Re: Without a RDBMS or XML - C# Discussion Boards

Heath Stewart24-Feb-04 4:50

24-Feb-04 4:50

You could try searching first.

Microsoft MVP, Visual C#
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LongRange.Shooter24-Feb-04 11:00

LongRange.Shooter

24-Feb-04 11:00

Hello Benzite!

If you enter into the article area, go into General C#, and enter the COM Interop list you will find a number of articles there. The two specific articles you want pertain to the IDocHostUIHandler hooks.

This is the link to my article:

http://www.codeproject.com/csharp/winformiehost.asp[^]

This is the link to Nicks article:

http://www.codeproject.com/csharp/advhost.asp[^]

Don't mind Heath. He helps alot but he has the bedside manner of a cold shower in the middle of winter.

Condor

_____________________________________________
_{Of all the senses I could possibly lose,
It is most often the one called 'common' that gets lost.}

benzite24-Feb-04 14:37

benzite

24-Feb-04 14:37

Thanks,a lot.

Heath Stewart25-Feb-04 2:40

Re: Without a RDBMS or XML

25-Feb-04 2:40

Yep, and lets just let all the wannabe programmers breeze through life without doing their own work or looking things up. Congratulations for fostering the problem with this industry.

Besides, both articles you listed appeared at the top of the search results I linked anyway. I guess two clicks is one to many for you both? Oh, the pain...

Microsoft MVP, Visual C#
My Articles

Without a RDBMS or XML

Sheriff Botros23-Feb-04 18:52

Sheriff Botros

23-Feb-04 18:52

I want to develop an application that will not require the user having MS SQL or ORACLE or even Access (MS Office). Also I envisage that my data will accumulate to quite a large volume so I do not wish to use XML. What I am looking for is information on how develop and deploy a windows application with MSDE or JET. I would obviously deploy JET or MSDE with my application.

Any relevant refs?

Thanks
SFB

Mazdak24-Feb-04 3:26

Mazdak

24-Feb-04 3:26

MSDE is engine of SQLServer which doesn't have user interface and some of those tools exist with SQLServer. Now whats your problem which you need refs about?

Mazy

"A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don't need it." - Bob Hope

Re: Without a RDBMS or XML

Heath Stewart24-Feb-04 4:37

Re: Without a RDBMS or XML

24-Feb-04 4:37

Using .mdb files does not require Microsoft Access - it's merely a development environment for Jet databases. To distribute Jet databases, you must install the Jet runtime, which you can download from http://www.microsoft.com/data[^]. This is most often installed already on client machines. Note that Jet is not currently installed with MDAC (there were prior to 2.6). For information about downloading the Jet runtime, see KB article Q239114[^].

The MSDE - while providing a true RDBMS - can be more difficult to deploy. The MSDE - like SQL Server, of which many components are shared - can only be installed for 16 instances, including those instances that are SQL Server. In the MSDE downloads, there are 16 MSIs (Windows Installer Databases). Most applications will pick one and stick with it. Each one contains a different ProductCode that you can use for upgrades (such as SP3, which I think is part of the base MSDE install now). Some applications - such as ours - will even distribute all 16 MSIs and use a boostrap that will determine which one should be used (in case another product has already installed another instance using the MSI that we might've picked). This definitely adds to the complication. You could always use that existing instance and attack your databases, but then you have two or more products tied together with a single instance that might lead to additional problems (like if the other product upgrades the master table and breaks some of your functionality).

You can read more about MSDE deployment on the MSDE site at http://www.microsoft.com/sql/msde[^], as well as download it and its service packs. Note that VS.NET also includes the MSDE set (a single instance named VSdotNET).

Microsoft MVP, Visual C#
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Nemanja Trifunovic24-Feb-04 6:23

Nemanja Trifunovic

24-Feb-04 6:23

I suggest SQLite[^] . There is a .NET wrapper for it here.[^]

Qualifying Static Members With Type Names

Eric Houser23-Feb-04 16:15

Eric Houser

23-Feb-04 16:15

When I try to compile my application it always displays the error message, "Static Member '(control)' cannot be referenced with an instant reference; qualify it with a type name instead." I access most of my controls that are on this form from other forms, so at the beginning of the class when all of the controls are declared as private automatically, I changed them to public static.

