Programming FAQ -- show off your cool tips here!

I am wanting to start a programming FAQ ( http://www.piqsoftware.com/projects/apochfaq/ ).

However, I do NOT want to cover the basic stuff like "how to make a command button" and that sort of junk.

If you have a cool tip or trick that you'd like to share, just post it here and I'll put it up -- with whatever credits you like (name, email, website, whatever)



Go for it! :)

I'll get you started:

How to make a really cool shaped window
Put this into a module:

VB Code:

Public Function GetTransparencyRgn(ByVal TheForm As Form) As Long
  Dim hrgn As Long, hrgn2 As Long
  Dim Temp As Long
  Dim I As Integer, J As Integer
  Dim BeginX As Integer
  Dim PrevX As Integer
  Dim PrevEX As Integer
  Dim Rows As Integer
  Dim Flag As Boolean
  Dim BeginRow As Integer
  Dim H As Long
  Dim ht As Integer, wd As Integer
 
  hrgn = CreateRectRgn(0, 0, 0, 0)
 
  BeginX = -1
  PrevX = -1
  PrevEX = -2
  Rows = 1
 
  With TheForm.PicMask
    H = .hdc
    ht = .ScaleHeight
    wd = .ScaleWidth
  End With
 
  For J = 0 To ht
    Flag = False
    For I = 0 To wd
      ' change the RGB numbers here to change the transparent color
      If GetPixel(H, I, J) <> RGB(255, 255, 0) Then
        If BeginX = -1 Then
          If PrevX <> I Then
            Temp = CreateRectRgn(PrevX, J, PrevEX, J)
            BeginX = -1
            CombineRgn hrgn, hrgn, Temp, RGN_OR
            DeleteObject Temp
            Rows = 1
          End If
 
          BeginX = I
          If PrevX = I Then
            If Not Flag Then BeginRow = J
              Flag = True
              Rows = Rows + 1
            End If
            PrevX = BeginX
          End If
        Else
          If BeginX <> -1 Then
            If Flag Then
              Rows = Rows + 1
            Else
              BeginRow = J
              Rows = 1
              Temp = CreateRectRgn(BeginX, BeginRow, I, J + Rows)
              BeginX = -1
              CombineRgn hrgn, hrgn, Temp, RGN_OR
              DeleteObject Temp
            End If
 
            PrevEX = I
          End If
        End If
      Next I
      If BeginX >= (I - 1) Then
        BeginRow = J
        Rows = 1
        Temp = CreateRectRgn(BeginX, BeginRow, I, J + Rows)
        BeginX = -1
        CombineRgn hrgn, hrgn, Temp, RGN_OR
        DeleteObject Temp
        PrevEX = I
      End If
  Next J
 
  GetTransparencyRgn = hrgn
End Function

And in the form:

VB Code:

Private Sub Form_Load()
  Dim hrgn As Long
  hrgn = GetTransparencyRgn(Me)
  SetWindowRgn hwnd, hrgn, 1
End Sub

Put a PictureBox onto the form that is named PicMask. Set its Visible property to false, AutoRedraw to True, and ScaleMode to 3 - vbPixels.

Next, make a BMP file that has the shape you want. The transparent color is yellow (RGB 255, 255, 0) but you can change it easily (see the code for details). Everything that is yellow (or whatever color you set) will be see-through.

Note also that the form's ScaleMode property must be 3-vbPixels.

I think you forgot to include the API calls with that code...

lol, so I did!

