[RESOLVED] Deleting & Altering File Data

I got a empty file following the ANSI encoding and I want to make a bookmark library(kinda useless, but it tests my knowledge of programming:)). At first there will be no links at all and there's a button that will lead to a form that prompts you for the name of the site and URL. Then it'll add it to the file. Then on the main form, it'll will pop up (without needing to restart program.)
Ex-Youtube
www.youtube.com

File- Youtube www.youtube.com


But then you also need the function of deleting them.
File- Google www.google.com
Youtube www.youtube.com (Delete this one)
Yahoo www.yahoo.com

File- Google www.google.com
Yahoo www.yahoo.com (fill in the blank line)

Now for the question, how would you do it? (lol, sorry for asking such a question, but I kinda depressed since I spent around 2 hours trying to figure it out.)

I would use a ListView for the Bookmark names and second column contains the URL. The name is the Title of page.

A comma delimited file/db.
Reading with StreamReader, writing with StreamWriter.

This should spark something ;)

If its going to be two columns then how do you tell it to break each line into two with the comma?
Also could you give of a example of how to use stream writer? ( is it the same way as using stream reader but defining what is being entering?)

Break into two because each line has a name/Title separated by a SPACE " " and then the URL.
So, just as you Split at the comma, you now SPLIT at the Space.
So create Listview ITEM and a SUbItem [title/URL] and add them while working on the same line you are reading.

Yes, StreamWriter is the Object used to write to the file.
There are oodles of examples here and elsewhere.

Good Luck!

So the file will be like this?

Youtube,www.youtube.com
Google,www.google.com
Yahoo,www.yahoo.com

when I try to get the listbox to = BMF(variable for my file), it gives me this error

Error 1 Value of type '1-dimensional array of String' cannot be converted to 'String'. C:\Users\Blank\Desktop\Bookmark Library\Bookmark Library\Form4.vb 14 25 Bookmark Library

How do you declare BMF?
The Listbox gets filled from your bookmarks textfile, right?

vb Code:

Dim R As New IO.StreamReader(your_bookmarks_textfile)
            Dim BMF As String() = R.ReadToEnd().Split(New String(Environment.NewLine, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries))
     
            ListBox1.Items.AddRange(BMF)
            R.Close()

edit: I'm only guessing.
I will make a bookmark text file in that format you posted.
I will make a mock program.
Give me a few hours because I am not on the machine with the IDE.

If you are really that busy then you don't have to, but if you do thanks

EDIT: I got the streamreader part to work, but it won't split the line. Is there a specific character you must use to break it?
Also I am now trying to get the streamwriter to work, but I cant seem to get it to work
Public Class Form5
Dim BMC As New IO.StreamWriter("C:\Users\Allen Liu\Desktop\BM.varia")
Dim BM As String = TextName.Text & TextURL.Text
Private Sub ButtonAdd_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles ButtonAdd.Click
BMC = BM
End Sub
End Class

The error- Value of type 'String' cannot be converted to 'System.IO.StreamWriter'.

I wrote a custom class called Bookmark.
We can fiddle around with an Array that matches up nicely with the Listbox Selected Index..
A Listview was what I suggested, but Listbox can be used.

vb Code:

Option Strict On
Option Explicit On
 
Public Class Bookmark
 
    Public URL As String
    Public Title As String
 
    Public Overrides Function ToString() As String
        Return Me.Title
    End Function
End Class
 
 
Public Class Form1
    Dim MyBookmarks As String = My.Computer.FileSystem.CurrentDirectory & "/bookmarks.txt"
    Dim BMF As String()
    Dim newBMF As String()
 
    Private Sub FindBookmarks(Optional ByVal GoToTarget As Boolean = False)
        If Not GoToTarget Then
            Me.ListBox1.Items.Clear() 'for testing
        End If
 
        Dim bm_index As Integer = 0
        Dim NewBookmark As New Bookmark
 
        For Each bookmark In BMF
            newBMF = Split(BMF(bm_index), ",")
            NewBookmark.Title = newBMF(0)
            NewBookmark.URL = newBMF(1)
 
