How can I save the textbox content to the application itself? - vb.net

Simply put, for example, I want to save content of a textbox to the application itself.
I tried "My.Settings" but type of settings must be "user-scoped" & settings(string content of textbox) extracting to %appdata% folder(user.config).
I want store the data(confidential text) on the application without extracting it to anywhere.
On the other hand "application-scoped" settings are "Read-Only" and values of settings can not be change while type of settings "application-scoped". I want settings(string content of textbox) always changeable by the user of app.
TextFile in Resources is also read-only...I have to extract TextFile for changing the content of TextFile.
How can i do that?

You can use My.Computer.Filesystem.WriteAllText() & My.Computer.Filesystem.ReadAllText() to write/read files. And there's no better way.
But yeah, you can achieve your requirement by saving the data into Registry, i.e. if you want to save your any text data which is accessible anywhere from the device, it could really be helpful.
Note that your application will require to be ran as administrator for saving/reading registry values.
To save registry value:
My.Computer.Registry.SetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\something", "ValueName", "Value")
To access it:
My.Computer.Registry.GetValue("Same Location", "Same ValueName", Nothing) ' Note that "Nothing" is returned when value doesn't exists.
Hope it helps.

Related

How to change the image displayed on a button at runtime in Visual Basic?

I am trying to change the Image attribute associated with a button when the button is clicked.
I have added the image I want to display (called "Black Pawn.png") as a resource within the solution and (from searching around and looking at similar questions) am trying to set the image attribute to it as shown below:
Private Sub boardButtonA2_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles boardButtonA2.Click
Dim sprites As Object = My.Resources.ResourceManager
boardButtonA2.Image = sprites.GetObject("Black Pawn.png")
End Sub
But when I click the button, the default image on it just disappears and is replaced with nothing instead of Black Pawn.png.
I am pretty new to using Visual Basic and Visual Studio so I may have failed to have added the image as a resource properly but I can see the image in the Solution Explorer above the form the button is in.
Any help or advice would be a great help.
Thanks.
EDIT:
Having thought more about the potential scenario, I'm wondering whether this answer is actually relevant. Your example code uses a hard-coded String but I'm wondering whether the actual String really would be a user selection. I'll leave it here anyway.
ORIGINAL:
There's no reason to use a hard-coded String to get a resource. If the String was from user entry then maybe, depending on the circumstances. As it is though, you should be using the dedicated property for that resource. That means using this:
boardButtonA2.Image = My.Resources.Black_Pawn
Just be aware that a new object is created every time you get a resource from My.Resources. For that reason, don't keep getting the same property over and over. If you need to use a resource multiple times, get it once and assign it to a field, then use that field multiple times, e.g.
Private blackPawnImage As Image
Private Function GetBlackPawnImage() As Image
If blackPawnImage Is Nothing Then
blackPawnImage = My.Resources.Black_Pawn
End If
Return blackPawnImage
End Function
and then:
boardButtonA2.Image = GetBlackPawnImage()
Also, I suggest that you change the name of the property to BlackPawn rather than Black_Pawn. You can change it to whatever you want on the Resources page of the project properties.
EDIT:
If this application is a chess game then you definitely will need every resource image for the playing pieces so you probably ought to get all of them at load and assign them to variables, then use them from those variables over the course of the game.
(I am assuming the question is for WinForms, if it isn't I will remove this answer)
When adding images as resources to a project, you have to pay attention to the name given to the resource after it is imported - the name can be changed if you want.
The image below is from one of my projects:
The name of the files on disk are:
CSV - Excel.png
GreenDot.png
RedDot.png
To fix your problem change the line:
boardButtonA2.Image = sprites.GetObject("Black Pawn.png")
to be:
boardButtonA2.Image = sprites.GetObject("Black_Pawn")
I don't think adding the image by going into Project > Add Existing Item properly added the image as a resource.
I instead went into *Project > (Solution Name) Properties > Resources > Images > Add Existing Item * and added it that way and was then able to get it working using jmcilhinney's method (I think my original method/a variation of it would work too but theirs is better).

