Send messages with the winsock control

[Jakys]

I'd like to send messages over a network(LAN) with the winsock control, but i can't figure out how to do that. If any of you have som samples, or can help with code, it would be great.

[smalig]

I use NT and the NET SEND command:

For sample:

Target$ = username
OR
Target$ = computername
Message$ = "This server will shut down in 5 minutes."
Shell ("net send " & Target & " " & Message)

You can send a message only to a name that is active on the network. If the message is sent to a username, that user must be logged on and running the Messenger service to receive the message.
Look help about NET SEND.

------------------
smalig
smalig@hotmail.com
http://vbcode.webhostme.com/

[Jakys]

I got Windows 98 Service Pack 2, do I have the NetSend command here?

[Clunietp]

There is a file NET.EXE and SEND is one of it's parameters. You can also use the NetMessageBufferSend API of NetAPI32 library, I don't have the code handy though....

[smalig]

OK, here is a code with NetMessageBufferSend function: http://vbcode.webhostme.com/en/click.asp?id=115

Best Regards.

------------------
smalig
smalig@hotmail.com
http://vbcode.webhostme.com/

[Clunietp]

Thank you Smalig. Your site is great, keep it up!

[vbsquare]

You could even try downloading my DLL which allows two computers to connect and send pictures, text, files and binary over a winsock connection: http://www.vbsquare.com/internet/

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"To the glory of God!"

NET SEND is fine and dandy, if you have it. The problem is, how do you know that your end user has it? You'd have to write a detection function. And are you allowed to distribute it? I doubt it. So what are you to do? It's simple. Write a small chat client.

you'll need a form with two text boxes, two command buttons and a winsock control.

Sub Form_Load()
Namer = InputBox("Enter Username for this session:", "Username", "User")
'Set the port to listen on
winsock1.LocalPort = 1002
'Begin listening
winsock1.Listen
End Sub

Sub Form_Resize()
Text1.Width = Me.ScaleWidth
Text2.Width = Me.ScaleWidth
Text1.Height = Me.ScaleHeight - text2.Height
Text2.Top = Text1.Height
End Sub

Sub Command1_Click()
Dim strRemoteHost As String
'Get the name of a computer to connect to
strRemoteHost = InputBox("Enter name or IP address of computer " & _
"to connect to.", vbOKCancel)
'Exit if cancelled
If strRemoteHost = "" Then Exit Sub
'Close any open connections
winsock1.Close
'Set the name of the computer to connect to
winsock1.RemoteHost = strRemoteHost
'Specify a port number on remote host
winsock1.RemotePort = 1002
'This seems to prevent some TCP errors
DoEvents
'Request the connection
winsock1.Connect
End Sub

Sub Command2_Click
winsock1.Close
DoEvents
winsock1.Listen
End Sub

Sub winsock1_Close()
'When connection by remote machine, go back to listening
winsock1.Close
winsock1.Listen
End Sub

Sub winsock1_ConnectionRequest(ByVal requestID As Long)
winsock1.Close
winsock1.Accept requestID
End Sub

Sub winsock1_DataArrival(ByVal bytesTotal As Long)
Dim strText As String
'Get data
winsock1.GetData strText
'Display data received
Text1 = Text1 & Chr(13) & Chr(10) & strText & vbCrLf
'Move cursor to end
Text1.SelStart = Len(Text1)
End Sub

Sub Text2_KeyPress(KeyAscii As Integer)
Select Case KeyAscii
Case Is = 13
sendMessage ("" & Text2.Text)
txtMsg.Text = ""
End Select

End Sub

Sub sendMessage(Msg As String)
Static strSend As String
'Make sure there is a connection
If winsock1.State <> sckConnected Then Exit Sub
'Send the string
winsock1.SendData Namer & ": " & Msg
Text1.Text = Text1.Text & Chr(13) & Chr(10) & Namer & ": " & Msg
'Clear the variable
strSend = ""
'Keep track of what is being typed
strSend = strSend & Msg
End Sub

and in the globals section:
Option Explicit
Dim Namer as String

[nrholder]

To use the NetMessageBufferSend API call you must be running Windows NT on the host. The recipient can be on Windows NT or Windows 95/98(as long as Winpopup is running).

In response to Rippleman, NetApi32.dll is on every Windows NT 4.0 system.

[Clunietp]

Rippleman

the problem with a chat client is that the user has to have the app installed an running. If you were to use NetMessageBufferSend over a LAN, the only thing the recipient has to have running is the Messenger Service (which by default is running)

ok, i guess that would work then. I'd never heard of that particular API, which is why i figured it was a special dll. In response to everyone, I think that this method would still work, but the NET SEND would work also, so i guess its how much you want to code.