            If GoToTarget Then
                If ListBox1.SelectedIndex = bm_index Then
                    Process.Start(NewBookmark.URL.Trim)
                    Exit Sub
                End If
            Else
                Me.ListBox1.Items.Add(NewBookmark)
            End If
 
            bm_index += 1
        Next
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub ListBox1_SelectedIndexChanged(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles ListBox1.SelectedIndexChanged
        FindBookmarks(True)
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        Dim R As New IO.StreamReader(MyBookmarks)
        BMF = R.ReadToEnd().Split(CChar(vbNewLine))
        R.Close()
        FindBookmarks()
    End Sub
End Class

This example Program will do what you ask.
remember, it is just a working example -to help spawn ideas -or better code- LOL

Good Luck!

Put the bookmarks text file in your Debug folder.
It is attached

K thx I'll go try it out and see if it works

EDIT: Is this to write to file or read the file or both?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brinith

K thx I'll go try it out and see if it works

---

LOL< I wouldn't post it if it didn't work :)
I used a StreamWriter object to create the file, but deleted the code and write button- so I could just select all code and paste in here.

You have to have that Bookmark.txt file in your debug folder though. That is why I attached it here.
In real world application, one would not put this in the Form Load event.

Okay I placed the code into it and started it up. Everything works but the listbox does not show the link. You can still press it to go to it, just not see it.
Where do you even learn these things. Is there like a tutorial webstie for something like that because all the ones I used barely covered anything

I figured you didn't want to see the links right next to the Title.
I just play with code until it does what I want.
Listboxes do not have a TAG property, so I sort of made my own, though it is not really a Tag for the Listbox control.
It is merely a way to store data while program is running- without persisting.
I'm working on Add Bookmark Form because I figure that would be the next thing to work on.

The main objective of the AddBookmark Form is to add the title and URL to the text file.
Normally we would check to see if that bookmark text file exists or not.
I will include that portion in the next post that demonstrates adding a bookmark.

Ok, for adding bookmark and writing a default file if Bookmarks.txt is not written yet (first time use)
Add a Windows Form to project. Name it FormAddBookmark
If you rather do it easy, then copy the code at bottom of this post.
It is thee designer code. It will create the buttons and labels and correct size.

This code now will Handle the Load event and show Add Bookmarks Form.

vb Code:

Option Strict On
Option Explicit On
 
Public Class Form1
    Dim MyBookmarks As String = My.Computer.FileSystem.CurrentDirectory & "/bookmarks.txt"
    Dim BMF As String()
    Dim newBMF As String()
    Dim GoogleBookmark As String = "Google," & "www.google.com"
    Private Sub FindBookmarks(Optional ByVal GoToTarget As Boolean = False)
        If Not GoToTarget Then
            Me.ListBox1.Items.Clear() 'for testing
        End If
 
        Dim bm_index As Integer = 0
        Dim NewBookmark As New Bookmark
 
        For Each bookmark In BMF
            newBMF = Split(BMF(bm_index), ",")
            NewBookmark.Title = newBMF(0)
            NewBookmark.URL = newBMF(1)
            If GoToTarget Then
                If ListBox1.SelectedIndex = bm_index Then
                    Process.Start(NewBookmark.URL.Trim)
                    Exit Sub
                End If
            Else
                Me.ListBox1.Items.Add(NewBookmark)
            End If
            bm_index += 1
        Next
 
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub ListBox1_SelectedIndexChanged(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles ListBox1.SelectedIndexChanged
        FindBookmarks(True)
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        ' check to see if the bookmarks file exists
        ' If not, then create it and add your website URL or default it to Google which is what  I did for this example program
        If Not My.Computer.FileSystem.FileExists(MyBookmarks) Then
            My.Computer.FileSystem.WriteAllText(MyBookmarks, GoogleBookmark, False)
        End If
 
