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Hi, I am going to suggest that you break this problem down into stages:
1. figure out how to create an instance of a control directly from a structured string: for example: given:
"Control:TextBox, Name:TB1, DefaultText:Enter data here.,Location:'100 200', Size:'100,24', BackGroundColor:Color.Silver, ForeColor:Color.Black"
How do you parse that string, or some similar string, and dynamically create a TextBox Control with the appropriate properties.
Hint: use 'CreateInstance.'
2. Once you know how to dynamically create controls, then focus on how you add them to the user interface (simple).
3. Finally, when you are ready to save the controls, and their properties, and/or contents, out to a file, you have many options for serialization, such as: writing XML, writing JSON (see Mehdi Gholam's excellent JSON article here on CP), etc.
good luck, Bill
"In the River of Delights, Panic has not failed me." Jorge Luis Borges
modified on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 3:10 AM
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To start with you need to consider carefully exactly what you (and the user) think that you are going to achieve by doing this.
For example if all you want is a 'list' of values then that it fairly simple.
If you think that you are going to create a system that encapsulates user defined layouts, multi-level hierarchies, complex controls, etc then it is unlikely to provide benefit. The reason for that is that by the time someone is competent at doing that then they are essentially replicating what a programmmer would be doing in the first place (with a great deal more complexity.)
So if the first.
1. Create a simple syntax that represents a limited set of controls. Like 'list', 'radio', 'text'.
2. For 'list'/'radio' there needs to be a way to provide values. Optionally for 'text' you might provide a regex.
3. Each item needs to be able to specify an xml element name.
4. You consume a block of these entities and create a dialog that lists each top to bottom. Obviously you create controls dynamically based on the definition from 1. Optional, only AFTER everything else works, make the controls distribute themselves such that the dialog is not just a top to bottom resource.
5. On Ok the element from 1 is used to create xml.
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I have a C#.net 2008 desktop application that I would like to stop before the first desktop screen shows up. I want to stop this application from executing immediately if the user has not been granted access to the application after looking up what access they have been granted by the active directory.
I want to stop the application before the following statement is executed: Application.Run(new Mainform());
i would like to stop the application from running in program.cs.
The only options that are close to what I want to do are:
Application.ExitThread(); or Application.Exit();
However these statements run after the Application.Run(new Mainform()); statement is executed.
Thus my questions are:
1. Is there way to not display the first desktop screen? If so, what would be code be?
2. If that is not possible, what are my other options? Do I just display the desktop tabs and let the user select the tabs they want to work with? if the user does not have access to that tab, do i display a message saying 'no access' and redisplay the screen like it was before the user clicked on the tab? if so, can you show me some example code?
3. If my options do not work, what do you suggest and can you point me to a reference of some code I can use?
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typically Application.Run(new Mainform()); is located inside a Main() method inside the Program.cs file. There is nothing special about either one of those, so you are allowed to edit the file, and insert statements in front of the Run(Form) call. I do license checking, or other overall go-nogo decisions, right there, and when the need arises I create a small Form and show it modally i.e. with ShowDialog(); then decide whether to continue or terminate, i.e. Application.Run(new Mainform()); then sits inside an if-block near the end of Main().
Luc Pattyn [My Articles] Nil Volentibus Arduum
modified on Monday, August 29, 2011 6:34 PM
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main()
{
if ( userhasaccess )
{
Application.Run ( ... ) ;
}
}
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Something along these lines...
You'd need using statements for System.Threading and System.Security.Principal
[STAThread]
static void Main()
{
AppDomain.CurrentDomain.SetPrincipalPolicy(PrincipalPolicy.WindowsPrincipal);
Thread.CurrentPrincipal = new WindowsPrincipal(WindowsIdentity.GetCurrent());
if (!Thread.CurrentPrincipal.IsInRole("SomeRoleToTest"))
{
}
else
{
Application.Run(new MainWindow());
}
}
So, check for required permissions - if they exist then allow the load sequence to continue. Otherwise, just have your code exit the Main routine and your program execution will end.
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Does this code check permissions against the active directory?
