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Whets the best way to…
Hi all
I have been tasked with creating an application that generates a flat-file in which the content changes depending on the users input; I.e. different record lengths and other flags and headers, etc.
Now my question is what is the best way to present this to the user filling in the front end? For example, I could use a dynamic run-time generated form or create a plug-in architecture or create different exe to do each job.
This application should ideally be easy to operate and easy to generate new templates so it can be maintained if I should move on.
Example Output:
Runtime]
Date=
Time=22:00:00
AllowErrors=FALSE
[Task.1]
Server=Employee
Module=Employee
Operation=AddUpdate
;======================================================================
;NB - STS CODE: Pending = 1, Active = 2, Terminated = 3, Inactive = 4
; Suspended = 5, Deleted = 6
; TERM_DATE: Format as YYYY-MM-DD
;See NL_Employee.doc for information on field formats and descriptions.
;======================================================================
[Data.1]
Employee,[EMPLOYEE_NO],[STORE_NO],,,,,,,,[STS_CODE],,,,,,,,,,,2099-01-01,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
**END EXAMPLE**
NB These files can become quite complicated with multiple [TASK.X] and [DATA.X] sections
Any help with picking the best solution would be appreciated.
In addition, I class myself as a novice / intermediate VB programmer
Language Used: VB 2011 Express
Thanks
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Instead of a form generated at runtime, I'd suggest a simple (data)grid. You could use plugins to parse different types of files, that would indeed make it a bit more flexible.
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
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Interesting thought however, the file also contains a [Runtime] section as well as (possible multiple) [Task.1] and [Data.1] sections (which contain different data and tags depending on the job). If the file was just a CSV file then it would be easy to implement your idea however, in light of the extra data in the file; im not sure how this would work.
Thanks for your input.
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Badg3r1977 wrote: im not sure how this would work.
You could create a plugin to parse a section; load all plugins at startup, read a section, switch to the plugin that knows how to read/parse that section, and move on to the next one (until you run out of sections).
It'll probably take some experimenting to get it right, but it would allow you to create new plugins when sections change or get added. It should also make it easier to maintain the code in the long-run; you could write even test-scripts for each plugin/section.
Bastard Programmer from Hell
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I have some proble with mailmerge in vb.net.
I have one template for mailmerge in word, but it has two language, sothat i need to table to connect and binding data into word, but i only know connect and binding data in word.
I need to help!
Thanks alot
AnneVuong
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Your question makes no sense at all. Please rephrase.
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We have programs in VB6, VB.Net 2005, 2008 and 2010.
Some of the VB.Net programs were converted from VB6 using the VB.Net converter (Just open the VB6 project).
All this is fine until yesterday.
We uninstalled a program written in VB.2010 via the control panel. Went fine. But now other programs, VB6, VB.Net 2005 and 2008 are having problems. Now have compile errors and reference errors.
We fixed the first. MSFLXGRD.OCX become unregistered (not deleted). Not sure why. We registered it and that fixed some problems.
I am not sure why reference to dlls in other program source bin folders were removed. Adding the reference to these fixed them.
Now in 1 of our 2008 programs we have an Undeclared MSXML2.XMLHTTP in
Dim pXMLHTTPObj As New MSXML2.XMLHTTP
This is on Win 7/64 Pro.
If we open the same programs on another machine from the same folder there are no errors. So probably another unregistered dll. (XP)
This program has a reference to
Microsoft XML, V4.0
which is in the obj\bin\debug folder (it is there) and adding it seems to have fixed that also.
I am now very fearful of uninstalling anything.
Can someone please explain what is happening and how I can safely uninstall????? PLEASE!!!!
Thanks
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It screws up because controls are not registered on a per-application basis. Controls are registered using the COM GUIDs in the controls and the registration is stand-alone. The controls can be used in any application anywhere.
If you have multiple copies of the same control, the control is only registered ONCE since each copy has the same GUIDs and CLSIDs. The filepath to the control is also part of the registration. So, if you have an application that uses the same controls as another application and your installer, when uninstalled, removes the registration details when it removes the controls, the registration data is destroyed for the control no matter how many copies of it are on the machine.
The problem comes down to how your installer is built. The Setup project that comes in Visual Studio is a barebones installer that doesn't have a ton of features in it and can do some pretty stupid things. If you trust it implicitly, without knowing how it's doing things or why, problems like your will come up.
I highly recommend studying Windows Installer technology (specifically Shared Components and reference counting) and using a 3rd party packaging solution, like InstallShield, InnoSetup, Advanced Installer or WiX if you want to avoid situations like this in the future.
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If figured as much but we have been uninstalling and re-installing VB.Net apps for years.
Currently the program the started this is still having problems.
Each time I start the IDE for this VS 2010 or re-open this solution has most of it's depencies refrences are not found.
Errors
Unable to find source file N:\accnt\code\program... for
scrrun.dll, mscomct2.ocx, Interop.Scripting.dll, Interop.MSCOMctl2.dll, Interop.Excel.dll, Excel9.OLB, AxInterop.MSComctl2.dll. (in Solutuions
If I refresh dependencies then errors go away until the next start re-opening of this solution even if I save the solution.
