How to Access Public Properties from Global.asax - vb.net

I am new to working with the global.asax file. I have an application where I need to set some application wide variables the values for which as sourced from the web.config file. The global asax seemed to be the logical place to hold this content. My global asax file is as follows:
Imports System.Web.Http
Imports System.Web.Optimization
Imports System.Net.Http.Formatting
Imports System.Net.Http.Headers
Imports utl = Common.Utilities
Public Class WebApiApplication
Inherits System.Web.HttpApplication
Private _SptZones As String
Private _spdZones As String
Private _spmZones As String
Sub Application_Start()
GlobalConfiguration.Configuration.Formatters.XmlFormatter.MediaTypeMappings.Add(New QueryStringMapping("xml", "true", "application/xml"))
GlobalConfiguration.Configuration.Formatters.JsonFormatter.SupportedMediaTypes.Add(New MediaTypeHeaderValue("text/html"))
AreaRegistration.RegisterAllAreas()
GlobalConfiguration.Configure(AddressOf WebApiConfig.Register)
FilterConfig.RegisterGlobalFilters(GlobalFilters.Filters)
RouteConfig.RegisterRoutes(RouteTable.Routes)
BundleConfig.RegisterBundles(BundleTable.Bundles)
AppInitialise()
End Sub
''' <summary>
''' Initialise the application, load settings from web.config file
''' </summary>
Private Sub AppInitialise()
_SptZones = utl.GetSetting("SptZones")
_spdZones = utl.GetSetting("SpdZones")
_spmZones = utl.GetSetting("SpmZones")
End Sub
Public ReadOnly Property SptZones As String
Get
Return _SptZones
End Get
End Property
Public ReadOnly Property SpdZones As String
Get
Return _spdZones
End Get
End Property
Public ReadOnly Property SpmZones As String
Get
Return _spmZones
End Get
End Property
End Class
I then need to access the Properties in global.asax from the Controller as in:
If scadaSource.IndexOf("SPT") > -1 Then
'pseudo code
criteria &= global asax property SptZones
End If

Since these are not shared properties, they can be obtained from the current instance of HttpApplication
DirectCast(HttpContext.ApplicationInstance, WebApiApplication).SptZones

Related

Cannot close/unload plugin without closing the entire application

I need some help with IPlugin implementation for my app.
PluginContracts code:
Public Interface IPlugin
ReadOnly Property Name() As String
Sub DoSomething()
Sub DoExit()
End Interface
Main App:
Imports PluginContracts
Module Program
Sub Main()
LoadTray()
End Sub
Sub LoadTray()
Dim dll As Assembly = Assembly.LoadFrom(GetDLL.TrayDll)
For Each t As Type In dll.GetTypes
If Not t.GetInterface("IPlugin") = Nothing Then
Try
Dim PluginClass As IPlugin = Type(Activator.CreateInstance(t), IPlugin)
PluginClass.DoSomething()
Catch ex As Exception
MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString())
End Try
End If
Next
End Sub
End Module
Plugin:
Imports PluginContracts
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Public Class Plugin
Implements IPlugin
Public Sub DoSomething() Implements IPlugin.DoSomething
Application.Run(New MyContext)
End Sub
Public Sub New()
End Sub
Public Sub DoExit() Implements IPlugin.DoExit
Application.Exit()
End Sub
Public ReadOnly Property Name As String Implements IPlugin.Name
Get
Name = "First Plugin"
End Get
End Property
End Class
(The plugin app is a Dll with a tray icon in Class “MyContext”)
I have everything working, the plugin loads (with the Tray Icon), but I can't close it and load something else.
I have a FileSystemWatcher that will close the plugin, update the Dll and then reopen it, but it closes the Main App and I can’t do anything else…
Thanks for the help
Sorry for taking so long to answer. This turned out to be a lot more complicated than I thought, at least if you want to impose security restrictions on your plugin.
The unsafe way
If you're okay with your plugin executing in so-called full trust, meaning that it can do anything it wants, then you have to do three things:
Tweak your code to launch the plugin in a separate AppDomain.
