Embedding Programs

[willsonfang]

Okay I want to create a patcher/installer type program

I have 3 files that i need to be embedded or stored in a file
two files need to be extracted when user clicks a button
and one of those two files need to be run with a parameter when the button is clicked
and last file needs to be extracted when program closes down
All 3 files need to be able to be updated in the program

My VB knowledge is pretty limited, so any help would be appreciated.

[gonzalioz]

Hi Willsonfang,

Try this:

1. Right click on your project in the solution explorer and choose 'Add -> Existing Item'.
You can now find your file in the solution explorer.

2. Go to the properties window of your file and change the 'Build Action' to 'Embedded Resource'.

3. Then add this to your code:

            Dim embeddedResource As Stream = Reflection.Assembly.GetEntryAssembly.GetManifestResourceStream("SolutionName.Test.exe")
            Dim fileStream As New FileStream("C:\Test.exe", FileMode.OpenOrCreate)
            For index As Int64 = 0 To embeddedResource.Length - 1
                fileStream.WriteByte(CByte(embeddedResource.ReadByte))
            Next
            fileStream.Close()

You have to replace SolutionName with the name of your Solution, obviously and test.exe with the name of your file.

Hope that helps!


[EDIT]
Almost forgot, you can start a program using Process.Start("C:\Test.exe").

[willsonfang]

Hi Willsonfang,

Try this:

1. Right click on your project in the solution explorer and choose 'Add -> Existing Item'.
You can now find your file in the solution explorer.

2. Go to the properties window of your file and change the 'Build Action' to 'Embedded Resource'.

3. Then add this to your code:

            Dim embeddedResource As Stream = Reflection.Assembly.GetEntryAssembly.GetManifestResourceStream("SolutionName.Test.exe")
            Dim fileStream As New FileStream("C:\Test.exe", FileMode.OpenOrCreate)
            For index As Int64 = 0 To embeddedResource.Length - 1
                fileStream.WriteByte(CByte(embeddedResource.ReadByte))
            Next
            fileStream.Close()

You have to replace SolutionName with the name of your Solution, obviously and test.exe with the name of your file.

Hope that helps!

Hmm so that embeds the file into your program, but how do you extract it?

[gonzalioz]

That's what the code does. In this case, it reads the contents (in bytes) from the embedded resource called Test.exe. Creates a new file and writes the contents of test.exe (in bytes) to C:\Test.exe.

Test.exe can of course be anything you want.. Test.img Test.png . doc etc etc.

[willsonfang]

That's what the code does. In this case, it reads the contents (in bytes) from the embedded resource called Test.exe. Creates a new file and writes the contents of test.exe (in bytes) to C:\Test.exe.

Test.exe can of course be anything you want.. Test.img Test.png etc etc.

O sorry didn't fully read the code, thnxs alot, but it doesn't matter if its not a exe file right, i just change the "text.exe" to "Test.xxx"?

[gonzalioz]

Yep.

I haven't figured out how to pass parameters with Process.Start yet btw .

[EDIT]

Got it :

The parameters in this case is "/safe". (Starts microsoft word in safe mode)

            Dim startInfo As New ProcessStartInfo
            startInfo.FileName = "winword.exe"
            startInfo.Arguments = "/safe"
            Process.Start(startInfo)

[willsonfang]

curious where do you find these things x.x, i tried googling and couldn't find anything about it.

[gonzalioz]

Well I knew already about Embedded Resources so I knew what I had to search for .

I got the information from:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/319291
and
http://dotnetperls.com/process-start-examples-vbnet

I use MSDN a lot but they always use 3million words to explain a simple piece of code lol, that's a bit irritating.