vbCity - The .NET Developer Community: Active Threads

What's everyone up to nowadays?

wonkotsane — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 13:25:42 GMT

The glory days of vbCity are behind us which is a real shame but life goes on.

What is everyone doing now? Especially those of us who go back to the early days.

I'm currently a ServiceNow Architect for NTT DATA Business Solutions. Widowed, remarried and two grandsons.

Where did everyone go?

rjhare — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 19:11:35 GMT

Chaps...

Where's everyone gone? Hmm? Like

Lazyjay, Wonko, Drydo, Shandy, Mike Hilden....to name but one or two

I know its been a while myself, but these guys lived here once like me - where's the neighbourhood gone?

20 Years already?

rjhare — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 13:39:29 GMT

How do!
I thought I'd be the first to say, Happy 20th birthday VBCity. I am the vMan I am today because of you, and Serge obviously.

Happy Christmas to you all - and a very happy New Year!

status of queue printer job vb 6.0

sal21 sal21 — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 11:46:30 GMT

How to check the status of queue printer job vb 6.0?

Does VB6 still have a place in 2025?

wonkotsane — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 15:38:59 GMT

Many, many ... many years ago I spent hours a day here on these forums and made friends that I still keep in touch with (albeit infrequently) to this day.

Over the Christmas period I decided to fire up an XP VM with VB6 and take a trip down memory lane and I surprised myself not only by how much I remembered but how much better my code is despite not being hands-on for a very long time.

VB6 was deprecated a long time ago but it's still a perfectly serviceable development environment. But just because you can doesn't mean you should. Does VB6 still have a place in 2025 or is it time to finally let it go?

[Please visit the site to access the poll]

Happy new year and where is everybody?

Michael Newman — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 11:50:57 GMT

A happy 2024 to all of those who still visit VBCity.

It is so sad to see that the site has all but been abandoned. I learned an enormous amount by asking questions and having them answered in a civil way. Why did it fade away so quickly a few years ago? I hope it does not get shut down as there is still a wealth of information in the various forums.

I am looking for help with an ADO.Net problem and have not managed to get any help by using Google.

How to we get this site working again in way that it did about 10 years ago?

Global 2D string array not visible throughout program

vbFossil — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 17:41:51 GMT

Hello! I am converting an old VB6 program to VB.Net and there are subtle differences that I am not aware of. In VB6, I could define 2D string arrays at the program header (before procedural coding began) and those variables were visible from everywhere. That does not work in VB.Net.

When I run the program I get this error "Object reference not set to an instance of an object.". The program is aware that the variables exist, but it seems as if they are not initialized.

Here is a snippet of the code. It is not functional but merely displayed to show the location of the variables and where they are called from.

Public Class Form1

Public strNewTools(200, 3) As String

Public strOldTools(200, 3) As String

Public strOldSort(200, 3) As String

Public Sub cmdCompare_MouseDown(sender As Object, e As MouseEventArgs) Handles cmdCompare.MouseDown

intInner = intInner + 1

If strNewTools(intOuter, 3) = strOldTools(intInner, 3) Then

strToolTmp = strToolTmp & strNewTools(intOuter, 1) & strOldTools(intInner, 1) & vbCrLf

strNewSort(intOuter, 1) = strNewTools(intOuter, 1)

strNewSort(intOuter, 2) = strNewTools(intOuter, 2)

strNewSort(intOuter, 3) = strNewTools(intOuter, 3)

strOldSort(intOuter, 1) = strOldTools(intInner, 1)

strOldSort(intOuter, 2) = strOldTools(intInner, 2)

strOldSort(intOuter, 3) = strOldTools(intInner, 3)

End If

End Sub

End Class

I even tried to make the definition "Public" as well as the referenced subroutine. No luck.

What is the right way to do this?

Thank you, Steveb

Upgrade, but will it work?

davek0974 — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 11:50:45 GMT

Looking to upgrade our system but have a couple of questions...

Currently our SQL database is SQL7(2003 vintage) and the new one will be SQL 2016, does anyone know if you can still talk to SQL 2016 using OLEDB/ADO connections as my app uses that method??

