be able to add line numbers to it as each time text is sent from my textbox, so when printed it would show how many events were recorded.

I appreciate any help in this I have searched for months now with no real help found.
thanks for any help you may provide.

Regards
CJ

modified on Monday, September 14, 2009 6:26 AM

Christian Graus9-Sep-09 14:20

9-Sep-09 14:20

cjdc wrote:
I have searched for months now

Really ?

What is the number you want to append exactly ? The number of lines of text in the file ? The line count would be a line itself, right ? you can use file.ReadAllLines to read the file into an array and check it's length to see how many lines it has

Christian Graus

Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista.

Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

cjdc9-Sep-09 14:29

9-Sep-09 14:29

the line number would have to be incremental as each time an event from my textbox is logged into my text file I would like a line number added to the log, this is where I'm stuck and probably why its taking me months to do what may be a simple task, but I'm still learning.

Christian Graus9-Sep-09 14:48

9-Sep-09 14:48

OK, well, then, put the line count at the end. Use File.ReadAllLines to read all the lines. Then write a new text file that contains all the lines but the last one. You can use int.TryParse to parse the number, or just work it out and write it again.

Christian Graus

Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista.

Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

cjdc9-Sep-09 14:57

9-Sep-09 14:57

Thanks for that but now confused as to why create a new file to transfer existing data?

here's what I have so far:

' This text is always added, making the file longer over time
sw = IO.File.AppendText(path)
sw.WriteLine(DateTime.Now.ToString() + "," + "Reason," + (RichTextBox2.Text)
so where I'm using writeline i would need it to add a incremental line number first, so if the log already had two entries it would need to put a number 3 before datetime.now

Sorry if I'm not explaining it very well.
thanks for replying

Christian Graus9-Sep-09 15:05

9-Sep-09 15:05

cjdc wrote:
Thanks for that but now confused as to why create a new file to transfer existing data?

Because there's no way to remove the old line otherwise. In fact 'AppendText' is loading the entire file and rewriting it, it's just hiding it from you.

Christian Graus

Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista.

Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

Luc Pattyn9-Sep-09 15:21

Luc Pattyn

9-Sep-09 15:21

Hi,

assuming your textbox is initially empty and lines a are going to be added one by one, this simple method would add one line including a line number:

Private Dim lineNumber As Integer = 0

Private Sub AddString(s As String)
    lineNumber=lineNumber+1
    myTextBox.Text=myTextBox.Text & lineNumber.ToString() & " : " & s & Environment.NewLine
End Sub

Luc Pattyn

Have a look at my entry for the lean-and-mean competition; please provide comments, feedback, discussion, and don’t forget to vote for it! Thank you.

cjdc10-Sep-09 7:03

10-Sep-09 7:03

Hi Luc,

Thanks for that you seem to understand part of this problem well.

Here's what I have so far:
' This text is always added, making the file longer over time
sw = IO.File.AppendText(path)
sw.WriteLine(DateTime.Now.ToString() + "," + "Reason," + (RichTextBox2.Text)
so where I'm using writeline I would need it to add a incremental line number first, so if the log already had two entries it would need to put a number 3 before datetime.now

If i use your code it writes a line number but does not increment the number.
The form already creates the text file if it does not exist, and on each use will write a new line entry.
The user will use this form to report technical issues, so there could be many issues per day, I would like each issue logged with an incremental line number, so would it have to count existing entries to establish the correct line number to write? if so how would I get it to write incremental numbers and check to see how many entries already existed.

I hope I'm explaining this right or it might be easier to send you my project so you can see what goes on.

Thanks again for helping and taking time to reply.
Regards
CJ

Luc Pattyn10-Sep-09 7:12

Luc Pattyn

10-Sep-09 7:12

Hi,

I missed the fact the file could preexist. And yes my code increments the lines generated, however it starts at 1.

if you need to append to an existing file, you have to figure the number of lines present; there are two rather safe ways to do that:
1. read through the entire file, line by line, and count them.
2. read through the entire file, keep the last line, isolate the line number and parse it.