Run the DoSomething() method in its own thread (this is necessary since Application.Run() tries to create a new UI thread).
Change IPlugin from an Interface to a MustInherit class. This is because code that is marshalled between different AppDomains MUST run in an object that inherits from MarshalByRefObject.
New code:
EDIT (2018-05-29)
I figured the best way to wait for a plugin to exit in a windowless application would be to utilize a ManualResetEvent.
I have made a quick implementation for this in the code below. You must now call PluginClass.Exit() instead of DoExit() when closing your plugin.
I will add this to the safer solution after some more testing.
Dim PluginDomain As AppDomain = Nothing
Dim PluginClass As PluginBase = Nothing
Sub Main()
LoadTray()
If PluginClass IsNot Nothing Then
PluginClass.WaitForExit()
End If
End Sub
Sub LoadTray()
Dim dll As Assembly = Assembly.LoadFrom(GetDLL.TrayDll)
For Each t As Type In dll.GetTypes
If GetType(PluginBase).IsAssignableFrom(t) = True Then
Try
Dim PluginDomainSetup As New AppDomainSetup() With {
.ApplicationBase = AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory,
.PrivateBinPath = "Plugins"
}
PluginDomain = AppDomain.CreateDomain("MyPluginDomain", Nothing, PluginDomainSetup)
PluginClass = CType(PluginDomain.CreateInstanceFromAndUnwrap(GetDLL.TrayDll, t.FullName), PluginBase)
Dim PluginThread As New Thread(AddressOf PluginClass.DoSomething)
PluginThread.IsBackground = True
PluginThread.Start()
Catch ex As Exception
MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString())
End Try
Exit For 'Don't forget to exit the loop.
End If
Next
End Sub
PluginBase.vb:
Public MustInherit Class PluginBase
Inherits MarshalByRefObject
Private IsExitingEvent As New ManualResetEvent(False)
Public MustOverride ReadOnly Property Name As String
Public MustOverride Sub DoSomething()
Protected MustOverride Sub OnExit()
Public Sub [Exit]()
Me.OnExit()
Me.IsExitingEvent.Set()
End Sub
Public Sub WaitForExit()
Me.IsExitingEvent.WaitOne(-1)
End Sub
End Class
Your plugin:
Imports PluginContracts
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Public Class Plugin
Inherits PluginBase
Protected Overrides Sub DoSomething()
Application.Run(New MyContext)
End Sub
Protected Overrides Sub OnExit()
Application.Exit()
End Sub
Public Overrides ReadOnly Property Name As String
Get
Return "First Plugin" 'Use "Return" instead of "Name = ..."
End Get
End Property
End Class
However, as letting the plugin run in full trust is extremely unsafe I designed a solution which lets you control what the plugin can do. This required me to rewrite most of the code though, as it needed a different structure to work.
The safe(r) way
In my test case PluginContracts is a separate DLL (project) with only four classes:
PluginBase - The base class for all plugins.
PluginInfo - A wrapper containing info about a plugin (used by PluginManager).
PluginManager - A manager for loading, unloading and keeping track of plugins.
PluginUnloader - A class that runs with full trust in the plugin's restricted AppDomain. Only used to be able to call Application.Exit().
First and foremost, for everything to work the PluginContracts DLL needs to be signed with a Strong Name. Here's how that can be done:
Right-click the PluginContracts project in the Solution Explorer and press Properties.
Select the Signing tab.
Check the check box that says Sign the assembly, leave Delay sign only unchecked.
Open the drop down and press <New...>.
Give the key a file name and password (be sure to remember this!).
Done!
Now that that's fixed you need to make the PluginContracts DLL available to be called by partially trusted code. This is so that our plugin can use it since it will be running as untrusted code.
Select the project in the Solution Explorer again.
Press the button in the Solution Explorer that says Show all files.
Expand the My Project node.
