Visual Basic

Re: Setting the IP address of the local computer (XP Pro)

27-Aug-07 9:51

You have two problems. First, you're looking in the wrong place to set the IP. Second, you're trying to poke the IP into the Registry. Don't.

Use the appropriate tool. WMI and the Win32_NetworkAdapterConfiguration[^] class, specifically, the EnableStatic method.

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007

dhchicago3-Sep-07 12:46

dhchicago

3-Sep-07 12:46

Thanks for your response,Dave. I think I have this one almost worked out with the exception of the following.

strIPAddress = "192.168.1.141"
strsubnetMask(0) = "255.255.255.0"
strGateway(0) = "192.168.1.1"
strGatewayMetric(0) = 1

For Each objNetAdapter In colNetAdapters
    errEnable = objNetAdapter.EnableStatic(strIPAddress, strsubnetMask)
    errGateways = objNetAdapter.SetGateways(strGateway, strGatewayMetric)
Next

The MSDN web site indicates passing the ipaddress variable into the Array(string) function prior to calling EnableStatic. There is no support for the array function in .net. Using conventional 1-demensional arrays throws a type mis-match exception. The exception is just a pretty unhelpful "type mismatch" message. Anyone see something i am missing?

dave

Re: Setting the IP address of the local computer (XP Pro)

Dave Kreskowiak3-Sep-07 16:30

3-Sep-07 16:30

First, the IPAddress is not a string array, which is what EnableStatic expects.

Dim ipAddresses() As String = {"192.168.0.1"}

Next, you're setting the IP address of ALL the network adapters to the same address. You CANNOT do that!! You have to do it on the SINGLE adapter that is the network connection that you are changing, NOT ALL OF THEM!! There are more adapters in the system than appear in the Network Neighborhood properties box...

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007

Connection String

jds120727-Aug-07 5:29

jds1207

27-Aug-07 5:29

I am trying to make my connection string variable using application settings under Project properties. Here is my connection string when it is hard coded:

Dim myConnString As String = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OleDB.4.0;Data Source=" & Application.StartupPath & "\File.mdb"

When I have it hard coded it works fine. But when I try to make it variable I keep getting the error: Format of the initialization string does not conform to specification starting at index 33.

For the connection string value, I have the same code as posted above and I placed the following in the code: Dim myConnstring As String = My.Settings.ConnectionString
ConnectionString is the name of the value in application settings.

Can anyone help me with this connection string please. I know it may seem easy but I can't get it to work.

jds1207

Re: Connection String

Dave Kreskowiak27-Aug-07 5:52

27-Aug-07 5:52

Putting

"Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OleDB.4.0;Data Source=" & Application.StartupPath & "\File.mdb"

in the settings won't work. You have to write some code to retrieve a complete string, like:

Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OleDB.4.0;Data Source={0}

from the config file, then replace the {0} with the value returned by Application.StartupPath.

Public Shared Function GetConnectionString() As String
    Dim configString As String = My.Settings.ConnectionString
 
    ' Replace the {0} with the value from StartupPath.
    ' As a side, you can either pass in the filename of the database, or retrieve that
    ' from a setting in the config file also.
    Return String.Format(configString, Path.Combine(Application.StartupPath, "File.mdb"))
End Function

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007

Re: Connection String

jds120727-Aug-07 7:30

jds1207

27-Aug-07 7:30

Thanks, that worked great!

jds1207

Prepare Templates & Mail

Trupti Mehta27-Aug-07 4:32

27-Aug-07 4:32

Hi,

I have to wokr out in an application where user can write/open/save letters. Then I have to mail merge that letter with the data source I have. I use MS Access and Vb.NET 2005.

Also, I should have basic word features like in any mail - B, I, U, Align, etc.

I am wondering how can I do it - If i save the letter in a doc file, then how to perform the mail merge thing. Usualy mal merge in word has <<firstname>> ... such tags & data is set for those tags & process is done. How can and how sould I perform the activities.