        Dim R As New IO.StreamReader(MyBookmarks)
        BMF = R.ReadToEnd().Split(CChar(vbNewLine))
        R.Close()
        FindBookmarks()
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub CloseButton_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles CloseButton.Click
        Application.Exit()
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub ButtonAddBookmark_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles ButtonAddBookmark.Click
        Dim AddBookmark As New FormAddBookmark
        Dim DialogResult As Windows.Forms.DialogResult = AddBookmark.ShowDialog
        If DialogResult = Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK Then
            MsgBox("BookMarks may have been added!")
        ElseIf DialogResult = Windows.Forms.DialogResult.Cancel Then
            MsgBox("We have Cancelled Adding Bookmark!")
        Else
            MsgBox("We are not in Kansas anymore TOTO! Space Aliens have come. We should NEVER see this TEXT. NEVER!!!")
        End If
        DialogResult = Nothing
    End Sub
End Class
Public Class Bookmark
    Public URL As String
    Public Title As String
    Public Overrides Function ToString() As String
        Return Me.Title
    End Function
End Class

Here is what I have for the FormAddBookmark form:
Just copy and paste into the form module window

vb Code:

<Global.Microsoft.VisualBasic.CompilerServices.DesignerGenerated()> _
Partial Class FormAddBookmark
    Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form
 
    'Form overrides dispose to clean up the component list.
    <System.Diagnostics.DebuggerNonUserCode()> _
    Protected Overrides Sub Dispose(ByVal disposing As Boolean)
        Try
            If disposing AndAlso components IsNot Nothing Then
                components.Dispose()
            End If
        Finally
            MyBase.Dispose(disposing)
        End Try
    End Sub
 
    'Required by the Windows Form Designer
    Private components As System.ComponentModel.IContainer
 
    'NOTE: The following procedure is required by the Windows Form Designer
    'It can be modified using the Windows Form Designer.  
    'Do not modify it using the code editor.
    <System.Diagnostics.DebuggerStepThrough()> _
    Private Sub InitializeComponent()
        Me.ButtonOK = New System.Windows.Forms.Button()
        Me.ButtonCancel = New System.Windows.Forms.Button()
        Me.TextboxTitle = New System.Windows.Forms.TextBox()
        Me.LabelTitle = New System.Windows.Forms.Label()
        Me.TextboxURL = New System.Windows.Forms.TextBox()
        Me.LabelURL = New System.Windows.Forms.Label()
        Me.SuspendLayout()
        '
        'ButtonOK
        '
        Me.ButtonOK.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(197, 98)
        Me.ButtonOK.Name = "ButtonOK"
        Me.ButtonOK.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(75, 23)
        Me.ButtonOK.TabIndex = 0
        Me.ButtonOK.Text = "&OK"
        Me.ButtonOK.UseVisualStyleBackColor = True
        '
        'ButtonCancel
        '
        Me.ButtonCancel.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(110, 98)
        Me.ButtonCancel.Name = "ButtonCancel"
        Me.ButtonCancel.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(75, 23)
        Me.ButtonCancel.TabIndex = 1
        Me.ButtonCancel.Text = "&Cancel"
        Me.ButtonCancel.UseVisualStyleBackColor = True
        '
        'TextboxTitle
        '
        Me.TextboxTitle.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(99, 17)
        Me.TextboxTitle.Name = "TextboxTitle"
        Me.TextboxTitle.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(173, 20)
        Me.TextboxTitle.TabIndex = 2
        '
        'LabelTitle
        '
        Me.LabelTitle.AutoSize = True
        Me.LabelTitle.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(12, 20)
        Me.LabelTitle.Name = "LabelTitle"
        Me.LabelTitle.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(81, 13)
        Me.LabelTitle.TabIndex = 3
        Me.LabelTitle.Text = "Bookmark Title:"
        '
        'TextboxURL
        '
        Me.TextboxURL.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(12, 72)
        Me.TextboxURL.Name = "TextboxURL"
        Me.TextboxURL.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(260, 20)
        Me.TextboxURL.TabIndex = 4
        '
        'LabelURL
        '
        Me.LabelURL.AutoSize = True
        Me.LabelURL.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(9, 56)
        Me.LabelURL.Name = "LabelURL"
        Me.LabelURL.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(83, 13)
        Me.LabelURL.TabIndex = 5
        Me.LabelURL.Text = "Bookmark URL:"
        '
        'FormAddBookmark
        '
        Me.AutoScaleDimensions = New System.Drawing.SizeF(6.0!, 13.0!)
        Me.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font
        Me.ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(284, 131)
        Me.Controls.Add(Me.LabelURL)
        Me.Controls.Add(Me.TextboxURL)
        Me.Controls.Add(Me.LabelTitle)
        Me.Controls.Add(Me.TextboxTitle)
        Me.Controls.Add(Me.ButtonCancel)
        Me.Controls.Add(Me.ButtonOK)
        Me.FormBorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.FormBorderStyle.FixedDialog
        Me.MaximizeBox = False
        Me.MinimizeBox = False
        Me.Name = "FormAddBookmark"
        Me.Text = "My Bookmarks- Add Bookmark"
        Me.ResumeLayout(False)
        Me.PerformLayout()
 
