Visual Basic

Re: How to Extend the InitializeComponents to my code in VB2008/2010

20-Jan-13 3:06

We have many VB2008/2010 programs converted from VB6.

They used the VB6 Control Arrays (which I really miss).

The VB.Net code uses VB6 compabitity control arrays which works well but hard to maintain if new control arrays are needs.

We have begun replacing these with List (of ..) and AddHander's which also works well.

What we would like is for our code to populate the list ofs and do the AddHandlers to be done when the InitializeComponent is done.

So how can we 'extend' the IntializeComponents to our code or have our code run after the InitializeComponents.

Thanks

Eddy Vluggen21-Jan-13 3:31

Re: How to Extend the InitializeComponents to my code in VB2008/2010

21-Jan-13 3:31

QuickBooksDev wrote:
So how can we 'extend' the IntializeComponents to our code or have our code run after the InitializeComponents.

The "best" way is to not modify the call; it's there for the designer, and anything in there is autogenerated (it will be overwritten, removing your modifications).

Add a virtual or abstract method to an empty form, and call it from the constructor. Next, inherit your forms from this new one.

Bastard Programmer from Hell Suspicious | :suss:

If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
They hate us for our freedom![^]

QuickBooksDev21-Jan-13 5:28

Re: How to Extend the InitializeComponents to my code in VB2008/2010

21-Jan-13 5:28

Modify what call.

I am looking for a way to invoke our 'DesignerExtensions' automatically. I know not to change the designer.

What is a Virtual or abstract method. What constructor? There are none what we have coded.

We have several programs with multiple forms that we need to do this on.

Can you please give concrete examples?

Eddy Vluggen21-Jan-13 5:43

Re: How to Extend the InitializeComponents to my code in VB2008/2010

21-Jan-13 5:43

QuickBooksDev wrote:
Modify what call.

"InitializeComponents". Don't modify it's contents.

QuickBooksDev wrote:
What is a Virtual or abstract method.

Aw, sorry for using C#-terminology; it's called "Overridable" in VB.NET.

QuickBooksDev wrote:
We have several programs with multiple forms that we need to do this on.

Can you please give concrete examples?

Take an empty form, and modify it like below;

VB.NET

Public Class BaseForm
    Sub New()
        ' This call is required by the designer.
        InitializeComponent()

        ' Add any initialization after the InitializeComponent() call.
        InitializeVB6Handlers()
    End Sub

    Public Overridable Sub InitializeVB6Handlers()
        System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("Boo!")
    End Sub
End Class

Next, change your existing form to Inherit from the BaseForm like below;

VB.NET

Public Class Form1 : Inherits BaseForm
End Class

This would give you a method that's called when the form is constructed (just like InitializeComponents), and give you the option to override it's implementation for a specific form;

VB.NET

Public Class Form1 : Inherits BaseForm
    Public Overrides Sub InitializeVB6Handlers()
        'MyBase.InitializeVB6Handlers()
        System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("No Boo today")
    End Sub
End Class

Bastard Programmer from Hell Suspicious | :suss:

If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
They hate us for our freedom![^]

QuickBooksDev21-Jan-13 6:49

Re: How to Extend the InitializeComponents to my code in VB2008/2010

21-Jan-13 6:49

Thanks will give it a try.

QuickBooksDev22-Jan-13 0:21

Re: How to Extend the InitializeComponents to my code in VB2008/2010

22-Jan-13 0:21

Seems to work.

Will start implementation.

Thanks

Eddy Vluggen22-Jan-13 2:21

Re: How to Extend the InitializeComponents to my code in VB2008/2010

22-Jan-13 2:21

You're welcome Smile | :)

Mike Meinz21-Jan-13 8:16

Mike Meinz

21-Jan-13 8:16

I wonder why you wouldn't just call your customized initialization from within the Load event in your source code for each Windows Form. Doing so, you don't have to touch the Windows Form Designer generated code file (*.Designer.vb).

Or am I missing something?

Re: How to Extend the InitializeComponents to my code in VB2008/2010

QuickBooksDev21-Jan-13 9:38

MS Graph in Access 2007 VBA Application

21-Jan-13 9:38

We were.

But there are times when things need to be checked in various controls before the form is show or brought up. When this occurs the List ofs are not initialized (value of nothing).

With the VB6.compatibility for control arrays they were inititized in the designer so no problem.

Just looking to make it all work the way it was.

satcomengineer19-Jan-13 7:48

satcomengineer

19-Jan-13 7:48

I am attempting to include a Microsoft Graph control on a tab on a form in my Access 2007 application. I have given it a query as a Row Source. What else is required?