Double-click AssemblyInfo.vb to edit it and add this line at the end of the file:
<Assembly: AllowPartiallyTrustedCallers(PartialTrustVisibilityLevel:=Security.PartialTrustVisibilityLevel.NotVisibleByDefault)>
There is a backside to doing this: All code inside the PluginContracts DLL will now run with rather low permissions. To make it run with the standard permissions again you have to decorate each class with the SecurityCritical attribute, except for the PluginBase class (in the code below I've already fixed all this, so you don't need to change anything). Due to this I recommend that you only have below four classes in the PluginContracts project:
PluginBase.vb:
''' <summary>
''' A base class for application plugins.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks></remarks>
Public MustInherit Class PluginBase
Inherits MarshalByRefObject
Public MustOverride ReadOnly Property Name As String
Public MustOverride Sub DoSomething()
Public MustOverride Sub OnExit()
End Class
PluginInfo.vb:
Imports System.Security
Imports System.Runtime.Remoting
''' <summary>
''' A class holding information about a plugin.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks></remarks>
<SecurityCritical()>
Public Class PluginInfo
Private _file As String
Private _plugin As PluginBase
Private _appDomain As AppDomain
Private Unloader As PluginUnloader
Friend Unloaded As Boolean = False
''' <summary>
''' Gets the AppDomain that this plugin runs in.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks></remarks>
Friend ReadOnly Property AppDomain As AppDomain
Get
Return _appDomain
End Get
End Property
''' <summary>
''' Gets the full path to the plugin assembly.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks></remarks>
Public ReadOnly Property File As String
Get
Return _file
End Get
End Property
''' <summary>
''' Gets the underlying plugin.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks></remarks>
Public ReadOnly Property Plugin As PluginBase
Get
Return _plugin
End Get
End Property
''' <summary>
''' DO NOT USE! See PluginManager.UnloadPlugin() instead.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks></remarks>
<SecurityCritical()>
Friend Sub Unload()
Me.Unloader.Unload()
Me.Unloaded = True
End Sub
''' <summary>
''' Initializes a new instance of the PluginInfo class.
''' </summary>
''' <param name="File">The full path to the plugin assembly.</param>
''' <param name="Plugin">The underlying plugin.</param>
''' <param name="AppDomain">The AppDomain that the plugin runs in.</param>
''' <remarks></remarks>
<SecurityCritical()>
Friend Sub New(ByVal File As String, ByVal Plugin As PluginBase, ByVal AppDomain As AppDomain)
_file = File
_plugin = Plugin
_appDomain = AppDomain
'Create an instance of PluginUnloader inside the plugin's AppDomain.
Dim Handle As ObjectHandle = Activator.CreateInstanceFrom(Me.AppDomain, GetType(PluginUnloader).Module.FullyQualifiedName, GetType(PluginUnloader).FullName)
Me.Unloader = CType(Handle.Unwrap(), PluginUnloader)
End Sub
End Class
PluginManager.vb:
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Copyright (c) 2018, Vincent Bengtsson
'All rights reserved.
'
'Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
'modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
'1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
' list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
'2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
' this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
' and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
'
'THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
'ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
'WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
'DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR
'ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
'(INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
'LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
'ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
'(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
'SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Imports System.Collections.ObjectModel
Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Security
Imports System.Security.Permissions
Imports System.Security.Policy
''' <summary>
''' A class for managing application plugins.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks></remarks>
<SecurityCritical()>
Public NotInheritable Class PluginManager
Implements IDisposable
Private PluginLookup As New Dictionary(Of String, PluginInfo)
Private PluginList As New List(Of String)
Private CurrentAppDomain As AppDomain = Nothing
Private _loadedPlugins As New ReadOnlyCollection(Of String)(Me.PluginList)
''' <summary>
''' Gets a list of all loaded plugins' names.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks></remarks>
Public ReadOnly Property LoadedPlugins As ReadOnlyCollection(Of String)
Get
Return _loadedPlugins
End Get
End Property
''' <summary>
''' Returns the plugin with the specified name (or null, if the plugin isn't loaded).
