Convert byte array to string in VB.net - vb.net

Question

I have byte data of .doc, .txt, .docx and I want to convert it to string, I did following things but not getting exact result:
Public ByteData As Byte() = // my data
Dim str As String = String.Empty
str = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetString(objCandidateInfo.ByteData, 0, objCandidateInfo.ByteData.Length)
str = Convert.ToBase64String(objCandidateInfo.ByteData)
Edited
So now I am converting the same using Word Application, this code is working
this is my code
Private Shared ObjwordApp As Word.Application
Private Shared nullobj As Object = System.Reflection.Missing.Value
Private Shared doc As Word.Document
Shared Sub New()
ObjwordApp = New Word.Application()
End Sub
Public Shared Sub InitializeClass()
ObjwordApp.Visible = False
End Sub
Private Shared Sub OpenWordFile(ByVal StrFilePath As Object)
Try
ObjwordApp.Visible = False
Catch ex As Exception
ObjwordApp = New Word.Application()
End Try
Try
doc = ObjwordApp.Documents.Open(StrFilePath, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj)
Catch ex As Exception
CloseWordFile()
ObjwordApp.Visible = False
End Try
End Sub
Private Shared Sub CopyWordContent()
Try
doc.ActiveWindow.Selection.WholeStory()
doc.ActiveWindow.Selection.Copy()
Catch ex As Exception
Clipboard.Clear()
End Try
End Sub
Private Shared Sub CloseWordFile()
Try
doc.Close()
Catch ex As Exception
End Try
End Sub
Public Shared Function ReadWordFile(ByVal StrFilePath As String, ByVal StrDataFormat As String) As String
Dim StrFileContent = String.Empty
If (File.Exists(StrFilePath)) Then
Try
OpenWordFile(StrFilePath)
CopyWordContent()
Catch ex As Exception
Finally
CloseWordFile()
End Try
Try
Dim dataObj As IDataObject = Clipboard.GetDataObject()
If (dataObj.GetDataPresent(StrDataFormat)) Then
StrFileContent = dataObj.GetData(StrDataFormat)
Else
StrFileContent = ""
End If
Clipboard.Clear()
Catch ex As Exception
End Try
End If
Return StrFileContent
End Function
And when I saving the byte array to DB, I call below function and convert it to rtf, it is not converting, when I attach debugger to it dataObj is Nothing
code 1
Dim str As String = String.Empty
Try
'str = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetString(objCandidateInfo.ByteData, 0, objCandidateInfo.ByteData.Length)
'str = Convert.ToBase64String(objCandidateInfo.ByteData)
'str = System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetString(objCandidateInfo.ByteData, 0, objCandidateInfo.ByteData.Length)
str = ClsDocumentManager.ReadContent(objCandidateInfo.ByteData, DataFormats.Rtf)
Catch ex As Exception
End Try
I save data db in both byte and text format, so when I call it from db (byte value that I save and convert it to rtf), its working the code is
Code 2
rtbAttachment.Rtf = ClsDocumentManager.ReadContent(byteAttachment, DataFormats.Rtf)
These are the methods in ClsDocumentManager class
Public Shared Function GetRandomNo() As Integer
Dim RandomNo As New Random()
Return RandomNo.Next(Convert.ToInt32(DateTime.Now().Minute.ToString() & DateTime.Now().Second.ToString() & DateTime.Now().Hour.ToString()))
End Function
Public Shared Function ReadContent(ByVal byteArray As Byte(), ByVal StrReadFormat As String) As String
Dim StrFileContent As String = String.Empty
Try
If (Not IsNothing(byteArray)) Then
Dim StrFileName As String = GetRandomNo().ToString() & ".doc"
StrFileName = ClsSingleton.aTempFolderName & StrFileName
If (CreateWordFile(byteArray, StrFileName)) Then
StrFileContent = ClsWordManager.ReadWordFile(StrFileName, StrReadFormat)
If (File.Exists(StrFileName)) Then
File.Delete(StrFileName)
End If
End If
End If
Catch ex As Exception
End Try
Return StrFileContent
End Function
Public Shared Function CreateWordFile(ByVal byteArray As Byte(), ByVal StrFileName As String) As Boolean
Dim boolResult As Boolean = False
Try
If (Not IsNothing(byteArray)) Then
If (Not File.Exists(StrFileName)) Then
Dim objFileStream As New FileStream(StrFileName, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.Write)
objFileStream.Write(byteArray, 0, byteArray.Length)
objFileStream.Close()
boolResult = True
End If
End If
Catch ex As Exception
boolResult = False
End Try
Return boolResult
End Function
Error Code while debugging
Dim dataObj As IDataObject = Clipboard.GetDataObject()
If (dataObj.GetDataPresent(StrDataFormat)) Then
StrFileContent = dataObj.GetData(StrDataFormat)
Else
StrFileContent = ""
End If