Other ways would include:
3. keep a copy of the last line number somewhere (in registry, in another file, ...)
4. not to use line numbers, use something else than increases all the time (but not by 1), example:
the number yyyyMMddHHmmss containing numeric parts of date and time.

Whatever you do with files, chances are it will fail if and when your app is running more than once at a time on a single computer. And also when it runs on several machines.

The solution, if relevant, is to use a database, where each app would add records to a table, with one of the fields made a primary key, unique and auto-incrementing.

Smile | :)

Luc Pattyn

Have a look at my entry for the lean-and-mean competition; please provide comments, feedback, discussion, and don’t forget to vote for it! Thank you.

Hurricane300010-Sep-09 8:12

10-Sep-09 8:12

You have to append a text-line (that includes for each line an incremental number) to a pre-existing file, not to append a line number to a text file!
Is it correct?

Do you need to add a new line to the file, each time you input a new line, or before you want to input several lines and then to append them at the end of work?

How many lines do you preview to write in the log file (maximum), and how many characters have each line (maximum)?

modified on Thursday, September 10, 2009 2:30 PM

cjdc10-Sep-09 9:09

10-Sep-09 9:09

Hi Hurricane3000,

Thanks for the input, I'm so confused probably why it's taking me months to try to resolve this problem.

I have already managed to get the text file made and written to from my text box. Each time an entry will goto a newline.

For example :the log file is created on first entry if it does not exist...
A report of one line is submitted from my textbox to the text file and is added to and a new file will be created monthly.
Each entry in my text box is submitted one at a time into the same text file but on a new line.
Every entry is written to a newline I have got this part working.

The form is shared between 2 technicians reporting various faults but writing to the same file within a network, I have got this part working too, without any issues or access problems.

My issue is I would like to add line numbers as the file is written to for each logged entry

I'm grateful for any assistance in resolving this battle, my vb is limited but I some how manage.

regards
CJ

Hurricane300010-Sep-09 9:30

Re: append line number to a text file [modified]

10-Sep-09 9:30

You not answered to my questions yet ,

You have to append a text-line (that includes for each line an incremental number) to a pre-existing file, not to append a line number to a text file!
Is it correct?

Do you need to add a new line to the file, each time you input a new line, or before you want to input several lines and then to append them at the end of work?

How many lines do you preview to write in the log file (maximum), and how many characters have each line (maximum)?

Can you send me a sample of a text-line that you need to append?

cjdc10-Sep-09 10:05

10-Sep-09 10:05

HI Hurricane3000,

Perhaps I mean to add an inc remental number as the lines are sent to the text file so that the line numbers are counted and added to as the file grows.
There is no limit to the max characters typed per line but usually is just a brief explanation of the issue
here's what I have so far:

' This text is always added, making the file longer over time
sw = IO.File.AppendText(path)
sw.WriteLine(DateTime.Now.ToString() + "," + "Reason," + (RichTextBox2.Text)
so where I'm using writeline i would need it to add a incremental line number first, so if the log already had two entries it would need to put a number 3 before datetime.now, so I think it would somehow have to count any existing lines in my text file.

My text file at present is as follows:

IT Report Log File Started,10/09/2009 02:03:53
**********************************************
10/09/2009 18:32:27,Reason,test,Approx Time,Duration
10/09/2009 18:32:33,Reason,pc would not power on,Approx Time,Duration

So as each line is made I would like it to be numbered before the date entry.
to continue as follows:

IT Report Log File Started,10/09/2009 02:03:53
**********************************************
1. 10/09/2009 18:32:27,Reason,test,Approx Time,Duration
2. 10/09/2009 18:32:33,Reason,pc would not power on,Approx Time,Duration

Then when a new entry is submitted from my textbox it will write line number 3 and so on

If this doesn't help I could sent you my project

Regards
CJ

modified on Thursday, September 10, 2009 4:26 PM

Hurricane300010-Sep-09 10:33

10-Sep-09 10:33

1)How many lines will contains the file?