Please help me out. I am in a hurry, looking from couple of days for this problem but couldn't find any substantial help line.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

Trupti

Thanks

Terry

Dave Kreskowiak27-Aug-07 5:45

27-Aug-07 5:45

Trupti Mehta wrote:
I am wondering how can I do it - If i save the letter in a doc file, then how to perform the mail merge thing. Usualy mal merge in word has <<firstname>> ... such tags & data is set for those tags & process is done. How can and how sould I perform the activities.

If the user already has Word, why are you trying to re-invent it??

Or are you making your own document editor and trying to do MailMerge yourself??? If so, the merge part is easy. Your user is going to have to type fields into the document using some format you specify, like <<firstname>>, then you retrieve your results from the database and do a simple search and replace, matching the field names in the database results to the ones specified in the document.

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007

Trupti Mehta27-Aug-07 19:32

27-Aug-07 19:32

Thanks Dave for the quick response.

I got to add this feature in an application. It is basically sending mails to customers of the DB. The user wants all basic features like B, I, U, fonts etc in the editor. Make a new file, Open an existing file, make changes in it, save the file, and set it to do the mail merge part via my application. The DB has customers details. To implement the text features, i got to ise RTF text box. That saves the file in rtf, txt or html. I will give only rtf format. Those features, file opening, saving are almost managed. I amaware of mail merge process procdure.

I am wondering, when user creates a new file or opens a file, and setss it for mail merge, how can I set the customers name, adress, etc in the rtf file, and make a seperate page for each customer with his address. And truly saying, I have no idea for the mail merge tags - <<firstname>> etc.

This is my main part of the problem. Please help me for it and guide accordingly. I wouldl ike to know if anywher I am choosing a wrong way out.

Thanks

Terry

Dave Kreskowiak28-Aug-07 1:30

28-Aug-07 1:30

This is too simple. Replacing a field in a string is as easy as finding the field tag and replacing it with the string retrieved from the database. I don't get where you're getting hung up on this.

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007

Trupti Mehta28-Aug-07 1:55

28-Aug-07 1:55

I have a Rich text box, where user opens or creates a new letter. Which I got to do mail merge.

User wont enter tags or such thing. That part I wil only have to do. How do I insert such tags and make that template ready for mail merging?

I was wondering to just add the field values without tags. If user opens a file that has such tags, then, how do I manage it? As I will input field values.

In case, To insert tags for later use, Word uses << >> in some other char. that these chars.

How to fulfill the above points? This is what is bothering me. One more point is bothering me, Can I do Mail merge with rtf file. As using rich Text box, file will be saved s rft. If I am not wrong Rich text doesn't support .doc file. Can I perform Mail merge in RTF file using Wod with my application.

I would be glad if you can help me resolve my these queries and free me to continue with my work. Try to response soon.

Thanks

Thanks

Terry

Dave Kreskowiak28-Aug-07 3:31

28-Aug-07 3:31

Trupti Mehta wrote:
How do I insert such tags and make that template ready for mail merging?

Uhhh, how about typing them into the document?? Confused | :confused:

You pick the format for the tags! How about :firstname:, or <<lastname>>, or #address#, or ...

Trupti Mehta wrote:
I was wondering to just add the field values without tags.

Then how is the code going to know where to put the merged data?

Trupti Mehta wrote:
If user opens a file that has such tags, then, how do I manage it? As I will input field values.

Manage what? I thought the data was comming from a database? Confused | :confused:

Trupti Mehta wrote:
In case, To insert tags for later use, Word uses << >> in some other char. that these chars.

Uhhh.... WHAT??? Confused | :confused:

Trupti Mehta wrote:
If I am not wrong Rich text doesn't support .doc file.

No, it doesn't. THe RichTextBox doesn't know anything about Word's file format, and hence doesn't support it.

Trupti Mehta wrote:
Can I perform Mail merge in RTF file using Wod with my application.

Again, I ask you, since you already have Word, why are you re-inventing the wheel?? Why not just do this whole thing in Word and forget coding a solution to a problem that already has a solution??

