Re: debug console application - C# Discussion Boards

5-Sep-12 6:47

I am going to write a C# 2010 console application that executes another console application. This new application will send sequential commands to the console application based upon values stored in a sql server database.
I would like to know how I would debug (step through code)? Can I put a break point in the new console application and a breakpoint in the old console application (C# 2008)? Basically the new console application will run and call the second console application executing the command in the process class. Will the debugger then catch the breakpoint in the exisitng console application and the new console application? Do I need to point both console applications in the same directory path? Basically can you tell me how I would debug these two C# applications?

Pete O'Hanlon5-Sep-12 6:58

Pete O'Hanlon

5-Sep-12 6:58

This sounds like an architectural nightmare to me. What exactly are you trying to achieve with this? Is this something that you could achieve with PowerShell instead? Why do you need two console applications?

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dcof5-Sep-12 7:58

5-Sep-12 7:58

The following is in response to your questions:

1. What is powershell?

2. The purpose of the application is the following;
a. there is an existing console application that calls a web service. The current console app takes in various paramters to call the web service to obtain different data.
b. I am planning on the second console application calling the first console application with various sequence of commands to call.
baiscally the first console application was only setup to call a web service based upon the method number that was called.
Now i writing the second console application to call the first console application with the mehtod numbers in specific sequences.

Pete O'Hanlon5-Sep-12 8:09

Pete O'Hanlon

5-Sep-12 8:09

dcof wrote:
a. there is an existing console application that calls a web service. The
current console app takes in various paramters to call the web service to obtain
different data.

As you don't have the code for the first console application, you can't set a breakpoint in it - full stop. If you have a pdb file, you can potentially step in then, but that's it.

dcof wrote:
1. What is powershell?

This[^]

*pre-emptive celebratory nipple tassle jiggle* - Sean Ewington

"Mind bleach! Send me mind bleach!" - Nagy Vilmos

CodeStash - Online Snippet Management | My blog | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier

Dave Kreskowiak5-Sep-12 7:32

Dave Kreskowiak

5-Sep-12 7:32

If the two applications are in two seperate solutions, you would need to have two copies of Visual Studio open. One to run your second project that is launching the first. You can set breakpoints in that and monitor the execution of that code.

The second one would need the debugger attached to the instance of your first console application, but can only be done AFTER it was launched. Why? Because Visual Studio is not lauching the application and therefor has no idea its even running.

I would suggest you forget doing dual-debugging for now since you don't appear to have the skill set to handle this.

Normally, you would debug the console app your code is launching seperately, using test command line parameters so you can test every little corner of your app. These command line parameters are easily supplied in the Project Properties, Debug tab of your project.

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Dave Kreskowiak

dcof5-Sep-12 8:02

5-Sep-12 8:02

I just want to make certain the new console application is calling the original console application. Do you have other suggestions on how i can accomplsih my goal?

C# execute console application

Dave Kreskowiak5-Sep-12 12:35

Dave Kreskowiak

5-Sep-12 12:35

If you want to see if the thing launched, all you do is look in Task Manager (Ctrl-Shift-Esc) to see it when it's launched!

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Dave Kreskowiak

dcof5-Sep-12 5:39

5-Sep-12 5:39

I want to write a C# 2010 application that executes a console application. This new application will send seqential commands to the console application based upon values stored in a sql server database. This new application will wait for one command to finish before the next command is executed. The commands will look like the following:

Start .\bin\Release\sample.exe parameter1 parameter2 parameter3

Due to the facts listed above, I have the following questions to ask you:

1. What type of a C# 2010 application would you set up to call the console application?
2. In this application, what would I do to make the commands get executed? Right now I type commands like I listed above in a dos command window. Do I need to add a reference to the sample.exe, do I need to obtain dll files?
Basically how would I make these commands get executed in the C# 2010 application?

Eddy Vluggen5-Sep-12 5:54

Eddy Vluggen

5-Sep-12 5:54

dcof wrote:
1. What type of a C# 2010 application would you set up to call the console application?