''' </summary>
''' <param name="Name">The name of the plugin to get.</param>
''' <remarks></remarks>
<SecurityCritical()>
Public Function GetPluginByName(ByVal Name As String) As PluginInfo
Dim Plugin As PluginInfo = Nothing
Me.PluginLookup.TryGetValue(Name, Plugin)
Return Plugin
End Function
''' <summary>
''' Checks whether a plugin by the specified name is loaded.
''' </summary>
''' <param name="Name">The name of the plugin to look for.</param>
''' <remarks></remarks>
<SecurityCritical()>
Public Function IsPluginLoaded(ByVal Name As String) As Boolean
Return Me.PluginLookup.ContainsKey(Name)
End Function
''' <summary>
''' Loads a plugin with the specified permissions (or no permissions, if omitted).
''' </summary>
''' <param name="File">The path to the plugin assembly to load.</param>
''' <param name="Permissions">Optional. A list of permissions to give the plugin (default permissions that are always applied: SecurityPermissionFlag.Execution).</param>
''' <remarks></remarks>
<SecurityCritical()>
Public Function LoadPlugin(ByVal File As String, ByVal ParamArray Permissions As IPermission()) As PluginInfo
Dim FullPath As String = Path.GetFullPath(File)
If System.IO.File.Exists(FullPath) = False Then Throw New FileNotFoundException()
'Check if the plugin file has already been loaded. This is to avoid odd errors caused by Assembly.LoadFrom().
If Me.PluginLookup.Values.Any(Function(info As PluginInfo) info.File.Equals(FullPath, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase)) = True Then
Throw New ApplicationException("Plugin """ & FullPath & """ is already loaded!")
End If
'Load assembly and look for a type derived from PluginBase.
Dim PluginAssembly As Assembly = Assembly.LoadFrom(FullPath)
Dim PluginType As Type = PluginManager.GetPluginType(PluginAssembly)
If PluginType Is Nothing Then Throw New TypeLoadException("""" & FullPath & """ is not a valid plugin!")
'Set up the application domain.
'Setting PartialTrustVisibleAssemblies allows our plugin to make partially trusted calls to the PluginBase DLL.
Dim PluginDomainSetup As New AppDomainSetup() With {
.ApplicationBase = Me.CurrentAppDomain.BaseDirectory,
.PartialTrustVisibleAssemblies = New String() {GetType(PluginUnloader).Assembly.GetName().Name & ", PublicKey=" & BitConverter.ToString(GetType(PluginUnloader).Assembly.GetName().GetPublicKey()).ToLower().Replace("-", "")}
}
'Set up the default (necessary) permissions for the plugin:
' SecurityPermissionFlag.Execution - Allows our plugin to execute managed code.
' FileIOPermissionAccess.Read - Allows our plugin to read its own assembly.
' FileIOPermissionAccess.PathDiscovery - Allows our plugin to get information about its parent directory.
Dim PluginPermissions As New PermissionSet(PermissionState.None) 'No permissions to begin with.
PluginPermissions.AddPermission(New SecurityPermission(SecurityPermissionFlag.Execution))
PluginPermissions.AddPermission(New FileIOPermission(FileIOPermissionAccess.Read Or FileIOPermissionAccess.PathDiscovery, FullPath))
'Load all additional permissions (if any).
For Each Permission As IPermission In Permissions
PluginPermissions.AddPermission(Permission)
Next
'Get the strong name for the assembly containing PluginUnloader and create the AppDomain.
'The strong name is used so that PluginUnloader may bypass the above added restrictions.
Dim TrustedAssembly As StrongName = GetType(PluginUnloader).Assembly.Evidence.GetHostEvidence(Of StrongName)()
Dim PluginDomain As AppDomain = AppDomain.CreateDomain(File, Nothing, PluginDomainSetup, PluginPermissions, TrustedAssembly)
'Create an instance of the plugin.
Dim Plugin As PluginBase = CType(PluginDomain.CreateInstanceFromAndUnwrap(FullPath, PluginType.FullName), PluginBase)
Dim PluginInfo As New PluginInfo(FullPath, Plugin, PluginDomain)
'Is a plugin by this name already loaded?