I Changed This:
private System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox pboBoard;
private System.Windows.Forms.MainMenu mnu1;
private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem1;
private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem2;
private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem3;
private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem4;
private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem5;
private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem6;
private System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem7;
private System.Windows.Forms.Label lbl4;
private System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox pboP1;
private System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox pboP2;
private System.Windows.Forms.Button cmd1;
private System.Windows.Forms.Label lbl1;
private System.Windows.Forms.Label lbl2;

To This:
public static System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox pboBoard;
public static System.Windows.Forms.MainMenu mnu1;
public static System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem1;
public static System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem2;
public static System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem3;
public static System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem4;
public static System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem5;
public static System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem6;
public static System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem menuItem7;
public static System.Windows.Forms.Label lbl4;
public static System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox pboP1;
public static System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox pboP2;
public static System.Windows.Forms.Button cmd1;
public static System.Windows.Forms.Label lbl1;
public static System.Windows.Forms.Label lbl2;

Now, there is no problem with the outside access of these controls, but when the components are initialized, it doesn't recognize the reference, "this". The only thing I could think of was changing, "this" to, "Form1"

I Changed This:
public void InitializeComponent()
{
System.Resources.ResourceManager resources = new System.Resources.ResourceManager(typeof(Form1));
this.pboBoard = new System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox();
this.mnu1 = new System.Windows.Forms.MainMenu();
this.menuItem1 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
this.menuItem4 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
this.menuItem5 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
this.menuItem6 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
this.menuItem7 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
this.menuItem2 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
this.menuItem3 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
this.lbl4 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
this.pboP1 = new System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox();
this.pboP2 = new System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox();
this.cmd1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
this.lbl1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
this.lbl2 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
this.SuspendLayout();
//
// pboBoard
//
this.pboBoard.Image = ((System.Drawing.Bitmap)(resources.GetObject("pboBoard.Image")));
this.pboBoard.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(-8, -8);
this.pboBoard.Name = "pboBoard";
this.pboBoard.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(584, 544);
this.pboBoard.TabIndex = 0;
this.pboBoard.TabStop = false;
//
// mnu1