:eek: missing in u'r FAQ aswell ! http://www.piqsoftware.com/projects/...faq/coolfx.htm

:p

Lewis, this is a must for any FAQ out there :)

VB Easter Bunny

1. From VB's View Menu, select toolbar, then customize......
2. In the resulting dialog, click On the Command Tab.
3. In the Categories List, Select Help.
4. Select "About Microsoft Visual Basic" In the Command List, And drag it To any menu Or the toolbar.
5. Right-click On the Item you just dragged And rename it To "Show VB Credits" (without quotes).
6. Then Close the "Customize" dialog And click On the
"Show VB Credits"

Yeah I open that every once in a while when I'm in the mood for some funky music :D

Play a midi using API

VB Code:

Option Explicit
Private Declare Function mciSendString Lib "winmm.dll" Alias _
   "mciSendStringA" (ByVal lpstrCommand As String, ByVal _
   lpstrReturnString As Any, ByVal uReturnLength As Long, ByVal _
   hwndCallback As Long) As Long
 
 
Private Sub Command1_Click()
    Dim ret As Integer
    Dim sSong As String
    'start the song
    sSong = App.Path & "\midisong.mid"
    ret = mciSendString("open " & Chr(34) & sSong & Chr(34) & " type sequencer alias to_town", 0&, 0, 0)
    ret = mciSendString("play to_town", 0&, 0, 0)
End Sub
 
Private Sub Command2_Click()
    Dim ret As Integer
    'stop playing the song
    ret = mciSendString("close to_town", 0&, 0, 0)
End Sub

want simple but often asked stuff like that?

That works, but I was thinking of little known let really cool stuff like the wacky-shaped window demo above...

Give me a while and I'll update that stuff real quick.

All added :)



Anyone else?

haven't read through all the posts, but...

this code

Code:

---

If a = "Hello" Then
    b = "Hi"
Else
    b = "Bye"
End If

---

has the same effect as

Code:

---

b = Iif(a = "Hello", "Hi", "Bye)

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by mlewis



Not true!

Try this:

If a = "Hello" Then
MsgBox "hi"
Else
MsgBox "Bye"
End if



And then try:

Dim a
a = "goobl"
IIf a = "Hello", MsgBox("Hi"), MsgBox("Bye")


OOPS!

---

well
i'm not sure but i think that this will do it right

VB Code:

Msgbox Iif(A= "Hello, "Hii" , "Bye")

what i know about Iif (i just knew it 3 minutes ago) is that it returns the first value given if the condition is tru and the second if none so that code should do it right

I use the ADO helper from M$. Here are 2 files

and this one

Thank you! What an excellent tip!

:rolleyes:



That's not a tip dude. Thats code. I don't want Microsoft code. I want real tips, real things that people have come up with.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by mlewis
Thank you! What an excellent tip!

:rolleyes:



That's not a tip dude. Thats code. I don't want Microsoft code. I want real tips, real things that people have come up with.

---

well.....you may not like it but it sure is efficient when using databases

Cheesy but neat effect! (As Willard Scott used to say in the commercials, "Don't forget the cheese!")

Make a form "scroll away" when closing.

VB Code:

Option Explicit
 
'Written by Carl Armbruster
'Make a form "scoll away" at close
'  May be used and distributed freely!
'   no nasty copyrights here mlewis!
Dim intStartWidth As Integer
Dim intStartHeight As Integer
Dim intUpperLimit As Integer
Dim i As Integer
 
Private Sub Form_Unload(Cancel As Integer)
    intStartWidth = Width
    intStartHeight = Height
    If intStartWidth > intStartHeight Then
        intUpperLimit = intStartWidth
    Else
        intUpperLimit = intStartHeight
    End If
    
    On Error Resume Next  'making the form
                        'too small gives an error!
    For i = intUpperLimit To 1 Step -1
        Width = Width - 1
        Height = Height - 1
    Next i
End Sub

Armbruster: Please take this msg not to serious

VB Code:

Option Explicit
 
Private Sub Form_Unload(Cancel As Integer)
Dim intCounter As Integer
Dim intMax As Integer
Dim intHeight As Integer
Dim intWidth As Integer
 
    intWidth = Me.Width
    intHeight = Me.Height
    If intWidth > intHeight Then
        intMax = intWidth
    Else
        intMax = intHeight
    End If
    
    On Error Resume Next 
 
    For intCounter = intMax To 1 Step -1
        Me.Width = Me.Width - 1
        Me.Height = Me.Height - 1
    Next intCounter
End Sub

This code was originally posted by Armbruster - I changed a few
things - so if I would claim now I wrote this procedure first who
is right??

