I'm new to VB and I'm hoping someone can help with the first major problem I've encountered.
I've created a form, which:
Allows me to specify a SearchString in a text box
To specify a FolderPath using FolderBrowserDialog in a text box
Pass the values in the text boxes as variables
Return all files in the FolderPath, containing the SearchString, with wildcards, to a ListBox when a button is clicked.
The code behind the button is as follows:
Private Sub ListButton_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles ListButton.Click
Dim fls
Dim FolderPath As String
Dim SearchString As String
FolderPath = FolderPathBox.Text
SearchString = SearchStringBox.Text
fls = My.Computer.FileSystem.GetFiles(FolderPath,"*" & SearchString & "*")
For Each f As String In fls
MatchingFilesBox.Items.Add(f)
Next
End Sub
However, after populating the SearchString and FolderPath text boxes with the following values respectively:
(1)
C:\Backup\Files
and clicking the button, the following error is returned:
Additional information: Conversion from string "* (1)*" to type 'Integer' is not valid.
The same error is displayed even if I do not specify a number e.g. "an" and I've not specifically configured any text boxes or classes or variables as data type integer.
I've simplified the code by removing the variables and wildcards from the equation and hard coding the path and a file name:
'fls = My.Computer.FileSystem.GetFiles(FolderPath,"*" & SearchString & "*")
fls = My.Computer.FileSystem.GetFiles("C:\Backup\Files", "abandoning.docx")
But the same error on converting to data type integer is displayed:
Additional information: Conversion from string "abandoning.docx" to type 'Integer' is not valid.
I'm flummoxed as to why or how an integer is being passed or retrieved in the file path. I've searched for answers to the error, but the articles I've read relate to number values, while mine doesn't; or to empty textboxes, which I believe I've eliminated; or use Replace, which I'm not.
Can anyone offer any guidance on overcoming this issue, so I can return all files in a folder containing a specific string in the filename?
You are passing in the incorrect number of parameters. The second parameter is supposed to be an enumeration of which is always a number. The last parameter is your wild card which can be a string. Try this:
fls = My.Computer.FileSystem.GetFiles("C:\Backup\Files", SearchOption.SearchTopLevelOnly "*.docx")
Look here for the reference as to what you are to pass in to the GetFiles() function:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/t71ykwhb(v=vs.90).aspx
Related
Why does a string variable need to be enclosed in a cStr() conversion to be used as a key string for the CreateObject("WScript.Shell").SpecialFolders collection?
Demonstration of this absurdity(?):
Sub sdfgdfsg()
Const strCon_SpecialFolderName As String = "MyDocuments"
Dim strVar_SpecialFolderName As String
strVar_SpecialFolderName = "MyDocuments"
Debug.Print CreateObject("WScript.Shell").SpecialFolders(strCon_SpecialFolderName) ' CORRECT
Debug.Print CreateObject("WScript.Shell").SpecialFolders(strVar_SpecialFolderName) ' WRONG! (it returns the Desktop path instead)
Debug.Print CreateObject("WScript.Shell").SpecialFolders(CStr(strVar_SpecialFolderName)) ' CORRECT
Debug.Print CreateObject("WScript.Shell").SpecialFolders("MyDocuments") ' CORRECT
End Sub
I read the documentation about the index argument for a collection without finding an answer.
The WScript library was designed to be used from scripting languages such as VBScript which use Variants. The SpecialFolders.Item that you are calling expects a Variant containing a string, too.
The result you are seeing appears to come from the fact that the library is not able to read the Variant-wrapped string value VB passes, and does something wrong instead. You can achieve the same result with
Dim strVar_SpecialFolderName As String
strVar_SpecialFolderName = vbNullString
'Returns C:\Users\Public\Desktop
Debug.Print CreateObject("WScript.Shell").SpecialFolders(strVar_SpecialFolderName)
For reasons I don't fully understand, there sometimes is a problem with passing Variant-wrapped data from VBA to an external object. I speculate that it may have something to do with the presence or absence of the VT_BYREF flag in the Variant that VB(A) produces, and it produces it differently for constants, local variables and temporaries.
I believe this to be a problem on the receiving side, not in VBA.
Workarounds include:
Declaring the variable as Variant to begin with:
Dim strVar_SpecialFolderName As Variant
strVar_SpecialFolderName = "MyDocuments"
Debug.Print CreateObject("WScript.Shell").SpecialFolders(strVar_SpecialFolderName)
Forcing an evaluation which turns the local variable into a temporary (that is what your CStr does, too) which apparently changes how VB packs it into a Variant:
Dim strVar_SpecialFolderName As String
strVar_SpecialFolderName = "MyDocuments"
Debug.Print CreateObject("WScript.Shell").SpecialFolders((strVar_SpecialFolderName))
I have a VB.NET solution that stores data to a SQL database. I have written the first of several SSRS reports. Now I want to generate the reports from my VB.NET solution.