`dataObj` is `Nothing` only when calling from **Code 1**
Updated
**`ClsDocumentManager`**
Imports System.IO
Public Class ClsDocumentManager
Public Shared Function GetRandomNo() As Integer
Dim RandomNo As New Random()
Return RandomNo.Next(Convert.ToInt32(DateTime.Now().Minute.ToString() & DateTime.Now().Second.ToString() & DateTime.Now().Hour.ToString()))
End Function
Public Shared Function ReadContent(ByVal byteArray As Byte(), ByVal StrReadFormat As String) As String
Dim StrFileContent As String = String.Empty
Try
If (Not IsNothing(byteArray)) Then
Dim StrFileName As String = GetRandomNo().ToString() & ".doc"
StrFileName = ClsSingleton.aTempFolderName & StrFileName
If (CreateWordFile(byteArray, StrFileName)) Then
StrFileContent = ClsWordManager.ReadWordFile(StrFileName, StrReadFormat)
If (File.Exists(StrFileName)) Then
File.Delete(StrFileName)
End If
End If
End If
Catch ex As Exception
End Try
Return StrFileContent
End Function
Public Shared Function CreateWordFile(ByVal byteArray As Byte(), ByVal StrFileName As String) As Boolean
Dim boolResult As Boolean = False
Try
If (Not IsNothing(byteArray)) Then
If (Not File.Exists(StrFileName)) Then
Dim objFileStream As New FileStream(StrFileName, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.Write)
objFileStream.Write(byteArray, 0, byteArray.Length)
objFileStream.Close()
boolResult = True
End If
End If
Catch ex As Exception
boolResult = False
End Try
Return boolResult
End Function
End Class
Here is my ClsWordManager Class
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Text
Public Class ClsWordManager
Private Shared ObjwordApp As Word.Application
Private Shared nullobj As Object = System.Reflection.Missing.Value
Private Shared doc As Word.Document
Shared Sub New()
ObjwordApp = New Word.Application()
End Sub
Public Shared Sub InitializeClass()
ObjwordApp.Visible = False
End Sub
Private Shared Sub OpenWordFile(ByVal StrFilePath As Object)
Try
ObjwordApp.Visible = False
Catch ex As Exception
ObjwordApp = New Word.Application()
End Try
Try
doc = ObjwordApp.Documents.Open(StrFilePath, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj, nullobj)
Catch ex As Exception
CloseWordFile()
ObjwordApp.Visible = False
End Try
End Sub
Private Shared Sub CopyWordContent()
Try
doc.ActiveWindow.Selection.WholeStory()
doc.ActiveWindow.Selection.Copy()
Catch ex As Exception
Clipboard.Clear()
End Try
End Sub
Private Shared Sub CloseWordFile()
Try
doc.Close()
Catch ex As Exception
End Try
End Sub
Public Shared Function ReadWordFile(ByVal StrFilePath As String, ByVal StrDataFormat As String) As String
Dim StrFileContent = String.Empty
If (File.Exists(StrFilePath)) Then
Try
OpenWordFile(StrFilePath)
CopyWordContent()
Catch ex As Exception
Finally
CloseWordFile()
End Try
Try
Dim dataObj As IDataObject = Clipboard.GetDataObject()
If (dataObj.GetDataPresent(StrDataFormat)) Then
StrFileContent = dataObj.GetData(StrDataFormat)
Else
StrFileContent = ""
End If
Clipboard.Clear()
Catch ex As Exception
End Try
End If
Return StrFileContent
End Function
End Class
So now the problem is When I convert it in following code : look at ByteAttachmets in arguement, it convert byte to string
Public Function UpdateCandidateAttachment(ByVal CandidateID As Integer, ByVal ByteAttachmets As Byte(), ByVal StrExtension As String) As Integer
Dim Result As Integer = -1
Try
Dim objDataLayer As New ClsDataLayer()
Dim str As String = Nothing
Try
'str = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetString(objCandidateInfo.ByteData, 0, objCandidateInfo.ByteData.Length)
'str = Convert.ToBase64String(objCandidateInfo.ByteData)
'str = System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetString(objCandidateInfo.ByteData, 0, objCandidateInfo.ByteData.Length)
str = ClsDocumentManager.ReadContent(ByteAttachmets, DataFormats.Rtf)
Catch ex As Exception
End Try
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#CANDIDATE_ID", CandidateID)
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#ATTACHMENT_DATA", ByteAttachmets)
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#CREATED_BY", ClsCommons.IntUserId)
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#EXTENSION", StrExtension)
Result = objDataLayer.ExecuteNonQuery("TR_PROC_UpdateCandidateAttachment")
Catch ex As Exception
MsgBox(ex.Message)
End Try
Return Result
End Function
And when I call it from following code by property : look at objCandidateInfo.ByteData, it is not working.