//
this.mnu1.MenuItems.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem[] {
this.menuItem1,
this.menuItem2});
//
// menuItem1
//
this.menuItem1.Index = 0;
this.menuItem1.MenuItems.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem[] {
this.menuItem4,
this.menuItem5,
this.menuItem6,
this.menuItem7});
this.menuItem1.Text = "&File";
//
// menuItem4
//
this.menuItem4.Index = 0;
this.menuItem4.Text = "&New Game";
//
// menuItem5
//
this.menuItem5.Index = 1;
this.menuItem5.Text = "&Start Level";
//
// menuItem6
//
this.menuItem6.Index = 2;
this.menuItem6.Text = "-";
//
// menuItem7
//
this.menuItem7.Index = 3;
this.menuItem7.Text = "E&xit";
//
// menuItem2
//
this.menuItem2.Index = 1;
this.menuItem2.MenuItems.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem[] {
this.menuItem3});
this.menuItem2.Text = "&Help";
//
// menuItem3
//
this.menuItem3.Index = 0;
this.menuItem3.Text = "&About...";
//
// lbl4
//
this.lbl4.BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.Black;
this.lbl4.BorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.BorderStyle.Fixed3D;
this.lbl4.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Desdemona", 20.25F);
this.lbl4.ForeColor = System.Drawing.Color.White;
this.lbl4.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(8, 64);
this.lbl4.Name = "lbl4";
this.lbl4.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(528, 40);
this.lbl4.TabIndex = 1;
this.lbl4.TextAlign = System.Drawing.ContentAlignment.MiddleCenter;
//
// pboP1
//
this.pboP1.Image = ((System.Drawing.Bitmap)(resources.GetObject("pboP1.Image")));
this.pboP1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(16, 168);
this.pboP1.Name = "pboP1";
this.pboP1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(35, 50);
this.pboP1.TabIndex = 2;
this.pboP1.TabStop = false;
//
// pboP2
//
this.pboP2.Image = ((System.Drawing.Bitmap)(resources.GetObject("pboP2.Image")));
this.pboP2.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(496, 416);
this.pboP2.Name = "pboP2";
this.pboP2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(35, 50);
this.pboP2.TabIndex = 3;
this.pboP2.TabStop = false;
//
// cmd1
//
this.cmd1.Enabled = false;
this.cmd1.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Desdemona", 36F, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Bold);
this.cmd1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(0, 256);
this.cmd1.Name = "cmd1";
this.cmd1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 104);
this.cmd1.TabIndex = 4;
this.cmd1.Text = "Start";
//
// lbl1
//
this.lbl1.AutoSize = true;
this.lbl1.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Desdemona", 26.25F);
this.lbl1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(160, 160);
this.lbl1.Name = "lbl1";
this.lbl1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(0, 41);
this.lbl1.TabIndex = 5;
//
// lbl2
//
this.lbl2.AutoSize = true;
this.lbl2.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Desdemona", 26.25F);
this.lbl2.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(72, 432);
this.lbl2.Name = "lbl2";
this.lbl2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(0, 41);
this.lbl2.TabIndex = 6;
//
// Form1
//
this.AutoScaleBaseSize = new System.Drawing.Size(5, 13);
this.BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.Black;
this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(544, 529);
this.ControlBox = false;
this.Controls.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.Control[] {
this.lbl2,
this.lbl1,
this.cmd1,
this.pboP2,
this.pboP1,
this.lbl4,
this.pboBoard});
this.ForeColor = System.Drawing.Color.White;
this.Menu = this.mnu1;
this.Name = "Form1";
this.Text = "Elicit Response";
this.Load += new System.EventHandler(this.Form1_Load);
this.ResumeLayout(false);