To make it clear again I DID NOT write this procedure I only
wand to use it to show my point.

Face it if I would ask 20 developers to write a procedure which
close an app by "scrolling away" we would have at lease 2
simelare procedures.

Well you have a point, that all our procedures would be similar.

That's kind of the idea of a FAQ isn't it? To provide common answers to common problems? Frequently asked Questions ;)



In this case, I have NO way to prove if you or arm wrote the code first. However, arm posted first so he would get credit in the FAQ. :)

This sure looks yummy! The form just go on circulating

VB Code:

'In a form code...
 
Dim Degree as Integer
Const Distance = 1000 ' twips
Private Sub Form_Load()
Timer1.Interval = 1
Timer1.Enabled = True
End Sub
 
Private Sub Timer1_Timer()
Degree = Degree + 1
If Degree > 360 Then Degree = 0
Radian = Degree / 57.2958
X = COS(Radian) * Distance
Y = SIN(Radian) * Distance
Me.Top = (Screen.Width \ 2) + X
Me.Left = (Screen.Height \ 2) + Y
End Sub

Err...Could u put QBasic and Assembly section as well in ur
Apoch site?
That'll b great :p

lol, I'd love to add those sections, but I'd need tips for them first. I have plenty of QBasic lore in my old shriveled brain, but I don't know if anyone is interested.


Also, I will be gone on business until Wednesday, so please do not dispair if your tips aren't published for a while. I'll try to check up on this thread often while I'm away, but who knows :p

Quote:

---

Originally posted by mlewis
lol, I'd love to add those sections, but I'd need tips for them first. I have plenty of QBasic lore in my old shriveled brain, but I don't know if anyone is interested.


Also, I will be gone on business until Wednesday, so please do not dispair if your tips aren't published for a while. I'll try to check up on this thread often while I'm away, but who knows :p

---

Why don't you let members on your site to publish the code and tips for you? It would give you more time to do the other thing you have to do. Why don't you give the member of your site jobs e.g someone (some ppl) to put the code up on the site.

yup, why don't u appoint some commitee members?
Or atleast make a page which enable others to post
tips and update it automatically.

This is getting cool and cool and cool!:cool:

Quote:

---

Originally posted by jian2587
yup, why don't u appoint some commitee members?
Or atleast make a page which enable others to post
tips and update it automatically.

This is getting cool and cool and cool!:cool:

---

Alright lets take a vote. who think commitee would be a good idea?

I reckon it would work.

How much I can charge if I get member of this commite.

Do I get a commite car?

Are there any other benefits involved????


:rolleyes:

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Bongo
How much I can charge if I get member of this commite.

Do I get a commite car?

Are there any other benefits involved????


:rolleyes:

---

HeHe I wish first we have to see if he will agree to the idea.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by mlewis
That's right!


I've copyrighted my software before, and I know the penalties can be pretty stiff. Technically, you can only claim copyright "rights" if you register the thing, but you can still claim *Some* rights by putting a notice in it.

However, since all the code submitted (except that example) did not have any copyright, and could very easily be re-written by any one of us so as not to be copyrightable, I don't lose any sleep over it :)

---

I know it cost alot of money to get a program copy written by how much exactly are we talking?

Here's some short and easy code to put a grab handle (shangle) at the bottom right of a window for resizing:

Pretty sure I wrote it all, but it's so long ago I couldn't swear to it.

Anyway, I'm claiming the copyright and releasing it to you, so if I'm wrong it's only me who is in trouble, not you.

right, I vote yes.