Visual Basic application store Settings in different paths

need to ask, I have simple app, which had one textbox and one button. When I type something to that textbox and push that button, it saves to my Settings...
see:
Dim Settings As New My.MySettings
Settings.something = TextBox2.Text
Settings.Save()
MessageBox.Show(Settings.something.ToString)
Everything works great, but when I build it and run for example from my desktop path, Enter number save it and close it. When I make a copy of this file to my documents path and open it, nothing loaded, but when I start it from the place where I last save it, it loads properly.
In the short description:
If I run app on my Desktop path and make a save, when I close the app and copy this file (.exe) to another path, I need to load previous saved data from Desktop path, or other different location.
Save in path A, copy it from and open anywhere in path B, C, D... etc.
Is it possible, if yes, how can I do that?
Thanks!
You may be looking for something like the 'SaveSetting" method
SaveSetting("MyApp", "Form1", "Text", "ValueToSave")
The first, second and third parameters indicate a "Path" where your value will be saved, and the fourth is the value itself.
Then, you can load the saved value using the following method:
MyText = GetSetting("MyApp", "Form1", "Text", "DefaultValue")
Note that the first three parameters must be the same as used on the save method, and the fourth is the default value, in case no previous data has been saved.

Visual Basic 2010 - How to append certain areas of a text document using data collected in a form

I routinely reuse code for Cisco routers / switches and some web accelerators. I usually have to open the text document, edit a few IPs, host names, license keys etc. The remaining 98% of the text document stays the same. My end goal is to develop a program in Visual Basic (or whatever anyone can recommend would accomplish this easier) that will allow me to generate a text document with their data in the right place.
I have been able to develop a GUI form, it looks exactly how I want. I have a box to enter their hostname, classification, IP address etc; now, when I press the "Generate" button at the bottom, I want a new text document on the desktop. When you open the txt, all of their data has been appended to the document in the exact places it should be and all of my original text is still there, just the specific parts have been changed.
I've got the gui, just dont know where to add my existing code and how to make the different objects change their respective parts.
Hopefully this all makes sense. Thank you in advance, I really appreciate it.
Josh
Here is a quick and dirty example of my comment, using String.Replace to replace the placeholders. See if this helps you.
Imports System.IO
Public Class Form1
Private Sub generate_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles generate.Click
Dim temp As String = System.IO.File.ReadAllText("C:\temp\template.txt")
temp = temp.Replace("##placeHolder1##", TextBox1.Text) _
.Replace("##placeHolder2##", TextBox2.Text) _
.Replace("##placeHolder3##", TextBox3.Text)
File.WriteAllText(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Desktop) & "\custom.txt", temp)
End Sub
End Class
To answer your question about embedding the file into the application. Yes it is possible just go to Project --> Properties --> Resources click Add Resource and select Add Existing File (Just make sure that your template has a .txt file extension, you can rename it to what you want when you save the file), then when you go to your solution explorer you will see a directory called Resources with template.txt in it. right click on it and select properties then select the Build Action Property to Embedded Resource this will embed the file into the program. You will then be able to access the template like this.
Dim temp As String = My.Resources.template

MS Word ActiveX Textbox Spell Check

I am working on a MS Word form for a client where they want the ability to count the number of words, check spelling, have a character limit, and have the rest of the form locked down so that the end user cannot change anything they are not supposed to. I have attempted to convince them that word count and character limit are redundant if we have proper instructions, however, this is what they want. They also want the form to be able to "work" even if the user does not enable macros, meaning, they want it locked and a character limit first and foremost.
I know that if we just rich text content controls and put the form into a group spell check and word count word while also "locking" the remainder of the form, except user content controls do not allow for character limits and using legacy/activex controls in a grouped form locks those controls as well.
So, for now, I have settled on using the ActiveX Textbox (this is negotiable if I have a reason to use the legacy textbox) and have achieved the minimum "workability" (if that's even a word). The only way I have figured out to check the spelling is below:
Sub chkSpelling()
Activedocument.Tables(1).Rows(26).Cells(1).Range.Text = txtRole.Text
Activedocument.Tables(1).Rows(26).Cells(1).Range.checkSpelling
txtRole.Text = Activedocument.Tables(1).Rows(26).Cells(1).Range.Text
'... so on and so forth throughout each text box
End Sub
The issue is that this is not good enough for my standards. Printing the text of each textbox (up to 1700 characters) at the bottom of the screen each time I need to check the Spelling is unacceptable. Does anyone else have any ideas?
Thank you for your assistance.
Answer with help from #bibadia
Dim doc As Document
Set doc = Documents.Add(, , wdNewBlankDocument, False)
doc.Paragraphs(1).Range.Text = txtRole.Text
doc.Paragraphs(1).Range.CheckSpelling
txtRole.Text = Replace(doc.Paragraphs(1).Range.Text, Chr(13), "")
Use CreateObject to create a new word instance
Ensure .Visible = False (I think that is the default)
Create a new document in that instance.
Copy the text to be checked into that
Spell check.
Remove the document and the Word instance.
If I understand your question correctly then,
I need to check the Spelling is unacceptable. Does anyone else have any ideas?
If text boxes are named with numbers, you might be able to use loop, and save your coding lines with time.
want the form to be able to "work" even if the user does not enable macros
If user did not enable macros, he would not be able to see form (is it User Form, you want to say) and no background macro code would run. (Tested on Ms-Excel 2007), ultimately failing all.
regarding text box control on user form
yes that can be set to character limit from properties menu, and spell check can be done using your method.
Set range2 = Documents("MyDocument.doc").Sections(2).Range
range2.CheckSpelling IgnoreUpperCase:=False, _
CustomDictionary:="MyWork.Dic", _
CustomDictionary2:="MyTechnical.Dic"