To This:
public void InitializeComponent()
{
System.Resources.ResourceManager resources = new System.Resources.ResourceManager(typeof(Form1));
Form1.pboBoard = new System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox();
Form1.mnu1 = new System.Windows.Forms.MainMenu();
Form1.menuItem1 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
Form1.menuItem4 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
Form1.menuItem5 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
Form1.menuItem6 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
Form1.menuItem7 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
Form1.menuItem2 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
Form1.menuItem3 = new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem();
Form1.lbl4 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
Form1.pboP1 = new System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox();
Form1.pboP2 = new System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox();
Form1.cmd1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
Form1.lbl1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
Form1.lbl2 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
this.SuspendLayout();
//
// pboBoard
//
Form1.pboBoard.Image = ((System.Drawing.Bitmap)(resources.GetObject("pboBoard.Image")));
Form1.pboBoard.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(-8, -8);
Form1.pboBoard.Name = "pboBoard";
Form1.pboBoard.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(584, 544);
Form1.pboBoard.TabIndex = 0;
Form1.pboBoard.TabStop = false;
//
// mnu1
//
Form1.mnu1.MenuItems.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem[] {
Form1.menuItem1,
Form1.menuItem2});
//
// menuItem1
//
Form1.menuItem1.Index = 0;
Form1.menuItem1.MenuItems.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem[] {
Form1.menuItem4,
Form1.menuItem5,
Form1.menuItem6,
Form1.menuItem7});
Form1.menuItem1.Text = "&File";
//
// menuItem4
//
Form1.menuItem4.Index = 0;
Form1.menuItem4.Text = "&New Game";
//
// menuItem5
//
Form1.menuItem5.Index = 1;
Form1.menuItem5.Text = "&Start Level";
//
// menuItem6
//
Form1.menuItem6.Index = 2;
Form1.menuItem6.Text = "-";
//
// menuItem7
//
Form1.menuItem7.Index = 3;
Form1.menuItem7.Text = "E&xit";
//
// menuItem2
//
Form1.menuItem2.Index = 1;
Form1.menuItem2.MenuItems.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.MenuItem[] {
Form1.menuItem3});
Form1.menuItem2.Text = "&Help";
//
// menuItem3
//
Form1.menuItem3.Index = 0;
Form1.menuItem3.Text = "&About...";
//
// lbl4
//
Form1.lbl4.BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.Black;
Form1.lbl4.BorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.BorderStyle.Fixed3D;
Form1.lbl4.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Desdemona", 20.25F);
Form1.lbl4.ForeColor = System.Drawing.Color.White;
Form1.lbl4.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(8, 64);
Form1.lbl4.Name = "lbl4";
Form1.lbl4.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(528, 40);
Form1.lbl4.TabIndex = 1;
Form1.lbl4.TextAlign = System.Drawing.ContentAlignment.MiddleCenter;
//
// pboP1
//
Form1.pboP1.Image = ((System.Drawing.Bitmap)(resources.GetObject("pboP1.Image")));
Form1.pboP1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(16, 168);
Form1.pboP1.Name = "pboP1";
Form1.pboP1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(35, 50);
Form1.pboP1.TabIndex = 2;
Form1.pboP1.TabStop = false;
//
// pboP2
//
Form1.pboP2.Image = ((System.Drawing.Bitmap)(resources.GetObject("pboP2.Image")));
Form1.pboP2.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(496, 416);
Form1.pboP2.Name = "pboP2";
Form1.pboP2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(35, 50);
Form1.pboP2.TabIndex = 3;
Form1.pboP2.TabStop = false;
//
// cmd1
//
Form1.cmd1.Enabled = false;
Form1.cmd1.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Desdemona", 36F, System.Drawing.FontStyle.Bold);
Form1.cmd1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(0, 256);
Form1.cmd1.Name = "cmd1";
Form1.cmd1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 104);
Form1.cmd1.TabIndex = 4;
Form1.cmd1.Text = "Start";
//
// lbl1
//
Form1.lbl1.AutoSize = true;
Form1.lbl1.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Desdemona", 26.25F);
Form1.lbl1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(160, 160);
Form1.lbl1.Name = "lbl1";
Form1.lbl1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(0, 41);
Form1.lbl1.TabIndex = 5;
//
// lbl2
//
Form1.lbl2.AutoSize = true;
Form1.lbl2.Font = new System.Drawing.Font("Desdemona", 26.25F);
Form1.lbl2.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(72, 432);
Form1.lbl2.Name = "lbl2";
Form1.lbl2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(0, 41);
Form1.lbl2.TabIndex = 6;
//
// Form1
//
this.AutoScaleBaseSize = new System.Drawing.Size(5, 13);
this.BackColor = System.Drawing.Color.Black;
this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(544, 529);
this.ControlBox = false;
this.Controls.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.Control[] {
Form1.lbl2,
Form1.lbl1,
Form1.cmd1,
Form1.pboP2,
Form1.pboP1,
Form1.lbl4,
Form1.pboBoard});
this.ForeColor = System.Drawing.Color.White;
this.Menu = Form1.mnu1;
this.Name = "Form1";
this.Text = "Elicit Response";
this.Load += new System.EventHandler(this.Form1_Load);
this.ResumeLayout(false);