To reply on the copywrighting stuff if you put a disk into a envelope and send it to yourself it will have a time stamp on it proving you made it origanlly (if the time is right) it has worked before with people. hope this helped

Quote:

---

Originally posted by SeizeTheDay
To reply on the copywrighting stuff if you put a disk into a envelope and send it to yourself it will have a time stamp on it proving you made it origanlly (if the time is right) it has worked before with people. hope this helped

---

I found an envelope at home dated 12.03.1981. Do you think I can now claimthe copyright of Windows?:confused:

To get the free memory, use the GlobalMemoryStatus API and the MEMORYSTATUS Type:

VB Code:

Option Explicit
Public Declare Sub GlobalMemoryStatus Lib "kernel32" (lpBuffer As MEMORYSTATUS)
Public Type MEMORYSTATUS
    dwLength As Long
    dwMemoryLoad As Long
    dwTotalPhys As Long
    dwAvailPhys As Long
    dwTotalPageFile As Long
    dwAvailPageFile As Long
    dwTotalVirtual As Long
    dwAvailVirtual As Long
End Type
Public Type Fraction 'UDT made by me, Copyrighted ;) hehe
    fAmount As Long
    fMax As Long
End Type
Function GetPhysicalMemory() As Fraction
Dim Memory As MEMORYSTATUS
    Call GlobalMemoryStatus(Memory)
    GetPhysicalMemory.fAmount = Memory.dwAvailPhys
    GetPhysicalMemory.fMax = Memory.dwTotalPhys
End Function

Quote:

---

Originally posted by SeizeTheDay
To reply on the copywrighting stuff if you put a disk into a envelope and send it to yourself it will have a time stamp on it proving you made it origanlly (if the time is right) it has worked before with people. hope this helped

---

Wierd but funny.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Bongo


I found an envelope at home dated 12.03.1981. Do you think I can now claimthe copyright of Windows?:confused:

---

Yeah then sue Microsoft for billions.

anyone call show me how to call an application using VB. Thank you!!!!!

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Everything
anyone call show me how to call an application using VB. Thank you!!!!!

---

Just using the shell command.

i.e Shell ("c:\windows\explorer.exe")

Quote:

---

Originally posted by SeizeTheDay
To reply on the copywrighting stuff if you put a disk into a envelope and send it to yourself it will have a time stamp on it proving you made it origanlly (if the time is right) it has worked before with people. hope this helped

---

If it arrived next day, what would the equivalent Baud rate be?

What's the best speed you could manage? If you sent a stack of CD's from Amsterdam to London by UPS, would it be faster than transferring the data by modem? Would it be cheaper? What's the break-even point? Hey - I actually had to do this at one time. Never did figure out which was better. We used to use UPS for anything bigger than 50Mb, but that was more to do with getting to the pub on time than anything technical.

Highest theoretical baudrate? It's the Space Shuttle in orbit with the cargo bay full of DVD's.

[QUOTE
mxnmx -- that code is copyrighted; I'd rather not use it because I don't have permission from the author. Thanks anyway :) [/B]
[/QUOTE]

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
' Copyright ©1996-2002 VBnet, Randy Birch, All Rights Reserved.
' Some pages may also contain other copyrights by the author.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
' You are free to use this code within your own applications,
' but you are expressly forbidden from selling or otherwise
' distributing this source code without prior written consent.
' This includes both posting free demo projects made from this
' code as well as reproducing the code in text or html format.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Bongo
[QUOTE
mxnmx -- that code is copyrighted; I'd rather not use it because I don't have permission from the author. Thanks anyway :)

---

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
' Copyright ©1996-2002 VBnet, Randy Birch, All Rights Reserved.
' Some pages may also contain other copyrights by the author.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
' You are free to use this code within your own applications,
' but you are expressly forbidden from selling or otherwise
' distributing this source code without prior written consent.
' This includes both posting free demo projects made from this
' code as well as reproducing the code in text or html format.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' [/B][/QUOTE]

There is such a thing as triviality of copyright and the courts would take that into account in any copyright litigation.