This does not happen on the VB2008 projects even for those using the same components/references.
How do I fix this?
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Try Save and Close your project, then go out to the project folder and delete the *.SUO files. You'll have to enable viewing hidden files in Explorer to see it. Then reopen your project and see what happens.
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Thanks. Now I know where that stuff is. It took care of it. Thanks
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In researching this it seems that the problem even exists with the 3rd party installers unless a lot of work is done first.
So if a lot of work must be done why not just do it with the VS.Net Deploy and Setup project, etc. instead of learning another component.
But it is not clear where to look for the proper documentation to know what to do.
We if have a vb.project that has 30 screens with code behind and another 40 or so modules it is a bit tough to know what to do.
Is the solution in the references or the setup dependencies, etc.?
I've seen discussions of have different dlls which is unclear how to do it with the vb components and ocx modules, etc. both for MS VS stuff and also other SDKs, etc that we are using. I don't think that renaming DLLs will work.
So where to begin? What is the best practises for setup and deployment?
This has been causing us nightmares and we are ready to bit the bullet if we knew where the bullet was.
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The reason you're in this position is because you don't understand how Windows Installer works. So you're going to have to learn this no matter what.
QBTeKcom wrote: So if a lot of work must be done why not just do it with the VS.Net Deploy and
Setup project, etc. instead of learning another component.
Because you have no choice. The Deployment and Setup project no longer exists in Visual Studio 11 and it's capabilities are very limited to begin with. You have to use a 3rd party tool, such as InstallShield LE, or InnoSetup, or AdvancedInstaller, ...
Either way, you're looking at a bunch of work to DO IT CORRECTLY IN THE FIRST PLACE!
QBTeKcom wrote: We if have a vb.project that has 30 screens with code behind and another 40 or
so modules it is a bit tough to know what to do.
The number of forms you have in your application has no bearing on the installer at all. The complicated part comes in when you start referencing external components and libraries. You have to KNOW what you're referencing, how they works and what their installation requirements are.
Coming up with an installer is not just a "OK my app is done now throw an installer together" process. Installers are another program you write SIDE-BY-SIDE with your application so that the installer knows what your app is using and how to correctly install every file, in every component, in every feature, what merge modules are, why they exist and how to use them, ...
QBTeKcom wrote: I don't think that renaming DLLs will work.
No, it won't.
QBTeKcom wrote: This has been causing us nightmares and we are ready to bit the bullet if we
knew where the bullet was.
You're writing application in the dark. You have no idea how the components in your app fit together nor how external libraries work, how they are registered or why, and how your installer has to handle these things. If you don't know these things, you can't just throw files anywhere you like and expect everything to work fine.
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Dave, you have said a lot about how we are doing in wrong, etc. but nothing about were we can get the documenation on how to do it right which is what was asked.
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how can i make form once show,if i create programs licenced.
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Hi I want to know how to store data in one file with my own extention. sorry I have no code because I'am a looooooooser 
so pleaaaasee help me with a project sample
and pleeeaaase let me know how would my program reads these files to use them. how 
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This is my thread in msdn forms and nothing helps there...
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"Use a zip file and change the extension"
That does not help you? That is quite a common way nowadays.
Ever tried it the other way round, with say a .docx? Do that! Rename a Word document to a zip file, and unzip it!
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Alsayed web wrote: sorry I have no code because I'am a looooooooser
That's no way to introduce yourself. You got the same type of brain that I have, and you probably run on water and sunlight like the rest of us.
Use a database (like SQL CE or SQLite), encrypt the contents and rename the extension to ".dat". Use a folder, zip it and rename the zipfile to ".dat". Use an Xml file, and store the other files in Base64-encoding, and rename it to ".dat".
Let's start simple; can you post the code here to write the line "Hello world" to a file? If not, that's where to start 
Bastard Programmer from Hell
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These select quotes from the thread of yours @ MSDN says it all:
Alsayed web wrote: and please don't say what should I do, just give me a link or a code
Cor Ligthert (MVP) wrote: Why don't you simple say, don't say what should I do, just make and sell it for me and give me the money.
Riced(FWSR) wrote: It's not a duplicate(thread) but a triplicate(thread). Also posted on CodeProject because he cannot get an answer here. LOL
Quote from CodeProject reply when I pointed him here: "This is my thread in msdn forms and nothing helps there..."
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If you want to do it through your own code, use a FileStream to read the files into memory and another to write them to the same file. FileStreams read the raw bytes of the files. You'll want to put some sort of delimiter between the files so you can separate them later. To add your delimiter to the file, create a string and then use System.Text.Encoding.Ascii.GetBytes(YourStringVariable). That will give you a byte array with which to write with the filestream's write method.
Hope that wasn't too confusing!
Ray
PS: If you want to compress your files, there are lots of examples for compressing files in .NET, just search google for "compression vb.net"
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I have a question about how to do the following and the pros and cons about doing either.
I have a class that I want to be able to log some activities, such as "function has been called". I could define an event call CurrentInfo(byval infoType as Integer,byval message as String), and then let the logger subscribe to the event and do whatever, or I can pass a logger to the class and whenever I wanted to log something I will call "logger.log(infoType, message)"
Which appoarch is better?
Thanks
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