}

This created some problems as well; all of the error messages would dissappear, but when I would go under the Form1[Design] tab, all of the controls would dissappear. I would compile the program without any problems; the controls would display, but nothing would work, it would be like there would be no code at all. I have no idea what is wrong, could someone help me out?

Re: Qualifying Static Members With Type Names

Not Active23-Feb-04 16:53

Not Active

23-Feb-04 16:53

How about providing a code sample next time Big Grin | :-D

Were you maybe trying something like this

<br />
MyForm form1 = new MyForm();<br />
form1.StaticCtrl<br />

If so then try

<br />
MyForm.StaticCtrl<br />

Re: Qualifying Static Members With Type Names

Heath Stewart24-Feb-04 4:22

how to use dll(mfc) in web service

24-Feb-04 4:22

Besides what Mark said, you don't want your controls static. You actually attempted to fix the original problem in exactly the opposite way that the compiler error implied. You shouldn't make your instance members static, but make your instance qualifier for your static method a Type like Mark said.

Trying to add static controls to a form won't work. With some careful handling, you might be able to get it to work for one form, but additional instances of the form will throw exceptions or even kill your app because window handles (which back the controls in Windows Forms) cannot be shared by parent windows.

Microsoft MVP, Visual C#
My Articles

wangxuefeng23-Feb-04 14:51

23-Feb-04 14:51

I create a mfc dll and there is an export function DoOCR(LPCTSTR infile,LPCTSTR outfile , LPCTSTR libpath).
infile and outfile is the path of input file and output file .
Now , I wanna use this dll in C# web service.
I am a beginner of c# and web service .how should i do ?
thank you!

Heath Stewart24-Feb-04 4:19

24-Feb-04 4:19

Languages targeting the CLR (i.e., ".NET Languages" like C#) can P/Invoke native functions (so this isn't web service-specific, to note).

For more information on P/Invoking native functions, see Consuming Unmanaged DLL Functions[^] in the .NET Framework SDK.

Your declaration would look something like this (but read the section above to understand what all this means):

[DllImport("yourmfc.dll", CharSet=CharSet.Auto)]
private static extern void DoOCR(string infile, string outfile, string libpath);

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My Articles

wangxuefeng24-Feb-04 23:26

24-Feb-04 23:26

I have done it , but there is some problems.
I think it's the problem about privilege to read file and I have solve it by another method.
To my surprise , I can read some files and can't read the others . There is no difference between these files .
Can you tell me why it's so ? Thanks a lot.

Heath Stewart25-Feb-04 2:43

25-Feb-04 2:43

There's many things that could cause this. For one, ASP.NET runs as a particular user - ASPNET by default (a local account). Read more about the <processModel> section in the .NET Framework SDK. If this user doesn't have privileges to access the files in that directory (or an ACL is applied to the file itself), then they can't access it. ASP.NET does not run with administrative privileges and it'd be EXTREMELY stupid to do so, as it opens many possible exploits.

It could also be code access security, a feature of the CLR that grants permissions to an application based on evidence. There is more information on this in the .NET Framework SDK as well.

In either or none of these cases, the exception message - even a Win32 result code - should tell you what the problem is. If you don't see an exception in your page, look at the /trace.axd file (the log viewer in the root of your web application) if tracing is enabled.

Microsoft MVP, Visual C#
My Articles

wangxuefeng25-Feb-04 13:36

25-Feb-04 13:36

thank you very much . I will try it right away.

wangxuefeng24-Feb-04 21:43

24-Feb-04 21:43

file processing

Rob Tomson23-Feb-04 12:47

Rob Tomson

23-Feb-04 12:47

i have an array of strings that represent filenames with the path. i want to find the last directory that is common between all the files.
ex:
c:\dir1\dir2\abc\abcd\file.ext
c:\dir1\dir2\abc\efgh\file.ext
c:\dir1\dir2\abc\efgh\123\file.ext
the last common directory would be c:\dir1\dir2\abc\

what would be the easiest way to go about this?

thanks,
Rob Tomson

--
There are 10 kinds of people. Those who understand binary and those who don't.

je_gonzalez23-Feb-04 15:27

je_gonzalez

23-Feb-04 15:27

The easiest way would be to post your question and have some write the code for you.