Public Function AddUpdateCandidate(ByVal objCandidateInfo As ClsCandidateInfo) As Integer
Dim Result As Integer = -1
Try
If (ClsCommons.IsValidEmail(objCandidateInfo.StrEmail)) Then
Dim str As String = Nothing
Try
'str = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetString(objCandidateInfo.ByteData, 0, objCandidateInfo.ByteData.Length)
'str = Convert.ToBase64String(objCandidateInfo.ByteData)
'str = System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetString(objCandidateInfo.ByteData, 0, objCandidateInfo.ByteData.Length)
Dim byteAttachment As Byte() = objCandidateInfo.ByteData
str = ClsDocumentManager.ReadContent(byteAttachment, DataFormats.Rtf)
Catch ex As Exception
End Try
Dim objDataLayer As New ClsDataLayer()
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#REQUIREMENT_ID", objCandidateInfo.RequirementId)
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Candidate_Name", objCandidateInfo.StrCandidateName)
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Current_Organization", objCandidateInfo.StrCurrentCompany)
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Current_Designation", objCandidateInfo.StrCurrentDesignation)
If (objCandidateInfo.StrExp.Trim() = "") Then
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Overall_Exp", DBNull.Value)
Else
Dim DecExp As Decimal = -1
If (Decimal.TryParse(objCandidateInfo.StrExp, DecExp)) Then
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Overall_Exp", DecExp)
Else
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Overall_Exp", DBNull.Value)
End If
End If
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Qualification", objCandidateInfo.StrQualification)
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Location", objCandidateInfo.StrCurrentLocation)
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Current_CTC", objCandidateInfo.StrCurrentCTC)
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Expected_CTC", objCandidateInfo.StrExpectedCTC)
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Phone_No", objCandidateInfo.StrPhoneNo)
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Mobile", objCandidateInfo.StrMobile)
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Notice_Period", objCandidateInfo.StrNoticePeriod)
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Remarks", objCandidateInfo.StrRemarks)
If (objCandidateInfo.StrYearofExp.Trim() = "") Then
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Years_of_Experience", DBNull.Value)
Else
Dim DecExp As Decimal = -1
If (Decimal.TryParse(objCandidateInfo.StrYearofExp, DecExp)) Then
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Years_of_Experience", DecExp)
Else
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Years_of_Experience", DBNull.Value)
End If
End If
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Address", objCandidateInfo.StrAddress)
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Email", objCandidateInfo.StrEmail)
If (objCandidateInfo.intIndustry > 0) Then
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Industry", objCandidateInfo.intIndustry)
Else
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Industry", DBNull.Value)
End If
If (objCandidateInfo.intFunctionalArea > 0) Then
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Functional_Area", objCandidateInfo.intFunctionalArea)
Else
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Functional_Area", DBNull.Value)
End If
If (objCandidateInfo.StrDob.Trim() = "") Then
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#DOB", DBNull.Value)
Else
Try
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#DOB", Convert.ToDateTime(objCandidateInfo.StrDob))
Catch ex As Exception
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#DOB", DBNull.Value)
End Try
End If
If (objCandidateInfo.intSourceBy > 0) Then
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Source", objCandidateInfo.intSourceBy)
Else
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#Source", DBNull.Value)
End If
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#SKILL_SET", objCandidateInfo.strSkillSet)
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#ATTACHMENT_DATA", objCandidateInfo.ByteData)
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#EXTENSION", objCandidateInfo.StrExtension)
objDataLayer.AddParameter("#CREATED_BY", ClsCommons.IntUserId)
Result = objDataLayer.ExecuteNonQuery("TR_PROC_AddUpdateFullCandidateData")
Else
MsgBox("Data is not extracted, Some Error Occured, please update your software.")
End If
Catch ex As Exception
MsgBox(ex.Message)
End Try
Return Result
End Function
I hope I clear my query

Answer 1

(Edited after several changes to question.)
If you only want to get the text content of the file, you need to handle text files and binary files differently. If the input file format is text-base (.txt, .htm, etc.) you can mostly treat it as a string, although you still need to know what encoding to use.
If, however, the input file format is binary (like .doc, .docx, etc.), you cannot just convert your byte array directly to a string because the file contents do not represent only text - the bytes describe layout, formatting, and other information about the file. In that case you need to use Word or some other 3rd-part library to handle the file data for you.
To get the content of a Word document using automation, just create an instance of Word.Application, open a document, select all text in its active window and use the Selection.Text property to get the text into a string. Something like:
oDocument.ActiveWindow.Selection.WholeStory()
sText = oDocument.ActiveWindow.Selection.Text
The Selection object is an instance of Range in Word. This gives you the plain, unformatted content of the document. You can either convert it to a byte array or use it as a string. To convert it to a byte array, you need to use an encoding because in-memory characters must be translated to bytes.
If you want to convert your content to RTF format, you need 3rd-part tools (or implement the RTF format yourself) - RTF is not a plain text format, it has fairly complex structure.
You can also use Word to save a document in RTF format - look up the Document.SaveAs2() method to do this. This saves the document to disk in RTF format. If you need this data in a database, just read the .rtf file (File.ReadAllBytes()) and then save the bytes to the database.