If Me.IsPluginLoaded(Plugin.Name) = True Then
Dim Name As String = Plugin.Name
Me.UnloadPlugin(PluginInfo)
Throw New ApplicationException("A plugin by the name """ & Name & """ is already loaded!")
End If
'Add the plugin to our lookup table and name list.
Me.PluginLookup.Add(Plugin.Name, PluginInfo)
Me.PluginList.Add(Plugin.Name)
'Return the loaded plugin to the caller.
Return PluginInfo
End Function
''' <summary>
''' Unloads a plugin.
''' </summary>
''' <param name="Name">The name of the plugin to unload.</param>
''' <remarks></remarks>
<SecurityCritical()>
Public Sub UnloadPlugin(ByVal Name As String)
Dim Plugin As PluginInfo = Me.GetPluginByName(Name)
If Plugin Is Nothing Then Throw New ArgumentException("No plugin by the name """ & Name & """ is loaded.", "Name")
Me.UnloadPlugin(Plugin)
End Sub
''' <summary>
''' Unloads a plugin.
''' </summary>
''' <param name="PluginInfo">The plugin to unload.</param>
''' <remarks></remarks>
<SecurityCritical()>
Public Sub UnloadPlugin(ByVal PluginInfo As PluginInfo)
If PluginInfo Is Nothing Then Throw New ArgumentNullException("PluginInfo")
If PluginInfo.Unloaded = True Then Return
Dim PluginName As String = PluginInfo.Plugin.Name
Dim Permission As New SecurityPermission(SecurityPermissionFlag.ControlAppDomain)
Permission.Assert()
PluginInfo.Plugin.OnExit()
PluginInfo.Unload()
AppDomain.Unload(PluginInfo.AppDomain)
CodeAccessPermission.RevertAssert()
Me.PluginLookup.Remove(PluginName)
End Sub
''' <summary>
''' Attempts to get a class derived from PluginBase in the specified assembly.
''' </summary>
''' <param name="PluginAssembly">The assembly to check.</param>
''' <remarks></remarks>
<SecurityCritical()>
Private Shared Function GetPluginType(ByVal PluginAssembly As Assembly) As Type
For Each t As Type In PluginAssembly.GetTypes()
If GetType(PluginBase).IsAssignableFrom(t) = True Then Return t
Next
Return Nothing
End Function
''' <summary>
''' Initializes a new instance of the PluginManager class.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks></remarks>
<SecurityCritical()>
Public Sub New()
Me.CurrentAppDomain = AppDomain.CurrentDomain
End Sub
#Region "IDisposable Support"
Private disposedValue As Boolean ' To detect redundant calls
' IDisposable
<SecurityCritical()>
Protected Sub Dispose(disposing As Boolean)
If Not Me.disposedValue Then
If disposing Then
' TODO: dispose managed state (managed objects).
'Unload all plugins.
For Each PluginPair As KeyValuePair(Of String, PluginInfo) In Me.PluginLookup
Try : Me.UnloadPlugin(PluginPair.Value) : Catch : End Try
Next
End If
' TODO: free unmanaged resources (unmanaged objects) and override Finalize() below.
' TODO: set large fields to null.
End If
Me.disposedValue = True
End Sub
' TODO: override Finalize() only if Dispose(ByVal disposing As Boolean) above has code to free unmanaged resources.
'Protected Overrides Sub Finalize()
' ' Do not change this code. Put cleanup code in Dispose(ByVal disposing As Boolean) above.
' Dispose(False)
' MyBase.Finalize()
'End Sub
' This code added by Visual Basic to correctly implement the disposable pattern.
<SecurityCritical()>
Public Sub Dispose() Implements IDisposable.Dispose
' Do not change this code. Put cleanup code in Dispose(ByVal disposing As Boolean) above.