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007

Trupti Mehta28-Aug-07 19:20

Re: Prepare Templates &amp; Mail

28-Aug-07 19:20

Dave Kreskowiak wrote:
Trupti Mehta wrote:
Can I perform Mail merge in RTF file using Wod with my application.

Again, I ask you, since you already have Word, why are you re-inventing the wheel?? Why not just do this whole thing in Word and forget coding a solution to a problem that already has a solution??

Dave, then you tell me, if a client wants such feature in his software, how do i implement it. I have the customers DB. Client wants B, I, U .. features, so Rich text box is required. Client want to write new/edit letter and Prepare mail merge the letter to selected customers and facility to print the leters.
Now what and how to do, can you please suggest me! I would be glad to know some solution that you have in your mind for this kind of application. I am using VB.NET 2005 and MS ACcess DB.

Thanks

Thanks

Terry

Dave Kreskowiak29-Aug-07 12:32

29-Aug-07 12:32

Trupti Mehta wrote:
Now what and how to do, can you please suggest me!

What have we been doing for this entire thread??

Listen. Mail Merge is a very SIMPLE string replacement:

Dim text As String = "This is some text <<withAtag>> in it!"
Dim data As String = "with a tag replaced"
Dim mergedText As String = text.Replace("<<withAtag>>", data)

The value of mergedText will be "This is some text with a tag replaced in it!". If this is beyond your comprehension, you've got no hope of completing this project.

If you can't get any data out of a database, you've got no hope of completing this project.

If you don't understand how a RichTextBox formats text, you've got no hope of completing this project.

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007

Trupti Mehta4-Sep-07 23:14

4-Sep-07 23:14

Hi Dave,

Dave, thanks for your help so far. This is not just replacing text in RichTextBox. As mentioned earlier, RTB is used to just create letters. Actual Mail Merge is done later, seperately. If it was just replacing text once, thats not a big deal at all. I really tried very hard, looked on net a lot. But still can't find proper way out to replace the text for the same letter for all records in the dataset. Letter is written using RTb, saved, text like <<companyname>>, etc are added in the letter. On selection of letter and customers selected, This is the code that is fired to perform actual Mail Merge.

<br />
    Private Sub PerformMailMerge()<br />
        Dim wApp As New Word.Application<br />
        Dim wDoc As Word.Document<br />
        Dim wMailMerge As Word.MailMerge<br />
<br />
        wDoc = wApp.Documents.Open(Me.CapFileName)<br />
        wApp.Visible = True<br />
<br />
        wMailMerge = wDoc.MailMerge()<br />
        wMailMerge.CreateDataSource(mDs)<br />
<br />
        Dim i As Integer<br />
        Dim str As String = ""<br />
        Dim addThe As Boolean<br />
<br />
        Dim row As DataRow<br />
        For i = 0 To mDs.Tables(0).Rows().Count() - 1<br />
            MsgBox("Row of " + myDG.Rows(i).Cells(1).ToString())<br />
            If (myDG.Rows(i).Cells("Select").Selected() = True) Then<br />
                row = mDs.Tables(0).Rows(i)<br />
                str = row.Item("name").ToString()<br />
                ' If name is not present, refer to The Propriertor<br />
                If (String.IsNullOrEmpty(str)) Then<br />
                    'Replace("<<Title>>", "The")<br />
                    'Replace("<<ContactName>>", "Propriertor")<br />
                    addThe = True<br />
                Else<br />
                    'Replace("<<Title>>", row.Item("namePrefix").ToString())<br />
                    'Replace("<<ContactName>>", row.Item("name").ToString())<br />
                    addThe = False<br />
                End If<br />
<br />
                'Replace("<<CompanyName>>", row.Item("CompanyName").ToString())<br />
                'Replace("<<Add1>>", row.Item("Add1").ToString())<br />
                'Replace("<<Add2>>", row.Item("Add2").ToString())<br />
                'Replace("<<Add3>>", row.Item("Add3").ToString())<br />
                'Replace("<<City>>", row.Item("City").ToString())<br />
                'Replace("<<County>>", row.Item("County").ToString())<br />
                'Replace("<<Code>>", row.Item("Code").ToString())<br />
<br />
                'Replace("<<Date>>", Date.Today)<br />
                MsgBox("Added The " + addThe + " Or Name to " + row.Item("CompanyName").ToString())<br />
            End If<br />
        Next<br />
<br />
        ' Perform Mail Merge<br />
        wDoc.MailMerge.Destination = Word.WdMailMergeDestination.wdSendToNewDocument<br />
        wDoc.MailMerge.Execute()<br />
<br />
        ' Close the original letter<br />
        'wDoc.Saved = True<br />
        'wDoc.Close()<br />
<br />
        '' Release References<br />
        'wApp = Nothing<br />
        'wDoc = Nothing<br />
        'wMailMerge = Nothing<br />
    End Sub<br />