    End Sub
    Friend WithEvents ButtonOK As System.Windows.Forms.Button
    Friend WithEvents ButtonCancel As System.Windows.Forms.Button
    Friend WithEvents TextboxTitle As System.Windows.Forms.TextBox
    Friend WithEvents LabelTitle As System.Windows.Forms.Label
    Friend WithEvents TextboxURL As System.Windows.Forms.TextBox
    Friend WithEvents LabelURL As System.Windows.Forms.Label
End Class

Thanks for the help and I do feel a little guilty making you do all that work. How did you learn all of this?

Practicing is all.
Writing code and living off Intellisense, LOL
Documentations too, as well as ebooks...
World Wide Web too.
So many resources available -sigh
vbForums too!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brinith

Thanks for the help and I do feel a little guilty making you do all that work. How did you learn all of this?

---

I've appreciated intelligent dialog with you so I do this because I have nothing better to do with myself for rest of the night.
I do it with pleasure. :check:
Please -no- guilt- allowed ;)
:cool:

After a little altering, I finally got the program to work. Thanks proneal, I couldn't have done it without you.

Well, my pleasure, but I am sad now. I really wanted to finish with adding and removing bookmarks :(
BUT we are RESOLVED NOW, so -I will finish on my end.

Pleasure working with you.
:)

patrick

One more to help SPARK some ideas.
On the Form_Load event of FormAddBookmark:

vb Code:

Private Sub FormAddBookmark_Load(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
 
 
        If My.Computer.Clipboard.ContainsText(TextDataFormat.Text) Then
            Dim ClipContents As String = My.Computer.Clipboard.GetText
            If ClipContents.StartsWith("http://", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) Then
                TextboxURL.Text = ClipContents
            End If
        End If
    End Sub

This will nicely place the copied URL of the Webpage you want to add as a Bookmark for your application (pretend program ;) ) into the Textbox that holds the URL.

It tests before applying- to see if it is TEXT data. If so, it will be placed. If not -nothing is entered in the text field.

I could place a timer that checks for Text Data that ends with .php, shtml, html, htm, etc..or simply that starts with http://
When it detects such text in Clipboard, the Add Bookmark form will automatically pop up and allow for quick naming of the Title for the Bookmark.

Well I modified the Form Load one last time, LOL
Sorry. Last post, I promise!

vb Code:

Private Sub FormAddBookmark_Load(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
 
 
        If My.Computer.Clipboard.ContainsText(TextDataFormat.Text) Then
            Dim ClipContents As String = My.Computer.Clipboard.GetText
            Dim myRootDirectory As String = My.Computer.FileSystem.CurrentDirectory.Substring(0, 1) & ":\"
            If ClipContents.StartsWith("http://", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) _
                Or ClipContents.StartsWith("https://", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) _
                Or ClipContents.StartsWith("ftp://", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) _
                Or ClipContents.StartsWith(myRootDirectory, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) Then
                TextboxURL.Text = ClipContents
            End If
        End If
    End Sub