I have a subroutine that will generate the report,
Public Shared Sub GenerateReport(ByVal RptName As String, ByVal ParamArray Params() As Object)
Dim strPath As String = sqlSSRS + Replace(RptName, " ", "%20")
Dim _class As cParameters
'strPath += "&rc:Parameters=false&rs:Command=Render"
'strPath += "&rs:Command=Render"
For i As Integer = 0 To UBound(Params)
_class = DirectCast(Params(i), cParameters)
strPath += "&" & _class.ParamName & "=" & _class.Value
Next
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(strPath)
End Sub
If I generate a path with no parameters the report will open in the default browser. So this works...
http://sqlServerName:80/Reports/report/ToolCrib/Toolbox%20by%20Installer
But neither this ...
http://sqlServerName:80/Reports/report/ToolCrib/Toolbox%20by%20Installer&#UserID=7&#ProjectID=20026&#ToolboxID=10&#ToolStatus=2
or this
http://sqlServerName:80/Reports/report/ToolCrib/Toolbox%20by%20Installer&UserID=7&ProjectID=20026&ToolboxID=10&ToolStatus=2
does.
I obviously have an issue passing parameters. In one case I don't need them but in other cases I want to provide them, which is why I wrote the GenerateReport routine with the optional Parameter array. Here is the error message I get which I know from past experience is sort of a catch all when MS doesn't "know" how else to classify an SSRS error.
The path of the item '/ToolCrib/Toolbox by Installer&UserID=7&ProjectID=20026&ToolboxID=10&ToolStatus=2' is not valid. The full path must be less than 260 characters long; other restrictions apply. If the report server is in native mode, the path must start with slash. (rsInvalidItemPath)
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
You path needs to use reportserver? instead of Reports/report when using parameters.
Try
http://sqlServerName:80/reportserver?/ToolCrib/Toolbox%20by%20Installer&UserID=7&ProjectID=20026&ToolboxID=10&ToolStatus=2
You could add a REPLACE:
strPath = Replace(strPath, "/Reports/report/", "/reportserver?/")
For more reading, you can check out
MS Docs url-access-parameter-reference
I'm working on a project that requires I iterate through a list of controls on a tabpage to find all of the checkboxes. Then depending on the state of the box (checked or unchecked) select individual variables (filenames) to then perform either a batch rename or delete of files on the filesystem (cb.checked = perform action).
I have managed to create the "for each" for the iteration of the controls (thanks google) but I'm struggling to figure out how to pick the variables. They are all named differently, obviously, as are the checkboxes. Also the checkboxes are statically assigned to the form/tabpage. Here's what I have at the moment.
Public Sub delBut_code(ByRef fname As String)
If (Sanity = 1) Then
For Each cb As Control In Form1.Controls
If TypeOf cb Is CheckBox AndAlso DirectCast(cb,
CheckBox).Checked Then
If My.Computer.FileSystem.FileExists(fname) Then
My.Computer.FileSystem.DeleteFile(fname)
End If
End If
Next
MessageBox.Show("All Actions Completed Successfully")
Else
MessageBox.Show("Please select a File To Delete")
End If
End Sub
and here is an example of some of the variables:
Dim castle As String = selPath & "\zm_castle_loadingmovie.txt"
Dim factory As String = selPath &
"\zm_factory_load_factoryloadingmovie.txt"
Dim island As String = selPath & "\zm_island_loadingmovie.txt"
N.B selpath collects a user entered folder path and can be ignored here
I would really appreciate any pointers.
First, you can do much better with the loop:
Public Sub delBut_code(ByRef fname As String)
If Sanity <> 1 Then
MessageBox.Show("Please select a File To Delete")
Exit Sub
End If
Dim checked = Form1.Controls.OfType(Of CheckBox)().Where(Function(c) c.Checked)
For Each box As CheckBox in checked
Try
'A file not existing is only one reason among many this could fail,
' so it needs to be in a Try/Catch block.
' And once you're using a Try/Catch block anyway,
' the FileExists() check becomes a slow and unnecessary extra trip to the disk.
My.Computer.FileSystem.DeleteFile(fname)
Catch
'Do something here to let the user know it failed for this file
End Try
Next
MessageBox.Show("All Actions Completed")
End Sub
But now you need to know how have the right value in that fname variable. There's not enough information in the question for us to fully answer this, but we can give some suggestions. There a number of ways you could do this:
Set the Tag property in the Checkboxes when you build the string variables. Then fname becomes DirectCast(box.Tag, String).
Inherit a custom control from CheckBox to use instead of a normal Checkbox that has an additional String property for the file name. Set this property when you build the string variables.
Name your string variables in a way that you can derive the string variable name from the CheckBox variable name, and then use a Switch to pick the right string variable from each box.Name.
Keep a Dictionary(Of CheckBox, String) that maps the Checkboxes to the right string values.
But without knowing more context of the application, I hesitate to recommend any of these over the others as best for your situation.
I am making a small "home" application using VB. As the title says, I want to grab a part of text from a local html file and use it as variable, or put it in a textbox.
I have tried something like this...