Dispose(True)
GC.SuppressFinalize(Me)
End Sub
#End Region
End Class
PluginUnloader.vb:
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Imports System.Security
Imports System.Security.Permissions
''' <summary>
''' A class for unloading plugins from within their AppDomains.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks></remarks>
<SecurityCritical()>
Public NotInheritable Class PluginUnloader
Inherits MarshalByRefObject
''' <summary>
''' Calls Application.Exit(). This must be called inside the plugin's AppDomain.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks></remarks>
<SecurityCritical()>
Public Sub Unload()
'Request permission to execute managed code (required to call Application.Exit()).
Dim Permission As New SecurityPermission(SecurityPermissionFlag.UnmanagedCode)
Permission.Assert()
'Exits the plugin's UI threads (if any exist).
Application.Exit()
'Revert UnmanagedCode privilege.
CodeAccessPermission.RevertAssert()
End Sub
''' <summary>
''' Initializes a new instance of the PluginUnloader class.
''' </summary>
''' <remarks></remarks>
<SecurityCritical()>
Public Sub New()
End Sub
End Class
Example usage
Main code (currently used in a form):
Dim PluginManager As New PluginManager
Dim PluginClass As PluginInfo
Private Sub RunPluginButton_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles RunPluginButton.Click
'Load our plugin and give it UI permissions.
'The "UIPermissionWindow.AllWindows" flag allows our plugin to create a user interface (display windows, notify icons, etc.).
PluginClass = PluginManager.LoadPlugin("Plugins\TestPlugin.dll", New UIPermission(UIPermissionWindow.AllWindows))
'IMPORTANT: Each plugin must run in its own thread!
Dim tr As New Thread(AddressOf PluginClass.Plugin.DoSomething)
tr.IsBackground = True
tr.Start()
End Sub
Private Sub ExitPluginButton_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles ExitPluginButton.Click
If PluginClass Is Nothing Then
MessageBox.Show("Plugin not loaded!", "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)
Return
End If
PluginManager.UnloadPlugin(PluginClass)
PluginClass = Nothing
End Sub
Example plugin:
Public Class TestPlugin
Inherits PluginBase
Public Overrides ReadOnly Property Name As String
Get
Return "Test Plugin"
End Get
End Property
Public Overrides Sub DoSomething()
Application.Run(New MyContext)
End Sub
Public Overrides Sub OnExit()
'Do some cleanup here, if necessary.
'No need to call Application.Exit() - it is called automatically by PluginUnloader.
End Sub
End Class
How permissions work
When you call the PluginManager.LoadPlugin() method you pass it a path to the plugin which to load, however you can also pass it a set of permissions that you want to apply to the plugin (if you want to, this is optional).
By default all plugins are loaded only with these permissions:
It can execute its own managed code.
It has read access to the plugin file itself and its directory.
This means that a plugin:
Can not execute any unmanaged (also known as native) code. This is for example DllImport or Declare Function declarations.
Can not read/write/create/delete any files.
Can not have a User Interface (open any windows, use notify icons, etc.).
Does not have internet access.
Can not run any code other than its own and the framework's (within the boundaries of its restrictions).
...and so on, and so forth...
This can be changed by specifying which permissions the plugin should be granted, when you're loading it. For instance if you want your plugin to be able to read and write files in a certain directory you could do:
PluginManager.LoadPlugin("Plugins\TestPlugin.dll",
New FileIOPermission(FileIOPermissionAccess.AllAccess, "C:\some\folder"))
Or if you want it to be able to access any folder or file:
PluginManager.LoadPlugin("Plugins\TestPlugin.dll",
New FileIOPermission(PermissionState.Unrestricted))
Multiple permissions can be added by just keep adding arguments:
PluginManager.LoadPlugin("Plugins\TestPlugin.dll",
New FileIOPermission(PermissionState.Unrestricted),
New UIPermission(UIPermissionWindow.AllWindows),
New WebPermission(PermissionState.Unrestricted))
For a list of all available permission types see:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/h846e9b3(v=vs.110).aspx

How do VB.NET static classes work?

I understood them to be modules, such as my little one:
Public Module Config
Public Property ImportSettings As ImportConfig
Sub New()
ImportSettings = ImportConfig.Read()
End Sub
End Module
Yet, I cannot access ImportSettings. I'm told it's not declared, and its value is 'Nothing'.
