[RESOLVED] How can I incorporate a prewritten Notepad file into my program

[Sonny McGhee]

Visual Studio 2022. Windows 10 desktop computer.

I know how to start Notepad from within my program.

 Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

     Shell("Notepad.exe", AppWinStyle.NormalFocus)

 End Sub

I would like to have the program bring up a pre-written Notepad file, instead of just an empty notepad.

Any ideas from the experts?

Thank you!

PS: If this is possible, can I somehow incorporate it into my Resources?

[Sonny McGhee]

Hi

Here is one way to do that. This example uses a path to a file on my DeskTop.

' The file name is a string for the full path and name
' and could be from anywhere such as a DataGridView, or
' as shown here, a string variable etc

Dim MyFileName As String = "C:\Users\lesha\Desktop\TESTFILE.txt"

Dim si = New ProcessStartInfo With {.FileName = MyFileName, .UseShellExecute = True}
Process.Start(si)

EDIT: not sure what you mean re: resources.

Thanks!, I'm off to try that now.

By resources, I mean that if another user has my program, and doesn't have that particular notepad file on his computer, he wouldn't be able to view it. So if I can incorporate it into my program, and he has my program, he would be able to view the pre-written notepad file.

I apologize if this sound confusing.... I've only been at this since November, but having a ton of fun!

[.paul.]

This will open an instance of notepad, displaying a text file from My.Resources. You should note your My.Resources text file will be readonly.

Public Class Form1

    Private Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32.dll" Alias "SendMessageA" (ByVal hwnd As IntPtr, ByVal wMsg As Integer, ByVal wParam As Integer, ByVal lParam As String) As Integer
    Private Declare Function FindWindowEx Lib "user32.dll" Alias "FindWindowExA" (ByVal hWnd1 As IntPtr, ByVal hWnd2 As IntPtr, ByVal lpsz1 As String, ByVal lpsz2 As String) As IntPtr
    
    Private Const WM_SETTEXT As Integer = &HC

    Private Sub Button12_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Dim pr As New Process With {.StartInfo = New ProcessStartInfo("notepad.exe")}
        pr.Start()
        pr.WaitForInputIdle()

        Dim iHwndChild As IntPtr = FindWindowEx(pr.MainWindowHandle, 0, "Edit", vbNullString)
        SendMessage(iHwndChild, WM_SETTEXT, 0, My.Resources.myResourceTextFile)
    End Sub

End Class

[.paul.]

It's better to avoid an error than explicitly catch an error, when there is a likely chance an error could be thrown…

[.paul.]

If you want to use My.Settings...

Public Class Form1

    Private Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32.dll" Alias "SendMessageA" (ByVal hwnd As IntPtr, ByVal wMsg As Integer, ByVal wParam As Integer, ByVal lParam As String) As Integer
    Private Declare Function FindWindowEx Lib "user32.dll" Alias "FindWindowExA" (ByVal hWnd1 As IntPtr, ByVal hWnd2 As IntPtr, ByVal lpsz1 As String, ByVal lpsz2 As String) As IntPtr
    
    Private Const WM_SETTEXT As Integer = &HC

    Private Sub Button12_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Dim pr As New Process With {.StartInfo = New ProcessStartInfo("notepad.exe")}
        pr.Start()
        pr.WaitForInputIdle()

        Dim iHwndChild As IntPtr = FindWindowEx(pr.MainWindowHandle, 0, "Edit", vbNullString)
        SendMessage(iHwndChild, WM_SETTEXT, 0, My.Settings.anyStringSetting)
    End Sub

End Class

[.paul.]

To be honest, I don't know why you even need to use notepad. As a programmer, you have the tools to build your own custom notepad style editor really easily, which you can customize to fit your requirements.

[.paul.]

Hi Paul

That post at #6 was one I was working on and for unknown reason the edit window shut down so I started a new reply (which is #5 ???)

Anyway, are you able to delete post #6?

Post #6 edited

[Sonny McGhee]

Ford, and Paul...

It was a success and everything turned out exactly how I wanted it to. Thank you so much for your help!!!