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I agree with Mark. Use an archive with a custom extention. This is also what MS have done for the latest office formats (docx, xlsx etc), they are just a collection of xml files in one zip with a custom extension.
DaveIf this helped, please vote & accept answer!
Binging is like googling, it just feels dirtier.
Please take your VB.NET out of our nice case sensitive forum.(Pete O'Hanlon)
BTW, in software, hope and pray is not a viable strategy. (Luc Pattyn)
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As mark says you could just use an existing container format, e.g. zip and create an archive with your individual files. You could also password protect the file and also change the extension if you need to.
Another option might be to make a custom object with all the data in it, and then serialise and de-serialize the data from disk. your application would then work with the data object as required.
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I would probably go with a ZIP file too, however there are alternatives that may or may not fit your needs:
1.
create your own file format; its complexity would depend on the variability of the data, and to what extend you need access to the different components (especially during file creation).
2.
use a database and blob fields
3.
use "alternate data streams", a little-known feature of modern file systems. This would require P/Invoke to call native Win32 code.
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Zip / cab is one way, as allready suggested. As Luc said, a DB is another.
Have a look at SqlCE databases: They will hold everything you are looking at properly, with all the feature you expect of a DB, but without the need to install any external components - SQLCE is built into .NET. It's memory footprint is also quite small, and it can cope with multiple files pretty well too.
Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together.
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Or can you create an object that holds the data, and then serialize it?
The best way to accelerate a Macintosh is at 9.8m/sec² - Marcus Dolengo
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hii all
I am working on project on Tablet PC
I want to create an Ink stroke from the BezierPoints
I have already record BezierPointsin the database
now i am retrieving the points from database using Dataset and want to recreate the ink stroke using that points
My code lines are as below
SqlDataAdapter da = new SqlDataAdapter("SELECT BPX,BPY from BezierTable", cn);// where BPX, BPY are Drawing Points
DataSet ds = new DataSet();
da.Fill(ds, "BezierTable");
Point[] BezierPoints = Convert.ChangeType(ds, BezierPoints);/// here iam getting error unable to cast dataset Ds to the system to drawing.point BezierPoints
Stroke newStroke = inkOverlay.Ink.CreateStroke(BezierPoints);
now how i can convert the dataset into System to drawingpoint as my CreateStroke method require argument as System.drawing.point
Please help me iam unable to create the stroke from database
with regards
amit
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I see no problem. You want an array? create one using new. You want some data in the array? create a for/foreach loop and have it stuff the data in the array, one point at a time.
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Hello, Is it possible to check at runtime whether given type is Custom data type or one of primitive data types of .NET?
I have defined user defined types in assembly and those all types are some structs. I need to call the methods of user defined types of whome parameters are those structs. So this needs to fill the data accordingly before calling those function at runtime using reflection.
Now Is there any method available in reflection by which we can track that given data type is custom or primitive data type. I know about IsClass attribute, but my targeted user defined data types are not classes , these public are STRUCTS.
Regard
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Perhaps I'm not getting your issue. If you need to call a method on your type then you need to verify it exists before attempting to call it so what does it matter if its an intrinsic .net type or not. Unless you have overridden methods your method won't exist.
I know the language. I've read a book. - _Madmatt
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If the other assembly is a .Net dll, why not just add a reference and use the structs.
Anyways, you can try IsValueType property if that helps. I am not 100% sure about what you are trying to do so the answer might not suite your needs.
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Maybe see if it's in the System namespace? Perhaps check to see if it's in a System Assembly? Perchance even access the Attributes of the Assembly to check the creator?
But I don't think it would be 100% accurate.
You could also compare it to a known built-in type; if the type says it's a System.Int32, compare it to the System.Int32 type.
Just guessing, I haven't tried it.
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PIEBALDconsult wrote: Maybe see if it's in the System namespace?
I think a form object in the windows application gives namespace as the application namespace and notSystem.Windows.Forms. So I guess this won't work.
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Riiight... that's kinda what I said. Custom types wouldn't (or shouldn't) be in the System namespace.