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The Windows Principle[^] object tests your windows group membership, it can be used both against local and remote group sources.
bool localResult = Thread.CurrentPrincipal.IsInRole("Administrators");
bool domainResult = Thread.CurrentPrincipal.IsInRole(@"SOMEDOMAIN\Domain Manager Group");
So yes, it's checking your group membership against active directory
[Edit]
I should add, the Thread.CurrentPrincipal check is only valid after you have set the CurrentPrincipal object, as demonstrated in the code block I've posted
http://wardyit.com/blog/michaelodeajones/archive/2008/07/29/why-is-thread-currentprincipal-identity-name-empty.aspx[^]
modified on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 10:05 AM
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I have the following questions to ask about a C#.net 2008 desktop application that i want to modify by accessing the active directory values:
1. I am assuming the following code accesses the active directory and only keeps one active directory group value at a time. if not, can you tell me what is wrong with my assupmption.
a. The following code is the start call:
void InitBrowser()
{
CurrentUser = new TUser();
UserIs_Read = CurrentUser.HasTRole(TUser.TRole.Reader);
}
b. The following is the code it calls;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Security.Principal;
namespace T.Common
{
public class TUser
{
public enum TRole
{
User = 0,
Manager = 1,
Administrator = 2,
Reader =3
}
public WindowsIdentity Identity;
public WindowsPrincipal Principal;
string _Domain;
public string Domain
{
get { return _Domain; }
}
string _Username;
public string Username
{
get { return _Username; }
}
public TUser()
{
this.Identity = WindowsIdentity.GetCurrent();
string[] NameInfo = this.Identity.Name.Split('\\');
_Domain = NameInfo[0];
_Username = NameInfo[1];
}
public bool HasTUser(TRole Role)
{
switch (Role)
{
case TRole.Reader:
return IsInGroup("Reader");
case Reader.Manager:
return IsInGroup("Managers");
//break;
case EnrollTracRole.Administrator:
return IsInGroup("Administrators");
//break;
case EnrollTracRole.User:
return true;
//break;
default:
return false;
}
}
public bool IsInGroup(string GroupName)
{
if (this.Principal == null)
{
this.Principal = new WindowsPrincipal(this.Identity);
}
return this.Principal.IsInRole(GroupName);
}
2. Would I somehow benefit from the code below instead of using the code I listed above? (the code below is just a small part of the active directory logic I would be using) If so, can you tell me how the following code is better:
private String[] ADSearch(String ConnectionString, String filter, String field){
DirectoryEntry SearchRoot =
new DirectoryEntry(ConnectionString, _userName, _pwd);
DirectorySearcher searcher =
new DirectorySearcher (SearchRoot, filter);
{
SearchRoot,
Filter = filter,
PageSize = 100
};
seararcher.PropertiesToLoad.Clear();
searcher.PropertiesToLoad.Add(field);
try
{
using (SearchResultCollection results = searcher.FindAll())
{
List<string> r = new List<string>();
foreach (SearchResult searchResult in results)
{
var prop = searchResult.Properties[field];
for (int index = 0; index < prop.Count; index++)
r.Add(prop[index].ToString());
}
return r.Count > 0 ? r.ToArray() : new string[0];
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
throw new ProviderException("Unable to query Active Directory.", ex);
}
}
public bool ValidateUser(string username, string password)
{
bool result = false;
try
{
using (var context =
new PrincipalContext(ContextType.Machine,_domain, null, _userName, _pwd))
{
result = context.ValidateCredentials(username, password);
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
/ TODO: log exception
}
return result;
}
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Please format your code snippets with the "code block" option.
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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I will do that the next time I enter any code. However, can you point me to a reference that shows me how to format the code so it is easier to read.
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When you are entering a post, click the yellow-highlighted words right above the text box that say, "code block", then paste your code between the resultant tags.
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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I'm using a simple form generated by VS 2010 which contains 2 buttons, start and stop.
Start triggers WH_MOUSE_LL using SetWindowsHookEx, and stop stops the hook.
The hook works fine and I mange to "replace" middle mouse button click with double click, the only problem I have is clicking on Minimize/Maximize/Close buttons of the form, it seems that there is some sort of "event race" between the hook and events called by buttons mentioned above. It reflects on the fact that when you press one of those buttons it keeps being "pressed" for a while before it completes it's action (e.g. form minimizes).
When I right click the form and select one of those actions it responds immediately same thing goes when I stop the hook and press one of the buttons mentioned above.
Have anyone encountered such behavior ?
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I've not encountered this problem myself, but there are several excellent global mouse-hook examples here on CP[^], for instance: George Mamaladze's classic article, "Processing Global Mouse and Keyboard Hooks in C#"[^]. George first posted that article in 2004, and is still supporting it as of this year !
My guess is that you could post your question on one of the discussions of these mouse-hook technique articles, and get an answer.
best, Bill
"In the River of Delights, Panic has not failed me." Jorge Luis Borges
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Hi,
I did not say that there was a problem with my hook,you can try to run George Mamaladze's hook and try clicking on form's control buttons Minimize/Maximize/Close and you'll see that it take time to it to respond ---> the same problem I had.
So now for the solution part:
Override windproc, when you receive message type "WM_NCLBUTTONDOWN" turn of the hook and return message to base this way your form regain control over the control event and there is no delay at all!