Next, we all know VB was killed off some time ago, its the only language i know, what would be the replacement for it for modern-day programming of office/accounts/database programming of front-end apps? I dont think i will have the courage to start re-writing this massive app but I woul dbe interested to see what visual programming stuff is out there.

Thanks

VB6 AFTER MS WINDOWS 10

elico — Sun, 01 Nov 2015 11:24:18 GMT

Is it ttrue that VB6 will not be suppotred in the OS that will come after AINDOWS 10 ?

Elico

how to detect printer status using VB6

mamta chander — Wed, 16 Feb 2005 05:32:18 GMT

I am using data reports in VB6. I want to print a report using
Report1.PrintReport False, rptRangeAllPages

printer is available on network.but I don't get any error message that printer is not available.plz help me to find the solution to show user, the unavailability of printer.

Delete Account

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 09:10:59 GMT

Hi,

I wish to delete my account but when I search through forum, each account is permanent. It is possible to delete this accoount from the administration?

Thanks.

Regards,
roonmar

real time counter of popolation in Italy

sal21 sal21 — Sat, 25 May 2024 17:07:58 GMT

How to insert a real time counter of population of Italy, in a label or text box?

Read PDF File using VB.NET

Lalit Acharekar — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 03:18:34 GMT

I am having Scanned PDF File /having headers like Date,PO. No, Item Description, etc I want to read the Values written In front of/below these

Titles.I used the below code but it isnt working and giving me the desired result

Please assist

Imports Emgu.CV
Imports Emgu.Util
Imports Emgu.CV.OCR
Imports Emgu.CV.Structure
	Dim OCRz As Tesseract = New Tesseract("tessdata", "eng", Tesseract.OcrEngineMode.OEM_DEFAULT)
    Dim pic As Bitmap = New Bitmap(270, 100)
    Dim gfx As Graphics = Graphics.FromImage(pic)

gfx.CopyFromScreen(New Point(Me.Location.X + PictureBox1.Location.X + 4, Me.Location.Y + PictureBox1.Location.Y + 30), New Point(0, 0), pic.Size)
        PictureBox1.Image = pic
        PictureBox1.Image = Nothing

 OCRz.Recognize(New Image(Of Bgr, Byte)(pic))
        RichTextBox1.Text = OCRz.GetText

Saving a Textbox List to a Database table

Stephen Mills — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 23:11:27 GMT

Hi,

The code below is used to save a list thats in a textbox to an Access database table.

The code sort of works, it saves the data but after its saved about 80 ish lines, it then muddles up the order of the list.

So once saved, all the items in the list are saved to the database but it is not in the correct order.

'Open connection to database tbl_PartsList
    Dim cnnSave As ADODB.Connection
    Set cnnSave = New ADODB.Connection
    cnnSave.ConnectionString = "Provider = Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;" & "Data Source =" & frmReportPg1!lblDbasePath.Caption
    cnnSave.Open

'Delete all records from Field "Parts" so field is clear for new List to be saved
    cnnSave.Execute "delete * from tbl_partslist"


'Save new parts list from set-up page to database

    Set rsSavePartsToDBase = New ADODB.Recordset
    Dim i As Integer
    Dim sArray() As String
    
     sArray = Split(PListText.Text, vbCrLf)
     For i = 0 To UBound(sArray)
         rsSavePartsToDBase.Open "insert into tbl_partslist (parts) values ('" & sArray(i) & "')", cnnSave, adOpenKeyset, adLockPessimistic
     Next i


    Set rsSavePartsToDBase = Nothing
    Set cnnSave = Nothing

If anyone can tell me whats wrong with the code it would be much appreciated.

Thanks

SKM

Parameter error converting string to decimal...

Steve Light — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 21:57:53 GMT

I don't know what I am missing but I am getting the " Failed to convert parameter value from a string to a decimal" when I am trying to INSERT data.

I have a access database with a table that has decimal fields. I am using decimal field because I need to store a number

like xx.xx.

The field is set as:

Field size as Decimal

Precision as 4

Decimal places as 2

This is the parameter I am using. I have tried many ways I have found on internet search but none work.