Static(C#)/Shared(VB) method/property in a class:
Public Class Config
Public Shared ReadOnly Property ImportSettings As ImportConfig
Get
Return ImportConfig.Read()
End Get
End Property
End Class
Usage:
Dim configs = Config.ImportSettings
Since it is Static/Shared we do not need to initialize the Config class.

Log4net - how to log calling method name in WCF

I have written a Singleton wrapper for log4net and it will be called across all layers of my WCF service. I am unable to log calling method name. Pls suggest if any inputs from my below code. Thanks.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Imports log4net
Imports System.Reflection
Public Class Logger
Implements ILog
Private Shared m_instance As Logger
Private Shared log As log4net.ILog = Nothing
Public Sub New()
If log Is Nothing Then
'log = log4net.LogManager.GetLogger(MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType) ' -> This always logs 'Logger'
log = log4net.LogManager.GetLogger(Assembly.GetCallingAssembly(), "MyLogger") ' -> This always logs 'MyLogger'
End If
End Sub
Public Shared ReadOnly Property Write() As Logger
Get
m_instance = New Logger()
Return m_instance
End Get
End Property
Public Sub Debug(msg As String) Implements ILog.Debug
log.Debug(msg)
End Sub
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Public Interface ILog
Sub Debug(msg As String)
End Interface
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
I have made it more simple as below to log method name. But I have to pass classname as parameter. Pls suggest is this acceptable design?
''''' Calling code ''''''''''''''''''''
Logger(of MyClassName).Debug("message")
''''''Log4net wrapper'''''''''''''''''''''
Imports log4net
Imports System.Reflection
Public NotInheritable Class Logger(Of T)
Private Shared log As log4net.ILog = Nothing
Private Shared ReadOnly Property LogProvider() As log4net.ILog
Get
If (log Is Nothing) Then
Dim CallingMethod As String = GetType(T).ToString() & "." & (New StackTrace()).GetFrame(2).GetMethod().Name
log = log4net.LogManager.GetLogger(CallingMethod)
End If
Return log
End Get
End Property
Public Shared Sub Debug(msg As String)
LogProvider.Debug(msg)
End Sub
A logging instance can only have one name, you can't change it. If you want to use a diffrent name in each method you need to make a logger for ech method.
log = log4net.LogManager.GetLogger(MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType) ' -> This always logs 'Logger'
log = log4net.LogManager.GetLogger(MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().Name) ' -> This gives you the name of the current method
log = log4net.LogManager.GetLogger(Assembly.GetCallingAssembly(), "MyLogger") ' -> This always logs 'MyLogger'
Creating the logger inside your method like:
ILog log = log4net.LogManager.GetLogger(MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().Name) ' -> This gives you the name of the current method
You will have a logger with the name of the method, I would add the name of the class either:
ILog log = log4net.LogManager.GetLogger(MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType + "." + MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().Name) ' -> This gives you the name of the current method

Looking for a "Hello World WCF without SVCUtil" working solution project to download, preferably in VB.NET

Can someone point me to a sample solution that I can download? I am having trouble trying to find one.
Create a class library, MyInterfaces, that houses just your interfaces:
Imports System.Runtime.Serialization
Imports System.ServiceModel
' NOTE: You can use the "Rename" command on the context menu to change the interface name "IService" in both code and config file together.
<ServiceContract()>
Public Interface IService
<OperationContract()>
Function GetData(ByVal value As Integer) As String
<OperationContract()>
Function GetDataUsingDataContract(ByVal composite As CompositeType) As CompositeType
<OperationContract()>
Function GetCustomer() As Customer
' TODO: Add your service operations here
End Interface
' Use a data contract as illustrated in the sample below to add composite types to service operations.
Public Class Customer
<DataMember()>
Public Property Name() As String
<DataMember()>
Public Property Age() As Integer
End Class
<DataContract()>
Public Class CompositeType
<DataMember()>
Public Property BoolValue() As Boolean
<DataMember()>
Public Property StringValue() As String
End Class
Add a Web Service Library project. Set a reference to the above project that contains the above Interfaces. Add the following code to this project:
Imports MyInterfaces
' NOTE: You can use the "Rename" command on the context menu to change the class name "Service" in code, svc and config file together.