BTW you can detect which of the control's buttons was pressed if you check wParam of WM_NCLBUTTONDOWN message example: if wParam == HTMINBUTTON minimize was pressed.
Hope it can help someone.
-Alex
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Hi Alex,
Glad you have a solution for your problem; if you really want to share what you've found in a way that CP will really benefit from it, may I suggest you post a comment on George Mamaladze's article describing what you've found: that article is very widely cited all over the internet, and still has active traffic.
best, Bill
"Is it a fact - or have I dreamt it - that, by means of electricity, the world of matter has become a great nerve, vibrating thousands of miles in a breathless point of time? Rather, the round globe is a vast head, a brain, instinct with intelligence!" - Nathanial Hawthorne, House of the Seven Gables
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I am trying to create a program that reads the registry key for disabled start up programs and the issue i am having is that while i can read it in regedit, my program says that it is a null object.
string Path = @"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg";
RegistryKey Run = Registry.LocalMachine;
Run = Run.OpenSubKey(Path, true);
string[] SubKeys = Run.GetSubKeyNames();
Can someone please point me in the right direction for the right permissions cuz I am getting confused with all the different ways to do the permissions. I have followed the microsoft site for it, but it still doesnt seem to help.
Thanks
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How do you know it's a permission issue? I don't see a try/catch block around your code. Are you running this under the debugger to see what the exception is that's being thrown? My guess is that you're not.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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There is a try catch, i didnt post the whole code cuz i didnt think it was important. the exception is null object reference. But i dont get why i could see it in the registry and copy the reg key, but not be able to access it in my program.
Here is the part of code:
try
{
string Path = @"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg";
RegistryKey Run = Registry.LocalMachine;
Run = Run.OpenSubKey(Path, true);
string[] SubKeys = Run.GetSubKeyNames();
foreach (string SubKeys1 in SubKeys)
{
richTextBox1.Text += SubKeys1 + "/n";
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
richTextBox1.Text = ex.ToString();
}
Here is the exception:
System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at RegTest.MainForm.RegTest() in f:\Programming\SharpDevelop\SharpDevelop Projects\RegTest\RegTest\MainForm.cs:line 41
modified on Monday, August 29, 2011 12:35 PM
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If you had a problem with insufficient permissions then OpenSubKey should throw an exception saying so, I'm not even sure if you need write permission from the code you've posted but it doesn't matter.
So far as I can tell, the key your trying to open doesn't exist. When OpenSubKey can't find what you're looking for it returns null so it's something you should check for.
After a little digging, is seems that the key your after may not actually exist. If your running Vista/Win7 64-bit then I'm going to assume you can see the key you want to open. But if your building a 32-bit application the key your actually trying to open is HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg, which if you go and look you'll find doesn't exist.
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Make sure have sufficient privileges to read the registry,
Too much of heaven can bring you underground
Heaven can always turn around
Too much of heaven, our life is all hell bound
Heaven, the kill that makes no sound
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Here is my new code:
try
{
string Path;
RegistryKey Run;
try
{
Path = @"SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig";
Run = Registry.LocalMachine;
Run = Run.OpenSubKey(Path, true);
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
richTextBox1.Text = "Coulndt not find either Wow6432Node: \n" + ex.ToString();
}
Path = @"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig";
Run = Registry.LocalMachine;
Run = Run.OpenSubKey(Path, true);
string[] SubKeys = Run.GetSubKeyNames();
foreach (string SubKeys1 in SubKeys)
{
richTextBox1.Text += SubKeys1 + "\n";
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
richTextBox1.Text = "Coulndt not find either MSConfig: \n" + ex.ToString();
}
I am working on a 64bit system, and I do have the registry open to
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg and I see keys in there.
I had to create a key for "SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg" and the program does work when i did that, but it doesnt store the keys i want in there. So i am having a heck of a time getting it to read the keys in the 32bit system
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What information are you actually trying to get? Are you sure there's isn't an alternate way to get it?
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I am trying to get the disabled startup programs. And if need be, write to it.
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Well, I've come up with two solutions. The aim is to get access to the 64bit registry from a 32bit application (you'll have to check to make sure your running on x64 before trying to open the 64 bit version of the registry).
This Webpage[^] gives a few examples on how to do that. If you are already using (or are able to switch to) .Net 4 then its as simple as calling RegistryKey.OpenBaseKey(RegistryHive.LocalMachine, RegistryView.Registry64); otherwise your going to have to use the standard windows API because earlier versions of the framework don't support this functionality.
Once you make sure your working in the actual registry (rather than the 32bit mirror if your running on x64) you should be able to carry on as normal. Also I was checking this in a Virtual Machine and the MSConfig wasn't initially there because it had never been run, and I'd never disabled any startup applications so don't assume it will always be there.
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