As you advised earlier, I had added tags like <<companyname>> in the rtf file while creating letter. To do the mail merging stuff, I found this the only way out. I believe you can help me out. I have everyhting with me, just don't know how to so it. I agree something is still incorrect and missing in this code.

Please help me and let me know if what I am doing is right or am in any wrong path. Please my deadline is on, and got to finish this. I request you and hope, you will help.

Thanks

Terry

Dave Kreskowiak5-Sep-07 2:20

5-Sep-07 2:20

OK. So you have Word installed on the machine, since you're using it in your code.

Why are you even bothering with this?? The user can easily do the exact same thing in Word, using Word's own field and MialMerge features and have greater flexibility doing it!

You're code is opening an RTF file in Word and trying to use Word's MailMerge, which won't work because you're not using any field objects that Word needs to do mail merge.

Then your code does something really weird here:

Dim row As DataRow
For i = 0 To mDs.Tables(0).Rows().Count() - 1
    MsgBox("Row of " + myDG.Rows(i).Cells(1).ToString())
    If (myDG.Rows(i).Cells("Select").Selected() = True) Then
    ...

This says increment i from 0 to the number of rows in a DataTable object, but your index is looking at the rows in a DataGrid instead. Just get the data out of the DataRow object returned by:

mDs.Tables(0).Rows(i)

That gives you the DataRow with all the data in it.

You really need to scrap this code and start over, from the specifications. What you told me and what you've shown me are two VERY different things. I thought you were doing this in VB.NET with a RichTextBox and you've shown me VBA code, that's running in Word apparently.

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007

Trupti Mehta5-Sep-07 4:09

5-Sep-07 4:09

Dear,

The client wants this kind of feature in his application. I agree Word can do it in a much better way, but client is boss. If he wants in the application only then ?

The application is written in VB.NET with MS Access DB. It uses RTB to let the user write letters. Letters are saved as an RTB. Earlier also, I mentioned clearly, that letters will be used later to perform mail merge.As you had advised to put any sort of tag in rtb, so i inserted <<companyname>> type of tag. My Q. from start is this only, how will I change this text to perform mail merge.

On doing lots of research I cam to know that Mail Merge can be done by using Word in out VB.NET code. I found that also, that the document need to have some fields of Words Mail Merge set. I had always heard from you, that Mail Merge part is very simple and easy, but how it was in my case, I never got an idea for that.

Code checks for Selected records from the datagrid which displays all records of the dataset. So, even after dataset, records are filtered by selected (Checkbox) or not.

<br />
row = mDs.Tables(0).Rows(i)<br />
.....<br />
'Replace("<<Title>>", row.Item("namePrefix").ToString())<br />

Instead of writting the whole stuff again & again, I have set to a datarow, & then row.Item(....) I didn't knew how to replace the tag contents with the data, so had just written this code to give a proper flow.

Regarding working from scratch, fine, then as per specs.,
1. Create Letters (Add/Edit/Save ... Formatting) FINISHED
2. Added tags in form of Text FINISHED
3. Ability to select Customers FINISHED
4. Do Mail Merge on selected letter to selected custoemrs ????? D'Oh! | :doh:

What changes should be done. dOES STEP 2 NEED to be looked at and worked out some other way out.

Looking for your reply.

I apologize for reposting, but as this thread wasn't getting better, so posted with latest query.