Re: MS Graph in Access 2007 VBA Application

Eddy Vluggen20-Jan-13 2:38

20-Jan-13 2:38

The "type" of chart. Have a tutorial[^] Smile | :)

Bastard Programmer from Hell Suspicious | :suss:

If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
They hate us for our freedom![^]

vb6.0

Barun sengupta18-Jan-13 21:39

Barun sengupta

18-Jan-13 21:39

How to Select .pdf file from a folder in to DriveListBox in vb6.0

Re: vb6.0

Eddy Vluggen20-Jan-13 2:36

Decoding USBSTOR Registry Entry in VB

20-Jan-13 2:36

Selecting an item in the UI? By clicking on it. There's some old documentation on the DriveListBox[^].

VB6 is a dead language; I strongly recommend upgrading to something more recent.

Bastard Programmer from Hell Suspicious | :suss:

If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
They hate us for our freedom![^]

SantLou4017-Jan-13 16:06

SantLou40

17-Jan-13 16:06

Hi All,

I am attempting to retrieve USB Usage History using VB.NET. I am using VS 2012.

The following block of code lists this entry.

Dim RegKey As RegistryKey = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USBSTOR\", False)

Dim str1 As String
For Each subKeyName As String In RegKey.GetSubKeyNames()

    Dim tempKey As RegistryKey = RegKey.OpenSubKey(subKeyName)
    Debug.Print("USBSTORE KEY: " & subKeyName & RegKey.GetValue(subKeyName, "").ToString())
    Debug.Print(" -----------")

    For Each NxtSubKeyName As String In tempKey.GetSubKeyNames()
        Dim tempKey1 As RegistryKey = tempKey.OpenSubKey(NxtSubKeyName)
        Debug.Print("USBSTOR SUBKEY: " & NxtSubKeyName.ToString() & " Value Count: " & tempKey1.ValueCount.ToString())
        For Each valueName As String In tempKey1.GetValueNames()
            Debug.Print(valueName & ": " & tempKey1.GetValue(valueName).ToString())
        Next

    Next
Next

My code produces this output:

CSS

USBSTORE KEY: Disk&Ven_SanDisk&Prod_Cruzer&Rev_1100
 -----------
USBSTOR SUBKEY: SDXX1005181106121551&0 Value Count: 12
DeviceDesc: @disk.inf,%disk_devdesc%;Disk drive
Capabilities: 16
HardwareID: System.String[]
CompatibleIDs: System.String[]
ContainerID: {2471d8a3-e22c-5a5e-8b09-f0bb7616119d}
ConfigFlags: 0
ClassGUID: {4d36e967-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}
Driver: {4d36e967-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\0010
Class: DiskDrive
Mfg: @disk.inf,%genmanufacturer%;(Standard disk drives)
Service: disk
FriendlyName: SanDisk Cruzer USB Device

But when I export this registry entry to a text file, I get the following results:

Obviously we see much more information in the exported data. Why is there so much more info here and how can I get my VB program to access this information?

I am trying to write some code to obtain USB Usage History.

Thanks for any help,

CSS

Key Name:          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USBSTOR\Disk&Ven_SanDisk&Prod_Cruzer&Rev_1100
Class Name:        <NO CLASS>
Last Write Time:   1/17/2013 - 2:51 PM

Key Name:          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USBSTOR\Disk&Ven_SanDisk&Prod_Cruzer&Rev_1100\SDXX1005181106121551&0
Class Name:        <NO CLASS>
Last Write Time:   1/17/2013 - 2:51 PM
Value 0
  Name:            DeviceDesc
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Data:            @disk.inf,%disk_devdesc%;Disk drive

Value 1
  Name:            Capabilities
  Type:            REG_DWORD
  Data:            0x10

Value 2
  Name:            HardwareID
  Type:            REG_MULTI_SZ
  Data:            USBSTOR\DiskSanDisk_Cruzer__________1100
                   USBSTOR\DiskSanDisk_Cruzer__________
                   USBSTOR\DiskSanDisk_
                   USBSTOR\SanDisk_Cruzer__________1
                   SanDisk_Cruzer__________1
                   USBSTOR\GenDisk
                   GenDisk

Value 3
  Name:            CompatibleIDs
  Type:            REG_MULTI_SZ
  Data:            USBSTOR\Disk
                   USBSTOR\RAW

Value 4
  Name:            ContainerID
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Data:            {2471d8a3-e22c-5a5e-8b09-f0bb7616119d}

Value 5
  Name:            ConfigFlags
  Type:            REG_DWORD
  Data:            0

Value 6
  Name:            ClassGUID
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Data:            {4d36e967-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

Value 7
  Name:            Driver
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Data:            {4d36e967-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\0010

Value 8
  Name:            Class
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Data:            DiskDrive

Value 9
  Name:            Mfg
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Data:            @disk.inf,%genmanufacturer%;(Standard disk drives)

Value 10
  Name:            Service
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Data:            disk

Value 11
  Name:            FriendlyName
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Data:            SanDisk Cruzer USB Device