2)Normally, how many lines do you want to add (in the file) at same time? 1 or more than 1?

cjdc10-Sep-09 10:49

10-Sep-09 10:49

Hi Hurricane3000,

1. The file can contain upto 200 or 300 lines max dependant on issues reported that month
2. Only 1 line at a time will be added to the file

The file will take about a month too reach 300 lines some files only reach 160 or so.

regards
CJ

Hurricane300011-Sep-09 4:54

Re: append line number to a text file Solved

11-Sep-09 4:54

Hi,

Assuming that your problem is ONLY that to add a progressive number for each new line added in the file,your problem is more easy to resolve than you think.
You simply must go in the optical vision of what you want obtain(you have not much fantasy)!
Like already told you by Luc Pattyn, there are several way to obtain that you want.

For your case I suggest you this:

1) You have to read the entire file and count the lines in it contained.
Following code can do this work. At the end, CountLines will contains the number of lines already contained in the file.
Note: If the head of file will contains not numbered lines, you'll have to subtract them from CountLines.

Using sr As StreamReader = New StreamReader(myStream) 'mystream = Path of File
    Dim line As String
    Dim CountLines As Integer = 0
    Do
        line = sr.ReadLine()
        If line = Nothing Then Exit Do
        CountLines = CountLines + 1
    Loop Until line Is Nothing
    sr.Close()
    CountLines = CountLines - 4 'The number 4 indicate eventually first lines to subtract.
End Using

2) To append a new line in the file, you simply have to change your code-line:

sw.WriteLine(DateTime.Now.ToString() + "," + "Reason," + (RichTextBox2.Text)

CountLines = CountLines + 1
sw.WriteLine(CountLines.ToString + " , " + DateTime.Now.ToString() + "," + "Reason," + (RichTextBox2.Text)

Note that code I sent you, close the file after read it. Then you have to re-open it.
And also note that the code will have no effect on lines already written, but only on newest.
May be that you'll need to modify the "scope-visibility" of CountLines.

Hope this help you

Ignazio

modified on Friday, September 11, 2009 3:42 PM

cjdc14-Sep-09 0:25

computer to computer communication event

14-Sep-09 0:25

Hi Ignazio,

Many, many thanks for the brain refresh. I had grown tired took the weekend of to refresh.

Well thank sfor the code and a few mods and it works swell, here's what I have now and it probably could be shorter than what I have but I'm still learning. See what you think:

Private Sub PictureBox1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles PictureBox1.Click
        If ComboBox1.SelectedItem = "" Then
            Me.Hide()
            Dialog1.ShowDialog()
            Return
        Else
        End If
        Dim fso
        Dim fol As String
        fol = "\\Sv1\technician\IT report"
        fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
        If Not fso.FolderExists(fol) Then
            fso.CreateFolder(fol)
            MsgBox(" Folder created", MsgBoxStyle.OkOnly, "Folder Created")
        Else
            MsgBox(" Log File Updated", MsgBoxStyle.OkOnly, "Log Updated")
        End If
        Dim path As String = "\\Sv1\technician\IT report\IT Report Log.txt"
        Dim sw As IO.StreamWriter