Just because you wrote something and put your 'copyright' on it does not mean you own the copyright. A court may decide against you if it was a trivial construction or an adaptation of a existing common construction.

e.g. if you come up with a new and faster sort algo, then that's almost certainly covered. If you take something out of book, or out of MSDN, or you just type out a commonly used bit of code, then it's not your copyright, even if you hack it about and rearrange it, unless it includes some substantial new functionality.

This probably covers almost anything under a few hundred lines of code - unless it is really unusual.

You see lots of bits of short code, - e.g. API call wrappers to handle the registry etc. - that somebody has marked 'copyright'. I don't think so. If it came down to the wire, the earliest similar code was probably written by Microsoft when they were testing the API before it was even released. Any general routine, unless it's VERY unusual has almost certainly been written before. Don't even think of copyrighting a hex to dec converter. It was probably first written in the 60's.

Now the above is not to say that people who have provided these routines have not put a lot of work in to them. They deserve some credit for it, even if it's just leaving their name in the header. Also, it would be wrong for a commercial site to SELL such code (or access to it) without due recompense - and that should be resisted.

But legal protection? In most cases I think not. Who's going to go to pay a lawyer to fight over twenty lines of code anyway?

It comes down to what's polite, rather than what's legal - and certainly you should ask the author's permission to quote his code unless it is explicitly given in the header (which of course somebody else could already have changed without permission!).

I'd just follow your conscience and not worry too much about the outcome.

BrianHawley - you made it quite clear - and be honest I can not
understand the fass about this copyright here in a Forum. This
does not include whole pieces of Software. I put a copyright on
my SW as well.

But for snipplets or small routines here in the forum I think we
should not be so picky.

As you mentioned If I realy would develop a new (and deffenitly the best) sorting algo. I think I would not release the code before
I have the proper copyright on it.


Interesting is actualy the point you mentioned that MS has allready
testes most thinks - therfore the copyright should actually with them. So if we go this rouad further actually everey peace of SW
written with there development tools are belonging to them????

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Bongo
So if we go this rouad further actually everey peace of SW
written with there development tools are belonging to them????

---

I would not go that far. But if you write a trivial routine that just calls a MS API, it's hardly worth trying to copyright it. The main benefit of the code is to execute the API, and that's all MS code, not yours - so your copyright is trivial.

A lawyer friend of mine has just read my earlier posting and says I'm not quite right. In a trivial copyright case, the court may find that you DO technically own the copyright on the code, but they will only give you small damages (maybe one penny) to punish you for wasting everybody's time, even though you are technically in the right.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by BrianHawley


In a trivial copyright case, the court may find that you DO technically own the copyright on the code, but they will only give you small damages (maybe one penny) to punish you for wasting everybody's time, even though you are technically in the right.

---

I like this scenario.

ok in the end of the day most of my work is owned by my clients (contracter) and the few Apps I wrote are so specific so there are not on the market for sell.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Bongo


I like this scenario.

ok in the end of the day most of my work is owned by my clients (contracter) and the few Apps I wrote are so specific so there are not on the market for sell.

---

What can I say? Life's a bummer.

Better knock it off with this discussion or we will be in trouble for thread degeneration.

Let's not tied by all these copyright stuffs.
Use it freely. What's more this is a tips thread.
We came here to learn new stuffs.

ROFL this thread got WAY off topic :p

Back to the FAQ. (gee what a [corny] rhyme! wow!)


I like the idea of letting members maintain the FAQ, but I would have to trust the moderators explicitly before I let them fark around on me web site :D

If anyone is willing to be a guinea pig -- erm, volunteer -- for the moderating position, just speak up.

I know you kicked the idea around earlier in this thread, but if you are serious about moderating the FAQ, please PM or email me using the coooool little buttons below this post.

