Saving object values in a textfile.

How do I save objects values in a textfile? Particularly the backcolour of an object? This is what I have:

VB Code:

Function SaveFile()
        FileOpen(1, Application.StartupPath & "config.ini", OpenMode.Output)
        PrintLine(1, TreeView1.BackColor)
        FileClose(1)
    End Function

But it's throwing an exception:

-------------------------------------------------------------------
An unhandled exception of type 'System.ArgumentException' occurred in microsoft.visualbasic.dll

Additional information: File I/O with type 'Color' is not valid.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Any help on how to save objects values in a textfile?

Thanks.

write the .Name property of the color, and then when you load it again, use the Color.FromName(string sName) function. This assumes that you're using named colors.

I would also recommend that you use an xml config file instead of the old school ini files. That is the direction everything is going especially with .net.

Quote:

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..use the Color.FromName(string sName) function.

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I'm not quite sure how to do this (the on-line help is usless!). I have this:

VB Code:

TreeView1.BackColor.Name = Color.FromName(sTemp)

but I guess this isn't right as it's giving me a blue squiggle :( Any help would be appreciated.

Quote:

---

..I would also recommend that you use an xml config file instead of the old school ini files.

---

I'm unfamiliar with xml at the moment, but eventually...

Anybody help :D

Whats the value of sTemp?

Actually I see the trouble you are trying to set the name but Color.FromName gets a color object based on the name so it is not a string value its a color value. Try this:

Treeview1.BackColor = Color.FromName(sTemp)

The value of sTemp is ffc0ffff and I did as you suggested Edneeis, but I get:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
An unhandled exception of type 'System.ArgumentException' occurred in system.windows.forms.dll

Additional information: This control does not support transparent background colors.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

As far as i'm aware, i'm not setting any transpaernt background colours!

Here's the two functions i'm using for loading and saving:

VB Code:

Function LoadFile()
        Dim sTemp As String
        FileOpen(1, Application.StartupPath & "\config.ini", OpenMode.Input)
        sTemp = LineInput(1)
        TreeView1.BackColor = Color.FromName(sTemp)
        FileClose(1)
    End Function
 
    Function SaveFile()
        FileOpen(1, Application.StartupPath & "\config.ini", OpenMode.Output)
        PrintLine(1, TreeView1.BackColor.Name)
        PrintLine(1, TreeView1.ForeColor.Name)
        FileClose(1)
    End Function

and the config.ini file only holds the value ffc0ffff

It should be used like this:
TreeView1.BackColor.Name = Color.FromName("Red")

Also check out the ColorTranslator class if you need to do some form of conversion between color formats. It has OLE, Win32, and HTML.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Edneeis
It should be used like this:
TreeView1.BackColor.Name = Color.FromName("Red")

---

I understand what you mean Edneeis, but the weird thing is that this:

VB Code:

PrintLine(1, TreeView1.BackColor.Name)

gives me a number like this: ff008040

While this:

VB Code:

PrintLine(1, TreeView1.[i]Fore[/i]Color.Name)

gives me an actual colour name - white

Right, it seems that some colours in a ColorDialog() return names while some return numbers.

Is there any way to specify only named colours from a ColorDialog() without having a list of them to pick from?

Is it a greenish color?

try this:

VB Code:

TreeView1.BackColor=ColorTranslator.FromHtml("#ff008040")

Yeah that should do it just Try..Catch it and in the catch add a "#" to the front and try it again.

VB Code:

Try
            treeview1.BackColor = Color.FromName(sTemp)
        Catch
            treeview1.BackColor = ColorTranslator.FromHtml("#" & sTemp)
        End Try

Bah! :mad: I think i'll give up. Your above suggestion does work.... if the colour isn't a word ("white", "green", "blue") and your other suggestion with Color.FromName works if it isn't a number! And it can be either!!!

I thinks i'll just have a list of colours to pick from instead of a ColorDialog()

Thanks for everyone's help on this :p

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Edneeis
Yeah that should do it just Try..Catch it and in the catch add a "#" to the front and try it again.

VB Code:

Try
            treeview1.BackColor = Color.FromName(sTemp)
        Catch
            treeview1.BackColor = ColorTranslator.FromHtml("#" & sTemp)
        End Try

---

Did we cross posts because this should cover both names and numbers?

I think we did! Another frustration eased by the mighty Edneeis! :D

Well I don't know about mighty but I'm glad I could help.