Depends on "who" is running it. If there's no user, I'd go for a windows-service, based on the argument that your input is coming from a service. A console-app would do fine too; could be started on login, or as a service (using a tool), or using the task-scheduler.

dcof wrote:
2. In this application, what would I do to make the commands get executed?

Use the

<a href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/e8zac0ca.aspx">Start</a>[<a href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/e8zac0ca.aspx" target="_blank" title="New Window">^</a>]

method of the Process class, or one of the overloads.

Bastard Programmer from Hell Suspicious | :suss:

if you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]

glennPattonWork35-Sep-12 5:59

5-Sep-12 5:59

Hi,
I have not used C# 2010 in anger but I should imagine that the methods are quite similar or the same as 2008 to make a command line call from C# I have used:

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(@"Test.bat");

which requires the

using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

I have used a batch file in the example the as that what I used in the code but any dos command should work.

Shameel5-Sep-12 6:27

Shameel

5-Sep-12 6:27

glennPattonWork wrote:
which requires the

C#
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

Which is a wrong statement. The System.Diagnostics.Process class is located in the System.dll assembly and does not require any other namespace/assembly.

glennPattonWork35-Sep-12 22:07

5-Sep-12 22:07

Mmmm, that's what I thought but as the dang thing didn't run and seemed to lock up and fall flat on it's face around the dos call but worked when I added the using statement I was under the impression that it had something to do with it!
Glenn

PIEBALDconsult5-Sep-12 6:06

PIEBALDconsult

5-Sep-12 6:06

Ask the same question, get the same answer.

ProcessCommunicator[^]

dcof5-Sep-12 7:52

5-Sep-12 7:52

What is the benefit of using a process communicator when I can write the code in a console application?

PIEBALDconsult5-Sep-12 8:20

PIEBALDconsult

5-Sep-12 8:20

dcof wrote:
I can write the code in a console application

I have no idea what you mean by that. The ProcessCommunicator is for interacting with an existing console application in a programmatic way and it can be automated with the CommScript. I believe these will help you accomplish what you stated in your posts.

In your app, app instantiate a ProcessCommunicator to execute the existing console application so you can interact with it.
And you may want to instantiate a CommScript to control it.

Read the articles.

jschell5-Sep-12 11:38

jschell

5-Sep-12 11:38

dcof wrote:
I want to write a C# 2010 application that executes a console application....

That is about what the application does.

dcof wrote:
1. What type of a C# 2010 application would you set up to call the console
application?

That is about how the application is used. And you have provided no information about that at all.

Serial Port security?

glennPattonWork35-Sep-12 5:34

Re: Serial Port security?

5-Sep-12 5:34

Hi All,
I am try to make a program user proof (though but...) I have now got it to find the device plugged in at initial run time, it runs fine on talking to one device, closes the comm port, changes the comm port, reopens the comm port. I am trying to do this by

nameArray = SerialPort.GetPortNames();
         do
         {
             index += 1;
             cboPort.Items.Add(nameArray[index]);
         }
         while (!((nameArray[index] == myComPortName) || (index == nameArray.GetUpperBound(0))));

While this works fine on initial set up, it appears to work on subsequent runs but after the fourth or so run it comes up with an error mostly due I think to the fact that I am setting the serial port property with out touching the rest. <<test it="">> Well tried that did <> didn't work, I am now thinking I am trying to reassign a com port that is in use but I closed it so I should be able to??? Have I fallen foul of a security feature?
Glenn
Glenn

Eddy Vluggen5-Sep-12 5:57

Eddy Vluggen

5-Sep-12 5:57

..not what you'd call a solution, but might help;

Try to put the serial-port logic in a separate console-app, and call it with the port as a parameter. If the app exits, the port "should" be free, whether you closed it nicely or not.

I hope someone else can do better Smile | :)

Bastard Programmer from Hell Suspicious | :suss:

if you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]

Re: Serial Port security?

glennPattonWork35-Sep-12 6:03