There are no perks for moderating the FAQ, except you might get a little fame and glory by having your name on the Moderators list. No cars, no cash, no women, nothing -- those are all for me :p (j/k)



Also someone asked earlier how much it costs to register a copyright. Technically, $25 US per entry. Thats per entry tho -- if you want to copy code AND interface, you have to pay for 2 entries (last time I checked.) However, if you copyright 30 different windows for your interface, its only one entry as long as your screeen shots are all together in the package.

Of course, you also have to pay for shipping/postage, for the CDs/floppies that your copyrighted material is on (so they can test it out and never send it back) and all that good stuff. But its worth it -- for $200 at the MOST you can have the full legal rights to sue the living crap out of anyone that violates your copyright :D




Anyway, I am still on my @%$#@^%$#^@%$ trip so I won't be able to do anything on the site, but as soon as I get back to my beloved workstation I will get that moderation stuff going. Priviledged users will be able to:

Post news items on the site
Post items to the FAQ
other cool stuff later in life


The main problem here is that I will have to reconfigure the site to quit storing HTML and start storing the FAQ in the database. I suppose I was a bit of an idiot for not doing that at the very beginning, but oh well :)

Look for all these updates ... uh.... sometime. I have 2 days to do those changes (which will be busy as heck) and then ANOTHER trip, this time longer. Crap. Hopefully I will have more free time on the next one...

Better go before my timesheet starts looking suspicious :)

Quote:

---

Originally posted by agent
haven't read through all the posts, but...

this code

Code:

---

If a = "Hello" Then
    b = "Hi"
Else
    b = "Bye"
End If

---

has the same effect as

Code:

---

b = Iif(a = "Hello", "Hi", "Bye)

---

---

Agreed, but the IIf statement is 3 times slower! :) Not recommended if you require your program to be as fast as possible. It's also the same as:

VB Code:

Select Case a
   Case "Hello"
      b = "Hi!"
   Case Else
      b = "Bye"
End Select

But again, this is slower than the If Then command.
Here's a bench test program I wrote for Vb to work out which commands are the fastest...You will have to replace the Connection string for ADO if you want to bench test it :(

I appologies for the programming code, I was very hungover, tired and had someone pestering me while I wrote it, so yes I know, it's bad, but it still gives you an idea of speeds.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by mlewis
ROFL this thread got WAY off topic :p

Back to the FAQ. (gee what a [corny] rhyme! wow!)


I like the idea of letting members maintain the FAQ, but I would have to trust the moderators explicitly before I let them fark around on me web site :D

If anyone is willing to be a guinea pig -- erm, volunteer -- for the moderating position, just speak up.

I know you kicked the idea around earlier in this thread, but if you are serious about moderating the FAQ, please PM or email me using the coooool little buttons below this post.

There are no perks for moderating the FAQ, except you might get a little fame and glory by having your name on the Moderators list. No cars, no cash, no women, nothing -- those are all for me :p (j/k)



Also someone asked earlier how much it costs to register a copyright. Technically, $25 US per entry. Thats per entry tho -- if you want to copy code AND interface, you have to pay for 2 entries (last time I checked.) However, if you copyright 30 different windows for your interface, its only one entry as long as your screeen shots are all together in the package.

Of course, you also have to pay for shipping/postage, for the CDs/floppies that your copyrighted material is on (so they can test it out and never send it back) and all that good stuff. But its worth it -- for $200 at the MOST you can have the full legal rights to sue the living crap out of anyone that violates your copyright :D




Anyway, I am still on my @%$#@^%$#^@%$ trip so I won't be able to do anything on the site, but as soon as I get back to my beloved workstation I will get that moderation stuff going. Priviledged users will be able to:

Post news items on the site
Post items to the FAQ
other cool stuff later in life


The main problem here is that I will have to reconfigure the site to quit storing HTML and start storing the FAQ in the database. I suppose I was a bit of an idiot for not doing that at the very beginning, but oh well :)

Look for all these updates ... uh.... sometime. I have 2 days to do those changes (which will be busy as heck) and then ANOTHER trip, this time longer. Crap. Hopefully I will have more free time on the next one...