Key Name:          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USBSTOR\Disk&Ven_SanDisk&Prod_Cruzer&Rev_1100\SDXX1005181106121551&0\Device Parameters
Class Name:        <NO CLASS>
Last Write Time:   1/17/2013 - 2:51 PM

Key Name:          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USBSTOR\Disk&Ven_SanDisk&Prod_Cruzer&Rev_1100\SDXX1005181106121551&0\Device Parameters\MediaChangeNotification
Class Name:        <NO CLASS>
Last Write Time:   9/5/2011 - 8:07 PM

Key Name:          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USBSTOR\Disk&Ven_SanDisk&Prod_Cruzer&Rev_1100\SDXX1005181106121551&0\Device Parameters\Partmgr
Class Name:        <NO CLASS>
Last Write Time:   9/5/2011 - 8:07 PM
Value 0
  Name:            Attributes
  Type:            REG_DWORD
  Data:            0

Value 1
  Name:            DiskId
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Data:            {00af4242-d76c-11e0-8169-0024e8e34876}


Key Name:          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USBSTOR\Disk&Ven_SanDisk&Prod_Cruzer&Rev_1100\SDXX1005181106121551&0\LogConf
Class Name:        <NO CLASS>
Last Write Time:   1/17/2013 - 2:51 PM

ChandraRam17-Jan-13 20:03

ChandraRam

17-Jan-13 20:03

Looks like you are only reading one level down - your sub-key has further sub-keys.

Suggestion - use recursion to get at all the info.

HTH

Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have. -Anon

Alan N18-Jan-13 1:21

Alan N

18-Jan-13 1:21

Your code is essentially correct but what you haven't done is to read the type of data stored in each name-value pair so that the correct cast can be applied.

The raw data obtained from GetValue(valueName) is typed as Object and the ToString() conversion gives a correct representation in most cases, the exceptions being when the actual type is an array (REG_BINARY, REG_MULTI_SZ)

The technique is read the type via GetValueKind(valueName) and then apply a cast to the Object returned from GetValue(valueName). The incomplete method below shows the basics and in your case formatting the values ready for display should be done in the gaps left as "do something appropriate".

Private Sub InterpretValue(rawValue as Object, interpretAsType as RegistryValueKind)
    Select Case interpretAsType
        Case RegistryValueKind.Binary
          ' REG_BINARY
            Dim byteArray As Byte() = DirectCast(rawValue, Byte())
            ' Do something appropriate
            Exit Select
        Case RegistryValueKind.DWord
          ' REG_DWORD
            Dim signedValue32 As Integer = DirectCast(rawValue, Integer)
            ' Do something appropriate
            Exit Select
        Case RegistryValueKind.QWord
          ' REG_QWORD
            Dim signedValue64 As Long = DirectCast(rawValue, Long)
            ' Do something appropriate
            Exit Select
        Case RegistryValueKind.Unknown, RegistryValueKind.String, RegistryValueKind.ExpandString
            Dim stringValue as String = rawValue.ToString()
            ' Do something appropriate
            Exit Select
        Case RegistryValueKind.MultiString
          ' REG_MULTI_SZ
            Dim stringArray As String() = TryCast(rawValue, String())
            ' Do something appropriate
            Exit Select
    End Select
End Sub

SantLou4018-Jan-13 1:47

SantLou40

18-Jan-13 1:47

Thanks for the explanations. I understand that I should be considering the data type. I can change my code accordingly. But what about the "Last Write Time" information that is displayed in the exported text data for these keys? How can I access that? My goal is to capture the History of each USB device that was used in the system, with dates and times. I'm assuming that the Last Write Time on the exported text will give me this information, but I don't see how my code, even with the data type considerations, will access that.

Thanks,

Alan N18-Jan-13 4:05

Alan N

18-Jan-13 4:05

The .NET RegistryKey exposes a small subset of the full Windows Registry API and to get the LastWriteTime requires the Windows RegQueryInfoKey function. Microsoft made this really difficult prior to .NET 4, as the RegistryKey class did not expose the operating system registry key handle.

With the restriction of .NET 4 it should be a simple matter of using P/Invoke to call RegQueryInfoKey with the twelve parameters set correctly! I haven't done this but most of them are optional, so can probably be set to null or IntPtr.Zero.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms724902(v=vs.85).aspx[^]

Retrieving the LastWrite time from a Registry key[^]

http://www.pinvoke.net/default.aspx/advapi32/RegQueryInfoKey.html[^]

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/microsoft.win32.registrykey.handle.aspx[^]

If you have to work on a lower (lesser?) version of .NET then I don't think this will be an easy task as there is no facility to exchange handles between the .NET RegistryKey class and the native Windows functions. I think the only option would be using RegOpenKeyEx to get the handle and then call RegQueryInfoKey.