creating fields in lotus notes document?

I am trying to export items from my access database into lotus notes. The document I am trying to export to is a stationary, and has all the data written into it, I just need to somehow mark placeholders and then update the values. I have read the documentation and it appears I will need to address fields and then call a method to replace the text like so:
'where body is the field and the following string is what to replace field with
Call doc.ReplaceItemValue("body", "REPLACE BODY")
To be clear, my entire code looks like:
Set session = CreateObject("Notes.NotesSession")
Set maildb = session.GetDatabase("server", "mail\box.nsf")
Set View = maildb.GetView("Stationery")
Set entries = View.AllEntries
Set entry = entries.GetFirstEntry
Set doc = entry.Document
Call doc.ReplaceItemValue("Subject", "Report - " & Date)
'add code here
Call doc.send(False, "person.to.receive#thisemail.com")
End Sub
I have noticed that while perusing documentation, there seems to be an ability to create fields, and then address those fields to update values. So for example, if I have a field named $COST, then one could do:
Call doc.ReplaceItemValue("$COST", "The cost is $3000")
And that field should be updated to reflect the value I passed through the method. My big problem is, even looking through documentation, I cannot figure out where I need to go to add in my custom fields. It seems that the documentation assumes that you know how to create these fields and just address them. Or am I only supposed to create these fields programatically and then fill in the data? My client is Lotus Notes 8. Thanks!
Yes, that is the cool thing about IBM Lotus Notes databases: you can put items (=fields) in a Notes document without a prior definition of fields.
If you create items in a document with doc.ReplaceItemValue() and save or send the document then the items are just there. You can check the items when you open the property box for a selected document. All items are listed on document properties' second tab.
Another question is of course to define fields in a form so that the created items are visible to user without looking at document properties box. Open database in Designer and put the fields in right position and size to form.
Your question and comments telling that you want to create a document, fill it with data and send it to users.
If all users have access to your Notes server then you can create that document in your existing database and send just a link mail to users. This way you can create a good looking form and position all your data fields. Users will access the document in database through link.
An alternative is to create an nice looking HTML file, attach it to the mail and send it.
In this case you would add this code to your example at 'add code here:
Call doc.RemoveItem("Body")
Set rtitem = doc.CreateRichTextItem( "Body" )
Call rtitem.AppendText("your mail text")
Call rtitem.EmbedObject(EMBED_ATTACHMENT, "", "report.html")
Based on the comment thread on #Knut Herrmann's answer, I believe that the solution you really want involves using "stored form". The first argument to the NotesDocument.Send() method is a boolean that specifies whether you want to store the form or not.
Normally, you would use Domino Designer to create a stored form. You would not need Designer rights to anyone's mailbox. You would just need to create an empty database of your own, and put a form into it. You woould change your code to open that database and create the document in there instead of in a mailbox database as you are doing now. (One of the other cool things about Notes is that you don't actually have to be working in a mailbox database in order to mail a document. You can mail any document from any database, as long as you put the approporiate fields into it.)
There is also a way to do this without Domino Designer, and you could even dynamically generate the form with truly custom fields that your code only discovers as it runs. You could do this with DXL, which is an XML format for describing Lotus Notes objects, including forms. You would just need some sample DXL to work from. Preferably that should be of an empty database that contains a simple form that is set up more or less in the layout that you would want, though again you would need Domino Designer for that. You could just use the same mailbox database that your code is currently using, but that will leave you with a lot of extra stuff in the DXL that doesn't need to be there; and given that you're not all that familiar with Notes, it would likely be difficult for you to navigate through it all to find what you need.
Either way, though, you could use the NotesDXLExporter class to generate the DXL file. Your code could manipulate the DXL, adding/changing elements as needed (following the pattern that you see in sample, of course), and they you could use NotesDXLImporter to create the database that your code will actually use to create the document in and mail the message with the stored form.