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i'm writing a little app that works with MySQL database. my app connects to MySQL server (for now it's a localhost) and works with it. it should do all the basic things like reading, adding, inserting, updating, deleting... i just started learning C#, and having little difficulties with it.
my app is used by 4 people, when one of them adds new data to database i want it to reflect in every client app that's running.
code that adds data to listView:
private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
string myConnectionString = "SERVER=localhost;" + "DATABASE=database;" + "UID=root;" + "PASSWORD=123123;";
MySqlConnection conn;
conn = new MySqlConnection();
conn.ConnectionString = myConnectionString;
try
{
conn.Open();
string sql = "SELECT * FROM table";
MySqlCommand cmd = new MySqlCommand(sql, conn);
MySqlDataReader rdr = cmd.ExecuteReader();
while (rdr.Read())
{
ListViewItem item = new ListViewItem("" + rdr[0]);
item.SubItems.Add("" + rdr[1]);
item.SubItems.Add("" + rdr[2]);
item.SubItems.Add("" + rdr[3]);
item.SubItems.Add("" + rdr[4]);
item.SubItems.Add("" + rdr[5]);
item.SubItems.Add("" + rdr[6]);
item.SubItems.Add("" + rdr[7]);
item.SubItems.Add("" + rdr[8]);
item.SubItems.Add("" + rdr[9]);
item.SubItems.Add("" + rdr[10]);
listView1.Items.Add(item);
}
rdr.Close();
}
catch (MySqlException ex)
so that's what happening when the form loads. probably not the best... guide me here too pls...
and that's how i add new data:
private void addButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
string myConnectionString = "SERVER=localhost; DATABASE=database; UID=root; PASSWORD=123123;charset=utf8";
MySqlConnection conn;
conn = new MySqlConnection();
conn.ConnectionString = myConnectionString;
try
{
conn.Open();
string sql = "INSERT INTO table VALUES ('', '" + textBox1.Text + "', '" +textBox2.Text + "', '" + textBox3.Text + "', '0', '0', '0', '0', '0', '0', '0')";
MySqlCommand cmd = new MySqlCommand(sql, conn);
cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
}
catch (Exception ex)
so how should i let every client app know that the new data was added and update the listView? thanks
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A couple of things to point out first.
string myConnectionString = "SERVER=localhost;" + "DATABASE=database;" + "UID=root;" + "PASSWORD=123123;";
There is no need for the string concatenation here. You can have it one string as you are doing in your button event. You should also have this string defined in one place, say a CONST at the top of your file. That way you avoid issues of changing the string in multiple location and possibly forgetting one.
string sql = "INSERT INTO table VALUES ('', '" + textBox1.Text + "', '" +textBox2.Text + "', '" + textBox3.Text + "', '0', '0', '0', '0', '0', '0', '0')";
Never, ever, ever, accept un-validated user input and place it in your sql command. You are asking for a SQL injection attack. Yes, this app is only a small local instance, but learn to do it correctly.
As for the notification. Since you are using mySql it doesn't have the capabilities that SQL Server has so you will have to poll the database occasionally to check for updates. Or develop a complex method of shared communication between the instances of the app.
I know the language. I've read a book. - _Madmatt
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thanks mark for correcting me about connection string, sql injection and all that... i know, i just testing my app... wanna put all the things to work, and then build it all again with everything ready. it's like a prototype app i was thinking to make some kind of "preferences page", where user would be able to set server, database, uid, and password them self, but i can't figure out how to encrypt my settings file so no sensitive information would ever be seen... any ideas?
about "mySql doesn't have the capabilities that SQL Server has" - what you mean? i will have a server and database. i choose MySQL because i worked with it before, but if there are some other BETTER methods of keeping information in database please let me know. so what's SQL server? what do i need? windows server 2010? or linux?
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There is no such thing as Windows Server 2010. Linux? Then you are writing the app in c++ not c#. SQLCE is for small devices, such as handhelds, not for client server apps and has been depreciated. It seems you are just casting about with no thought.