Here is the code:

private string FindSame(params string[] values)
{
// Default to nothing
string sAns = null;

// Start out before any valid value
int iSame = -1;

// Do we have any strings?
if (values.Length > 0)
{
// Setup for looping
bool bLoop = true;

// Holding area
char cChecking = ' ';
// Flag
bool bCheckingValid;

// Loop
while (bLoop)
{
// Move on to next character
iSame++;
// Reset flag
bCheckingValid = false;
//Loop thru the strings
for (int iValue = values.GetLowerBound(0); iValue <= values.GetUpperBound(0); iValue++)
{
// Reached the end?
if (iValue >= values[iValue].Length)
{
// No more soup for you
bLoop = false;
}
else
{
// Do we have something to compare against?
if (!bCheckingValid)
{
// Pick up comparison
cChecking = values[iValue][iSame];
// Flag that we got a value
bCheckingValid = true;
}
else
{
// Compare to string
if (cChecking != values[iValue][iSame])
{
// Mismatch!
bLoop = false;
}
}
}
}
}

// Get the string
sAns = values[values.GetLowerBound(0)].Substring(0, iSame);
}

// Return
return sAns;
}

and here is a sample call:

string sSame = this.FindSame(
@"c:\dir1\dir2\abc\abcd\file.ext",
@"c:\dir1\dir2\abc\efgh\file.ext",
@"c:\dir1\dir2\abc\efgh\123\file.ext");

Heath Stewart24-Feb-04 4:14

24-Feb-04 4:14

There are a few ways to better the performance, but that's an exercise for the original poster.

I just wanted to add that you should either use Char.ToLower before comparing, or something similar. Currently, the code won't recognize the following case (and similar cases): @"c:\dir1\file1.ext" and @"C:\DIR1\FILE2.ext" (even one difference in case would cause this to fail). Paths in Windows are case-insensitive.

Microsoft MVP, Visual C#
My Articles

je_gonzalez24-Feb-04 5:04

je_gonzalez

24-Feb-04 5:04

Open Reply to your Private Reply:

I agree with you that a lot of people that are interested in becoming a programmer (and even many that "are") do noy belong in this field.

Like in any field, you need the drive to look for answers yourself and to read the manual (how old is RTFM now?) and to dig in deeper, and too many are plain too lazy to do so.

However, I have met many who do have the drive, and the ability is within them, they just lack that insight of thinking outside themselves, which may be (AND IT IS A BIG MAY BE) triggered by seeing a piece of code.

I do not know about you, you may have all the answers and need help from no one, but I have gotten great ideas from reading thru some of these boards (the latest example is the work by Tom Clements on menus here at CP, which gave me insight on how to solve a nasty problem I was facing), and provide the little assistance I humbly do to pay back into the system.

Once before I answered someone and it seemed to cause some problem with you, and I apologized, even when I felt that I had done nothing wrong. This time you are telling me not to help people out, and to that my answer is to go play with yourself. I do not believe that this board belongs to you, and if it does, publicly tell everyone so and I will happily go someplace else.

Rob Tomson24-Feb-04 17:45

Rob Tomson

24-Feb-04 17:45

Thank you very much. Sorry it took so long to reply but anyway...I took your basic idea and massaged it abit and came up with this:

<br />
private int FindCommonDirectory(string[] files)<br />
{<br />
	string path = "";<br />
	foreach (string file in files)<br />
	{<br />
		string filePath = file.Substring(0, file.LastIndexOf(dirSep) + 1);<br />
		if ("" == path) path = filePath;<br />
		else if (filePath == path){}<br />
		else if (!filePath.StartsWith(path))<br />
		{<br />
			for (int chr = 0; chr <= filePath.Length; chr++)<br />
			{<br />
				if (filePath[chr] != path[chr])<br />
				{<br />
					path = filePath.Substring(0, chr);<br />
					break;<br />
				}<br />
			}<br />
		}<br />
	}<br />
	return path.LastIndexOf(dirSep);<br />
}<br />

Basically what it does is gets the directory of the first item and then compares it to the rest of the items, char by char. Every time it finds a shorter directory it then uses that to compare with the rest.

Thanks again for your help,
Rob

--
There are 10 kinds of people. Those who understand binary and those who don't.