.Parameters.Add(New System.Data.OleDb.OleDbParameter("@RateUnitRate1", System.Data.OleDb.OleDbType.Decimal, 4, CType(tbRateUnitRate1.Text.Trim, Decimal)))

I know the textbox has a potential decimal value because when I check it with,

Dim rate As Decimal
        If Not Decimal.TryParse(tbRateUnitRate1.Text, rate) Then
            'Textbox does not contain a decimal number - do whatever you think is appropriate
            MsgBox("Not a valid input")
            tbRateUnitRate5.Text = ""
            tbRateUnitRate5.Focus()
            Exit Sub
        End If
        rate = CType(tbRateUnitRate5.Text.Trim, Decimal)
        MsgBox(rate.ToString)

I get a value of 3.50.

What am is missing.

How to handle a blank textbox that won't let me exit the form.

Steve Light — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 21:36:40 GMT

I have a CUDA form that I use to add meter readings from customers. It contains a EXIT button, multiple text boxes. One of the text boxes is the variable that I use to find the meter information. When I when I want to exit the form and the textbox is blank and has focus then the Leave event is fired.

I have been trying to add code to stop the rest of the event from executing but I have been unsuccessful.

Please give me some advise to what I am missing.

Below is one of my attempts that doesn't work. It catches the blank text but doesn't execute the "Disposal".

Private Sub tbReadMeterNo_Leave(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles tbReadMeterNo.Leave


        If tbReadMeterNo.Text = "" Then
            MsgBox("ReadMeterNo is empty")
me.Dispose
        End If

        Try
            Call connection()
        Catch ex As Exception
            MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Critical)
                errornumber = 165 'Assigned error number for logging & debugging.
                clsLogFile = New LogFile(ex.Message, errornumber)
            End Try

            Try
            Dim command = New OleDb.OleDbCommand
            Dim drMeter As OleDbDataReader = Nothing

                With cm
                    .Connection = con
                    .CommandText = "SELECT * FROM tblMeter WHERE MeterNo = @MeterFindString"
                    Try
                        .Parameters.Clear()
                        .Parameters.Add("@MeterFindString", OleDbType.Integer).Value = CInt(tbReadMeterNo.Text)
                    Catch ex As Exception
                        MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Critical)  '<----- This kicks an error "Conversion from string "" to type 'Interger' is not valid."

I know why the error happens. How do I code around it.?

A Very happy New Year 2023!

HARISH — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 07:38:46 GMT

Wishing All Vbcity community members ...

A very happy and prosperous new year 2023!

Read Binary File into ListBox Problem

Steve B — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 21:59:37 GMT

Hi, Haven't been here for years
Been trying everything to open a binary file into a listbox
and basically just getting a 0 in the box or with the code below
at the line = listBox1.Items.Add(br.ReadBytes(((int)br.BaseStream.Length)));
I will get Byte[]Array in the box, with the streamreader code below that I get
some binary code in the box, really stuck and need help.
Thanks
Steve

if (openFileDialog1.ShowDialog() == DialogResult.OK)
{

string filename = openFileDialog1.FileName;
FileStream fs = new FileStream(filename, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read);
BinaryReader br = new BinaryReader(fs);
br.BaseStream.Position = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < br.BaseStream.Length; i++)
{
listBox1.BeginUpdate();
listBox1.Items.Clear();
listBox1.Items.Add(br.ReadBytes(((int)br.BaseStream.Length)));
listBox1.EndUpdate();

}
br.Close();
fs.Close();
///StreamReader streamReader = new StreamReader(filename);
///listBox1.Items.Clear();
/// List<string> lines = new List<string>();
/// string line;
/// while ((line = streamReader.ReadLine()) != null)
/// { listBox1.Items.Add(line); }

}
}

INSET VALUE IN COMBOBOX HTML PAGE

sal21 sal21 — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 14:30:08 GMT

based the link:

http://anagrafe.cng.it/anagrafe/geometri.aspx

how to insert value from MyVar="LIVORNO" in combobox (collegio), and click on button "cerca geometri"

tks.

Sorry but really urgent.