        If IO.File.Exists(path) = False Then
            sw = IO.File.CreateText(path)
            sw.WriteLine(Date.Now.ToString() + "," + ("IT Report Log File Started"))
            sw.Flush()
            sw.Close()
            IO.File.SetCreationTime(path, Date.Now())
        End If
        Using sv As IO.StreamReader = New IO.StreamReader(path)
            Dim CountLines As Integer = 0
            Dim line As String
            Do
                line = sv.ReadLine()
                If line = Nothing Then Exit Do
                CountLines = CountLines + 1
            Loop Until line Is Nothing
            sv.Close()
            CountLines = CountLines - 1 'The number 1 indicate eventually first lines to subtract.
            sw = IO.File.AppendText(path)
            CountLines = CountLines + 1
            sw.WriteLine(CountLines.ToString + ". " + DateTime.Now.ToString() + " " + (ComboBox1.Text) + "," + (TextBox1.Text) + "," + (ComboBox2.Text) + "," + "Reported by," + (ComboBox3.Text) + "," + (DateTimePicker1.Text))
        End Using
        sw.Flush()
        sw.Close()
        Dim sr As IO.StreamReader = IO.File.OpenText(path)
        Dim s As String
        Do While sr.Peek() >= 0
            s = sr.ReadLine()
            Console.WriteLine(s)
        Loop
        ComboBox1.SelectedIndex = -1
        ComboBox2.SelectedIndex = -1
        ComboBox3.SelectedIndex = -1
        TextBox1.Text = ""
        TextBox2.Text = ""
        TextBox3.Text = ""
        sr.Close()
    End Sub

Once again thanks to all that help with this one.
Best regards
CJ

computbill9-Sep-09 13:09

computbill

9-Sep-09 13:09

I need to communicate from one computer to another, on a network, when an event is detected. I can do it now by writing to a file and then, using a timer interupt, check it often, but I lose valuable time. Thanks in advance for any insight. I program, but am not a "programmer". bill

Re: computer to computer communication event

Christian Graus9-Sep-09 13:52

9-Sep-09 13:52

You can set a file watcher so an event fires when the file gets changed. That seems the easiest way forward from what you have.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/28y7bbdc(VS.71).aspx[^]

Christian Graus

Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista.

Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

Class not registered

RossouwDB9-Sep-09 9:01

RossouwDB

9-Sep-09 9:01

Good day,

I know there are numerous questions about the HRESULT 0x80040154 (REGDB_E_CLASSNOTREG) error, and I have seen all (maybe most) of the solutions, but none of those are of any help, I donwloaded all the possible apps that have been suggested but none of those work.

I am using Visual Basic 2005, XP and Office 2003 ( I prefer to use this combination), I am also using the following dll's:
- Interop.Word
- Interop.Excel
- Interop.Outlook
- MySql.Data
- All default dll's

The program I have designed works perfect on my computer, but when I install it on another pc, I get this error. The other pc's have .net framework 2.0 on them, which is required for the installer to work.

Ok, now where the error occurs - I am only giving two places of occurence, but it occurs throughout the program:

A)
As an example, there are two forms, frmMain and frmSecond, and frmMain has a button with the following code :

<br />
frmSecond.Enabled = true<br />
frmSecond.Visible = true<br />

When I click the button, the error occurs at the first instance where the form object is referenced, in this case, it will be at
frmSecond.Enabled = true,
if this line is commented out will occur at
frmSecond.Visible = true, etc.

At first I thought it is because of my global variables being created as other forms or classes, so I made those local variables, local to the method using them, but that wasn't the case.

B)
As another example, there is one form, frmMain, and a class, clsSomeClass, and frmMain has a button with the following code :

<br />
dim clsSomeClassRef as new clsSomeClassRef<br />
clsSomeClassRef.method(parameter(s))<br />

for simplicity, the clsSomeClass manipulates a SQL database, for this example, lets say it creates as new entry in the database.

When the button is clicked, the error will pop up at
clsSomeClassRef.method(parameter(s)),

and the class only has the MySql.data dll.

I am at a complete loss of reasons, my first thought of why this is happening, is because VB is platform dependent, so I have to/must redo the program in C#, which is not platform dependent, but I first want to make sure that C# won't produce the same error, as it is a lot of work and code to redo.

I you guys could help me with this error, I would be highly grateful and thankful and your efforts would be much appreciated!!

It is kinda urgent,

Thanks a lot,
Rossouw

Re: Class not registered

Christian Graus9-Sep-09 9:22