How to Open console in VB - vb.net

Question

I currently have a console application by using the setting illustrated in the image bellow. However Now I wish to open multiple forms with the console so I'm wondering if I can somehow open multiple forms or open the console within a Windows Forms Application

Answer 1

#tinstaafl can you share this extra programming or a link to a
solution. Thanks
Here's a couple of links:
Console and WinForm together for easy debugging
Console Enhancements
Here's a conversion of the first one. You'll need a form with a checkbox name "CheckBox1":
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Public Class Form1
Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
End Sub
Private Sub CheckBox1_CheckedChanged(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles CheckBox1.CheckedChanged
If CheckBox1.Checked Then
Win32.AllocConsole()
Console.WriteLine("Done!")
Else
Win32.FreeConsole()
End If
End Sub
End Class
Public Class Win32
<DllImport("kernel32.dll")> Public Shared Function AllocConsole() As Boolean
End Function
<DllImport("kernel32.dll")> Public Shared Function FreeConsole() As Boolean
End Function
End Class
Everytime you click the checkbox you show or hide the console. You can write to and read from the same as any console app.

Answer 2

Forms and Console applications are very different. So much so that generally speaking a process either needs to be a form or console application. Forms applications are implemented with a message pump and console applications are command line drive. It is possible to a degree to run a form within a console, and vice versa, but generally not recommended. If you truly need both I would highly encourage you to use 2 processes.
If you could elaborate a bit more on your use case we may be better able to help you out.

Answer 3

So this is very cool. In the designer just add a checkbox using the Toolbox common controls.
Then double click on the new "CheckBox1" and that will automatically insert this sub routine:
Private Sub CheckBox1_CheckedChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles CheckBox1.CheckedChanged
End Sub
Then all you have to do is add this code:
If CheckBox1.Checked Then
Win32.AllocConsole()
Console.WriteLine("Done!")
Else
Win32.FreeConsole()
End If
When you run your windows form program and check the box it will automatically open the window and KEEP it open until you uncheck the box.
Add this class to the bottom of your program:
Public Class Win32
<DllImport("kernel32.dll")> Public Shared Function AllocConsole() As Boolean
End Function
<DllImport("kernel32.dll")> Public Shared Function FreeConsole() As Boolean
End Function
End Class
And be sure to add the Imports statement at the top
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices

Answer 4

If you want to open a console window to interact with and when you close the console, that action won't terminate your windows program then you can add these two lines of code:
Dim myProcess As Process
myProcess = Process.Start("cmd.exe")