Thanks

Terry

Dave Kreskowiak5-Sep-07 14:07

5-Sep-07 14:07

Trupti Mehta wrote:
I mentioned clearly, that letters will be used later to perform mail merge.As you had advised to put any sort of tag in rtb, so i inserted <<companyname>> type of tag. My Q.

Yep, but that's before your code said you were using Word to do the Mail Merge. Is this still the case??

Trupti Mehta wrote:
from start is this only, how will I change this text to perform mail merge.

If you're still using Word to do the Mail Merge, you'll have to load the document into Word, scan it for any <<&& tags and replace them with Word field codes. Don't ask me how to do it, I don't do Office Interop.

Trupti Mehta wrote:
I had always heard from you, that Mail Merge part is very simple and easy, but how it was in my case, I never got an idea for that.

If you're using Word to do the Mail Merge, this all changes.
If not, it's still bloody easy. Match the field in teh database with the field in the document and replace that field with the data retrieved from the database. It's a simple string replacement!

Trupti Mehta wrote:
Code checks for Selected records from the datagrid which displays all records of the dataset. So, even after dataset, records are filtered by selected (Checkbox) or not.

Now you're changing the the applications requirements...

Trupti Mehta wrote:
4. Do Mail Merge on selected letter to selected custoemrs ?????

Again. This is easy. You have the data from the database already. All you have to do is get each record that's selected from the DataGrid, find and replace the tag for that field in the document and replace the tag with the data from that field.

Database:
    FirstName    LastName    Address
     Joe          Schmo      123 Anywhere
 
Document:
    Hi <<FirstName>>!  You're at <<Address>>!

Replacing the tags with the data from each record is just a simple string replacement.

Dim documentText As String = RTB1.RTF.Replace(tag, fieldData)

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007

Trupti Mehta5-Sep-07 17:36

5-Sep-07 17:36

Dave, forget abt Word. That came in picture as I didn't find any other way to do mail merge. But their are other possibilities, I am open.

Fine. So after selected customers & letter, I load the letter in an RTB (not visible to client), for first record, change the data with the fields. Then before going to second record, I need to do somehting, that will insert a page break, copy the template again & then again I loop with the data replace stuff.

Dave, help me understand 1 point, how will i do the page break stuff. As for each customer, the letter contents will remain the same but the address & name will change & each will be on a seperate page of the same document preferred. Previously also I never found out a way to work out at this point. Which made me rethink, how can this operation be performed just by a RTB. And on searching the net, everywhere I found was working with Word. No other alternative.

But, if you could give me this alternative, I would be really glad, that finally the solution worked out. Everything else, what you mentioned can be done with ease. That all is not at all a probelm.

I hope you can throw a bit of more light on it.

Thanks

Terry

Dave Kreskowiak6-Sep-07 1:37

6-Sep-07 1:37

Trupti Mehta wrote:
how will i do the page break stuff.

AFAIK, the RTB doesn't support page breaks since it knows nothing of page size.

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007

Trupti Mehta6-Sep-07 17:31

6-Sep-07 17:31

<blockqote>
Trupti Mehta wrote:
4. Do Mail Merge on selected letter to selected custoemrs ?????

Again. This is easy. You have the data from the database already. All you have to do is get each record that's selected from the DataGrid, find and replace the tag for that field in the document and replace the tag with the data from that field.

Database: FirstName LastName Address Joe Schmo 123 Anywhere Document: Hi <<firstname>>! You're at <

>!

Replacing the tags with the data from each record is just a simple string replacement.

Dim documentText As String = RTB1.RTF.Replace(tag, fieldData)

Dave Kreskowiak wrote:
the RTB doesn't support page breaks since it knows nothing of page size.

Hmm, So their doesn't seem a way out to create a letter for each customer in a same document. Got to save each customer letter in a seperate file is only left out, I think. And then to print each document. Confused | :confused:

Can you get the level of difficulty and solution for the same now. I appreciate your solutions.

Thanks

Terry

Dave Kreskowiak7-Sep-07 1:49