Update connectionString at runtime

Donald Neisler — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 22:22:42 GMT

I am attempting to update my applications connectionString and runtime, and it is giving me problems. Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

Public Sub SaveConnectionString(ByVal conString As String)
        Dim name As String = "MyDatabaseConnectionString"
        Dim config = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None)
        Dim section = CType(config.GetSection("connectionStrings"), ConnectionStringsSection)
        section.ConnectionStrings(name).ConnectionString = conString
        config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Modified)
        ConfigurationManager.RefreshSection("connectionStrings")

 End Sub

I get a "System.NullReferenceException: 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object.'" on line 5.

Date column in a datagridview

Michael Newman — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 14:21:39 GMT

Many years ago I had a problem with a date column in a data bound datagridview. When the application was running and a new row was selected, the date column automatically displayed the system date. That is what I wanted it to do. The problem was that if you did not specifically select a date - even if it was today's date - it would not be save to the database. The cell was left blank. I did find an answer on the web but it has been lost.

The frustrating part of this is that I have had 2 computers crash on me within a few days of each other resulting in the loss of the solution to this problem. All that I can remember is that a new sub with only a few lines were used in the code to force the column to automatically select the computer's system date. No selection required by the user.

Can anyone help please? I have been searching on the web for over a day and cannot find the answer.

Load Event Aborting

silverblatt — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 16:51:33 GMT

In a VB.Net 2017 Windows form application, so far I have only a splash form and a main form. When the user clicks a button on the splash form or a ten second timer fires (whichever occurs first) the splash form runs the AllDone() sub, which opens the main form and then closes itself. Here's the relevant code in the splash form:

Private Sub AllDone()

Timer1.Enabled = False

frmMain.Show()

Me.Close()

End Sub

Here's the relevant code in the main form:

Imports System.Data.SqlClient

...

Private Sub frmMain_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load

'display version information

Me.Text = "Referral Tracking - Version " & My.Application.Info.Version.ToString

'open database connection

Conn.ConnectionString = ConnString

Conn.Open()

MsgBox("Connection State: " & Conn.State)

End Sub

Conn and ConnString are defined in a separate module as follows:

Imports System.Data.SqlClient

...

Public Conn As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection

Public ConnString As String = "[actual connection string]"

I've used this approach successfully in other projects. But in this particular project, it doesn't work. When frmMain_Load() runs, only its first two statements execute, then execution returns to AllDone() and the remaining two statements in frmMain_Load() never execute. No error is raised and the connection is not actually opened.

What am I doing wrong?

TreeView BackgroundImage

Tim Alvord — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 15:58:46 GMT

Hi,

I am trying to add a BackgroundImage to a TreeView. It looks like the only way this will work is to Inherit from TreeView and override OnPaintBackground(System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs pevent). If I do this it works, but the nodes don't get drawn. Even though the code that sets the StateImageIndex is getting executed. I assume that I must do all the node drawing myself as well? Does anyone have an example they can show me?

Is there a *.dll net 4.0 library that reads QR codes for webcams in C# ?

dongtrien — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 02:05:23 GMT

Almost all libraries that read QR codes via webcam use net 4.5 or higher. I want to find a QR code reader library with net version 4.0 ?

How do I update the Keys in the app.config file at runtime ?

dongtrien — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 04:22:47 GMT

I found some code examples that update the keys in the app.config file when running without error and not updating, why the code does not update, see my code

file app.config


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
 
  <appSettings>	
    <add key="FormatImage" value="Jpg" />        
    <add key="LogFile" value="C:\Windows\Log" />    
 
  </appSettings>    
 
</configuration>


private void cmdUpdate_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            EditAppSetting("LogFile", "D:\Office2010");
        }
 
 
public static void EditAppSetting(string key, string value)
        {
            try
            {
                System.Configuration.Configuration config = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
                config.AppSettings.Settings[key].Value = value;
                config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Modified);
                ConfigurationManager.RefreshSection("appSettings");
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {               
                MessageBox.Show("Error update file App.config: " + ex.Message, "Thông báo kiểm tra !", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Question);
            }
        }