Private Sub Open_Button_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Open_Button.Click
Dim openFileDialog As New OpenFileDialog()
openFileDialog.CheckFileExists = True
openFileDialog.CheckPathExists = True
openFileDialog.FileName = ""
openFileDialog.Filter = "All|*.*"
openFileDialog.Multiselect = False
openFileDialog.Title = "Open"
If openFileDialog.ShowDialog = Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK Then
Dim fileReader As String = My.Computer.FileSystem.ReadAllText(openFileDialog1.FileName)
TextBox.Text = fileReader
End If
End Sub
The result is to load the whole html code inside this textbox. What should I do so to grab a specific part of html files's code? Let's say I want to grab only the word text from this span...<span id="something">This is a text!!!</a>
I make the following assumptions on this answer.
Your html is valid - i.e. the id is completely unique in the document.
You will always have an id on your html tag
You'll always be using the same tag (e.g. span)
I'd do something like this:
' get the html document
Dim fileReader As String = My.Computer.FileSystem.ReadAllText(openFileDialog1.FileName)
' split the html text based on the span element
Dim fileSplit as string() = fileReader.Split(New String () {"<span id=""something"">"}, StringSplitOptions.None)
' get the last part of the text
fileReader = fileSplit.last
' we now need to trim everything after the close tag
fileSplit = fileReader.Split(New String () {"</span>"}, StringSplitOptions.None)
' get the first part of the text
fileReader = fileSplit.first
' the fileReader variable should now contain the contents of the span tag with id "something"
Note: this code is untested and I've typed it on the stack exchange mobile app, so there might be some auto correct typos in it.
You might want to add in some error validation such as making sure that the span element only occurs once, etc.
Using an HTML parser is highly recommended due to the HTML language's many nested tags (see this question for example).
However, finding the contents of a single tag using Regex is possible with no bigger problems if the HTML is formatted correctly.
This would be what you need (the function is case-insensitive):
Public Function FindTextInSpan(ByVal HTML As String, ByVal SpanId As String, ByVal LookFor As String) As String
Dim m As Match = Regex.Match(HTML, "(?<=<span.+id=""" & SpanId & """.*>.*)" & LookFor & "(?=.*<\/span>)", RegexOptions.IgnoreCase)
Return If(m IsNot Nothing, m.Value, "")
End Function
The parameters of the function are:
HTML: The HTML code as string.
SpanId: The id of the span (ex. <span id="hello"> - hello is the id)
LookFor: What text to look for inside the span.
Online test: http://ideone.com/luGw1V
I'm having a problem where instead of reading a text file from the location string, I changed it to read the text file from the resource location and it breaks my program. I've also used the insert snippet method to get most of this code, so it is safe to say I don't know what is going on. Could some one please help?
'reads the text out of a delimited text file and puts the words and hints into to separate arrays
' this works and made the program run
' Dim filename As String = Application.StartupPath + "\ProggramingList.txt"
'this dosnt work and brings back a Illegal characters in path error.
dim filename as string = My.Resources.ProggramingList
Dim fields As String()
'my text files are delimited
Dim delimiter As String = ","
Using parser As New TextFieldParser(filename)
parser.SetDelimiters(delimiter)
While Not parser.EndOfData
' Read in the fields for the current line
fields = parser.ReadFields()
' Add code here to use data in fields variable.
'put the result into two arrays (the fields are the arrays im talking about). one holds the words, and one holds the corresponding hint
Programingwords(counter) = Strings.UCase(fields(0))
counter += 1
'this is where the hint is at
Programingwords(counter) = (fields(1))
counter += 1
End While
End Using
the error
ex.ToString()
"System.ArgumentException: Illegal characters in path.
at System.IO.Path.CheckInvalidPathChars(String path)
at System.IO.Path.NormalizePathFast(String path, Boolean fullCheck)
at System.IO.Path.NormalizePath(String path, Boolean fullCheck)
at System.IO.Path.GetFullPathInternal(String path)
at System.IO.Path.GetFullPath(String path)
at Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.FileSystem.NormalizePath(String Path)
at Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.TextFieldParser.ValidatePath(String path)
at Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.TextFieldParser.InitializeFromPath(String path, Encoding defaultEncoding, Boolean detectEncoding)
at Microsoft.VisualBasic.FileIO.TextFieldParser..ctor(String path)
at HangMan.Form1.GetWords() in I:\vb\HangMan\HangMan\Form1.vb:line 274" String
The TextFieldParser constructor you use expects the name of a file. Instead, it gets the contents of the file. That goes Kaboom, the file content is not a valid path to a file. You'll need to the constructor that takes a Stream and use the StringReader class to provide the stream. For example:
Dim fields As String()
Dim delimiter As String = ","
Dim fileContent As String = My.Resources.ProggramingList
Dim stringStream as New System.IO.StringReader(fileContent)
Using parser As New TextFieldParser(stringStream)
REM etc...
End Using
This is a bit wasteful of memory but not an issue if the text is less than a megabyte or so. If it is more then you shouldn't put it in a resource.
When you debug this code, what is the value of the variable filename after you read it from My.Resources.GamesList? Is it a valid string, does it point to you're file?