Better go before my timesheet starts looking suspicious :)

---

Yeah ok I be a guinea pig for your site. Thanx for the info on the copright rights.

I thought this was really really cool. its a text box with enhanced capabilities because of a class. Could save people a lot of hassle.

http://www.planet-source-code.com/vb...31890&lngWId=1

Remove recent files from vb-ide

Open RegEdit And delete all values In:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Visual Basic\6.0\RecentFiles

I would like to share my vb's source codes gathered from
everywhere - vbworld,PSC,... with others

It's categorized. And every code is seperated by 4 lines
And every code has a remark on top to tell what it does

Later on I'll post source on DirectX7 and DirectX8...

Hope it helps. :)

How about some .net stuff?

All these VB6 tips are going to be gathering dust soon.

(Stands back and waits to be flamed)
:D

Nope! I actually dont use .NET and wont forever!(Er...Perhaps
I may have exception later when XP is really popular and when
I get new PC:P120Mhz cant use XP!:mad:

The VB tips I posted does has lots of advance cool tips!:p
If nobody d/l it it's fine, I'll delete the post rightaway!:(

Quote:

---

Originally posted by jian2587
Nope! I actually dont use .NET and wont forever!(Er...Perhaps
I may have exception later when XP is really popular and when
I get new PC:P120Mhz cant use XP!:mad:

The VB tips I posted does has lots of advance cool tips!:p
If nobody d/l it it's fine, I'll delete the post rightaway!:(

---

Hey, don't take it too seriously. I meant the whole thread, not just your last post.

I'm just trying to get more people interested in .net.

I agree that VB6 wil be around for a long time, because of hardware limitations if nothing else. But .net WILL take over at some point (how many people are still using vb4?) and we should all start getting ready as soon as we can.

Also a lot of VB6 tips also work in .net with a few small changes.

:)

Same to you too, pls dont take so seriously on my previous
post. I just put a couplar of !...

I'll stick to VB6. Unless .NET is really popular.
Hey,BTW, I dont know why everybody hates Microsoft,
and yet use their products, it looks like everybody
desperated...Me too, I use their products, just because:
1.Most popular PC games platform
2.Most popular software development target platform
3.Most users use.
4.Get it for A few dollars(pirated) :just kidding:D
5.Most familiar
6.Most unstable OS ever used(I like the BSOD and illegal
operation;) ,I've chance to hit my CPU like a mad cow:cool:
7.Compatibilty with others
(Or is it others try to compatible with it?!!)

This code shows a simple way of 'hooking' modal windows (MsgBox or InputBox) and changing their behavior.

VB Code:

'PUT BELOW DECLARATIONS IN A .BAS MODULE
 
Option Explicit
 
Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias _
   "FindWindowA" (ByVal lpClassName As String, _
   ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
 
Private Declare Function FindWindowEx Lib "user32" Alias _
  "FindWindowExA" (ByVal hWnd1 As Long, ByVal hWnd2 As Long, _
   ByVal lpsz1 As String, ByVal lpsz2 As String) As Long
   
Public Declare Function SetTimer& Lib "user32" _
  (ByVal hwnd&, ByVal nIDEvent&, ByVal uElapse&, ByVal _
   lpTimerFunc&)
 
Private Declare Function KillTimer& Lib "user32" _
  (ByVal hwnd&, ByVal nIDEvent&)
 
Private Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias _
    "SendMessageA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, _
    ByVal wParam As Long, lParam As Any) As Long
 
Const EM_SETPASSWORDCHAR = &HCC
Public Const NV_INPUTBOX As Long = &H5000&
 
Public Sub TimerProc(ByVal hwnd&, ByVal uMsg&, _
   ByVal idEvent&, ByVal dwTime&)
 
    Dim EditHwnd As Long
 
' CHANGE APP.TITLE TO YOUR INPUT BOX TITLE.
 