Encrypting and Decrypting Configuration Sections[^]
SqlDependency Class[^]
I know the language. I've read a book. - _Madmatt
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Mark Nischalke wrote: Linux? Then you are writing the app in c++ not c#.
Not necessarily - see Mono[^] - it may not be perfect, but it runs .NET(ish) under unix of all varieties.
Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together.
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True enough but it is limited in scope. Last I looked they were still working on some .net 2.0 features and had no plans for 3.5 or above
I know the language. I've read a book. - _Madmatt
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That's why I said ".NET(ish)" - last time I used it they had implemented some of 2.0 quite well, and some very badly or not at all. Given it's open source I guess we have to take it or leave it. I don't really think it would hurt MS to port it properly though, might even be an advantage to them in the long run. Won't happen, but a boy can dream...
Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together.
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I agree with Mark - except I would use a application settings file for the connection string, rather than a constant. That way, you don't have to change the software when you do go to multi-user, just the app.settigns file. You can also test your software on an off-line database while the production one is untouched.
As for the SQL Injection - Mark is spot on. Look at the MySqlCommand.AddWithValue method for details. It makes life a lot simpler than string concatenation.
ListViewItem item = new ListViewItem("" + rdr[0]);
item.SubItems.Add("" + rdr[1]);
item.SubItems.Add("" + rdr[2]);
It doesn't work because DateReader returns an object - you have to cast it to an appropriate data type. For example
ListViewItem item = new ListViewItem((string) rdr[0]);
item.SubItems.Add((int) rdr[1]);
item.SubItems.Add((float) rdr[2]);
By adding the empty string, you are forcing an implicit string conversion via the default ToString implementation. This may not be what you want in all cases...
When it comes to updates, and distributing them, I am afraid you will have to poll for them as Mark sugested. Use a timer, so you aren't looking all the time, and probably set a table with a last update column. Then you only have to read a single row in order to tell if you are up to date. Nasty, but better than reading an entire table.
Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together.
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thanks for reply. i forgot about casting things... i knew about it since C++... there are something similar... well know i know
about updates... tell me then what is the best to have (server, database) for my app to work?
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i just found something called SqlCE, it's a small database, and it can hold whole database in one single file up to 4Gb in size... the .sdf file can be encrypted with 128-bit encryption for data security so that's how i could keep sensitive info (login, pwd) safe. what you think?
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Regretably, not a good idea - SQLCe is a good DB system, but it is only single user. You will have huge problems if you try to have multiple users access it. Worse, these problems may be intermittent.
If you want multi-user access, then stick with one of the big boys (SQL, MySql)
It is unusual to store passwords, mostly you would store a hash of the password instead - MD5 is common but should not be used for new projects as it is considered "broken". Try a google for SHA-2 which is .NET supported. The reasoning for this is that it is "impossible" to reverse the hash and work out a typeable password that matches the stored hash value.
Note: "Impossible" is why MD5 is considered broken - it has been shown that you can reverse it.
Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together.
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i haven't said it properly... i DO have SQL Server 2008, SQLce - it's just a little DB for my app settings! nothing else, just settings. it could keep my passwords in it. that's the only reason i want to use it. but now i still have some doubts.
imagine i open some sort of properties window in my app. it has 2 text fields in it. "login" and "password". it should tell what's what in it, login can be seen untouched, but the password field will be kind of "**********". if i will keep SHA1 version of my password in my settings file (xml) then it's great, SHA1 version can't be used by anyone. but what will be sent to the server upon request? SHA1 version? well isn't it going to be wrong password? help me please to figure it out, i'm lost.
i DO want to change some settings FROM my app, but i DON'T want them (settings) to be seen anywhere outside of my app... so what to do?
i know about encrypting, but for it to be decrypted i need a password that i used to encrypt. right? well i have just one choice - is to hardcode it in my app, as a string value i guess? isn't true that anyone who knows what disassembler is can read my hardcoded password to decrypt the whole settings file? again, i'm lost 
ps: since i'm running SQL server 2008 is there any advantages i have already to update my listview?
added: exploring SqlDependency Class
modified on Monday, September 6, 2010 9:37 AM
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