Public Class Service
Implements IService
Public Function GetData(ByVal value As Integer) As String Implements IService.GetData
Return String.Format("You entered: {0}", value)
End Function
Public Function GetDataUsingDataContract(ByVal composite As CompositeType) As CompositeType Implements IService.GetDataUsingDataContract
If composite Is Nothing Then
Throw New ArgumentNullException("composite")
End If
If composite.BoolValue Then
composite.StringValue &= "Suffix"
End If
Return composite
End Function
Public Function GetCustomer() As MyInterfaces.Customer Implements MyInterfaces.IService.GetCustomer
Dim x As New Customer
x.Age = 15
x.Name = "Chad"
Return x
End Function
End Class
Add a 3rd project, a client app which will consume the Service. I'll make mine a WinForm app. Have this project also reference the Interface projrect. Add this code:
Imports System.ServiceModel
Imports MyInterfaces
Public Class Form1
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Dim endPoint As New EndpointAddress("http://localhost:9496/WCFService4/Service.svc")
Dim binding As New BasicHttpBinding()
Dim proxy As IService = ChannelFactory(Of IService).CreateChannel(binding, endPoint)
Dim getDateResult As String = proxy.GetData(3)
Dim myCompositeType As New MyInterfaces.CompositeType
myCompositeType.BoolValue = True
myCompositeType.StringValue = "ok"
Dim result As MyInterfaces.CompositeType = proxy.GetDataUsingDataContract(myCompositeType)
MessageBox.Show(result.StringValue)
End Sub
This is just a quick and dirty example. My goal was to get rid of the generated proxy object that you normally get when you use the Add Service Wizard. I suppose that end point should come from a config file, though I am not sure how to dynamically determine what the port will be when debugging under VS' web server.
Dim endPoint As New EndpointAddress("http://localhost:9496/WCFService4/Service.svc")
The one thing that I don't like about this is that the objects I pass, eg, a Customer object, which represent a potential Business Object, seem to require that they have a default parameterless constructor. I prefer to have constructors to ensure that my object was properly initialized wherever it may have been used.

How can I have a dynamic URL in generic class

I need to have a dynamic URL preferably from a Test Class. Can any one help me in formatting this design pattern to handle dynamic links from tests. instead of a constant HomePageURL.
Namespace TestDesign
Public Class HomePage
Inherits IE
Public Const HomePageURL As String = "testlink"
Public Sub New()
MyBase.New(HomePageURL)
End Sub
Public Sub New(ByVal instance As IE)
MyBase.New(instance.InternetExplorer)
End Sub
Public ReadOnly Property UserIDField() As TextField
Get
Return TextField(Find.ById(New Regex("txtuserName")))
End Get
End Property
Public ReadOnly Property PasswordField() As TextField
Get
Return TextField(Find.ById(New Regex("txtPassword")))
End Get
End Property
Public ReadOnly Property ContinueButton() As Button
Get
Return Button(Find.ById(New Regex("Submit")))
End Get
End Property
Public ReadOnly Property LogoutLink() As Link
Get
Return Link(Find.ById(New Regex("lnkLogout")))
End Get
End Property
Friend Sub Login(ByVal username As String, ByVal password As String)
UserIDField.TypeText(username)
PasswordField.TypeText(password)
ContinueButton.Click()
End Sub
Friend Sub Logout()
LogoutLink.Click()
End Sub
End Class
End Namespace
How I would approach this is to put the base url into the applicaiton config and then build a URLs class to construct them here is an example:
In app config
<appSettings>
<add key="TestServerUri" value="http://www.apple.com"/>
</appSettings>
in class file
public static Uri AppleHome
{
get
{
return new Uri(ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["TestServerUri"]);
}
}
public static Uri Iphone = new Uri(AppleHome, #"/iphone/");