    EditHwnd = FindWindowEx(FindWindow("#32770", App.Title), _
       0, "Edit", "")
 
    Call SendMessage(EditHwnd, EM_SETPASSWORDCHAR, Asc("*"), 0)
    KillTimer hwnd, idEvent
End Sub
 
'THIS IS HOW TO USE THE CODE FROM WITHIN A FORM
 
Private Sub Command1_Click()
  Dim ret As String
  SetTimer hwnd, NV_INPUTBOX, 10, AddressOf TimerProc
  ret = InputBox("Enter Password")
End Sub

Nice! I'll post that as soon as I get a chance!

this code will show BackGround Wallpaper on Form

VB Code:

Private Declare Function PaintDesktop Lib "user32" _
(ByVal hdc As Long) As Long
 
 
 
Private Sub Command1_Click()
PaintDesktop Form1.hdc
 
End Sub

This is a .net function that returns the CPU serial number.

Good for security and activation routines that need to ID the PC.

Not all CPU's will do this, so you may need to fall back to a MAC number. (Code available to do this. Just ask.)

Not tested much on a range of PC's and OS's, so I would value any comments.

I'm also fairly new to .net, so feel free to point out any errors or missed optimisations.

VB Code:

'--------------------------------
'This is vb.net code. It will not work with vb6
'or earlier.
'--------------------------------
 
Option Strict On
 
Imports System.management
'--------------------------------
'If System.management (above) is underlined in blue, then you need
'to add it to the project references. Click on Project, Add Reference
'Click on the .NET tab, then select System.management from the table.
'Click on Select then OK.
'--------------------------------
 
Module Module1
 
 
  Function GetProcessorUniqueID() As String
 
    'PURPOSE: This function returns the UniqueID of
    '         the processor. (The serial number of the 
    '         CPU.) It is useful for software activation
    '         and protection routines that need to uniquely
    '         identify a processor. Note that not all
    '         processors return this number, so you may need
    '         to fallback to a network card MAC number or
    '         other unique identifier. But this is the best
    '         thing to use, if the processor provides it.
    '
    '         Quickly hacked together by Brian Hawley
    '         and hardly tested at all. Could probably use 
    '         a lot of improvement and testing. Any suggestions,
    '         flaming or praise to VB Q & A on [url]www.vbforums.com[/url] 
    '         or to [email][email protected][/email]
    '
    '         Note that Win32_Processor/UniqueID is only
    '         one example of a whole load of stuff available in
    '         System.management. It's worth exploring. 
 
    Dim mc As ManagementClass
    Dim moc As ManagementObjectCollection
    Dim mo As ManagementObject
    Dim UniqueIDs As String()
 
    mc = New ManagementClass("Win32_Processor") 'Create the management class
    moc = mc.GetInstances()    'Get all the instances. (May be more than one CPU)
    For Each mo In moc    'Check each one
 
      'Increase the size of the array as required.
      '(Yes, I know there is a better way, but I wanted to play
      'with Try Catch.)
      Try
        ReDim Preserve UniqueIDs(UBound(UniqueIDs) + 1)
      Catch
        ReDim UniqueIDs(0)
      End Try
 
      'Stick the result in the array
      UniqueIDs(UBound(UniqueIDs)) = Convert.ToString(mo.Item("UniqueId"))
 
      mo.Dispose()    ' Not sure if I need this, but it can`t hurt.
 
    Next
 
    'Not that UniqueIDsis an array as there may be more than one processor.
    'We only return the first element here, which is the first processor,
    'but there could be several (if you or your client are rich).
 
    Return UniqueIDs(0)
 
    End Function
 
End Module

It's kind a weird that there's 2 thread almost the same!!

But anyway, i post it there and i might as well do it here too:

for a score for example, you want it to be

0000009845

just do


Right("0000000000" & yourScore,10)

see the above would be

00000000009845

so 0000 will be droped!!