Hello, I have searched for awhile, and perhaps I might not know what to search for, but I cannot learn more about using byte arrays to send strings AND/OR UDTs using the same winsock control. Basically, I am making an online client/server game. I have gotten the chat to work, but the UDTs not so much. Ive used examples found on http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...b;EN-US;q152058 which works, but when I use my own UDT, it seems to overflow.

Here is my UDT:

VB Code:
  1. Public Type location

  2.     X As Integer

  3.     Y As Integer

  4.     z As Integer

  5. End Type

  6.  
  7. Public Type identity

  8.     account As String

  9.     password As String

  10.     name As String

  11.     gender As String

  12.     Class As String

  13.     subclass1 As String

  14.     subclass2 As String

  15.     subclass3 As String

  16.     age As Integer

  17.     race As String

  18.     level As Integer

  19.     exp As Integer

  20.     skillpts As Integer

  21.     statpts As Integer

  22.     talentpts As Integer

  23.     loc As location

  24.     

  25. End Type

  26.  
  27. Public Type wealth

  28.     

  29.     notes As Integer

  30.     credits As Integer '100 notes = 1 credit

  31.     platinum As Integer '100 credits = 1 platinum

  32.     kesh As Integer '100 platinum = 1 kesh

  33.     lumber As Integer

  34.     food As Integer

  35.         ore As Integer

  36.         steel As Integer

  37.         iron As Integer

  38.         tin As Integer

  39.         stone As Integer

  40.         gold As Integer

  41.         bronze As Integer

  42.         copper As Integer

  43.         silver As Integer

  44.         

  45. End Type

  46.  
  47. Public Type stats

  48.     

  49.     str As Integer

  50.     dex As Integer

  51.     int As Integer

  52.     vit As Integer

  53.     spi As Integer

  54.     ner As Integer 'nerve, depending on number, at low life can get intimidated or fight better

  55.     health As Integer

  56.     mana As Integer

  57.     rage As Integer 'when hit for certain amount, when missing, gain one rage; each point of rage increases miss rate by 5%, but increases damage by 3%

  58.     burnout As Integer 'tiredness, battle fatigue

  59.     hunger As Integer 'if 0, cant eat/drink

  60.     healthRegen As Double

  61.     manaRegen As Double

  62.     rageDegen As Double

  63.     

  64. End Type

  65.  
  66. Public Type combat

  67.  
  68.     armor As Integer

  69.     armorReduc As Double

  70.     avgdmg As Double

  71.     dmgmod As Double

  72.     dodge As Double

  73.     crit As Double

  74.     block As Double

  75.     parry As Double

  76.     tohit As Double

  77.     spellhit As Double 'chance to hit on a spell

  78.     spelldmg As Double

  79.  
  80. End Type

  81.  
  82. Public Type resists

  83.     

  84.     fire As Double

  85.     ice As Double

  86.     nature As Double

  87.     poison As Double

  88.     disease As Double

  89.     shadow As Double

  90.     holy As Double

  91.     magic As Double

  92.     

  93. End Type

  94.  
  95.  
  96. 'faction reputation from 0 to 10 (10 = best, 0 = worst)

  97. Public Type rep

  98.     human As Double

  99.     elf As Double

  100.     orc As Double

  101.     ent As Double

  102.     undead As Double

  103.     centaur As Double

  104.     troll As Double

  105.     dwarf As Double

  106.     leithon As Double

  107.     betobian As Double

  108.     dragon As Double

  109.     yeti As Double

  110.     dryad As Double

  111.     goblin As Double

  112.     ogre As Double

  113.     roc As Double

  114.     satyr As Double

  115.     vampire As Double

  116.     titan As Double

  117.     sabre As Double

  118.     uriah As Double

  119.     razril As Double

  120.     

  121.     jehkuk As Double

  122.     verjak As Double

  123.     bloodwind As Double

  124.  
  125. End Type

  126.  
  127. Public Type inventory

  128.     

  129.     helm As item

  130.     shoulders As item

  131.     chest As item

  132.     back As item

  133.     belt As item

  134.     gloves As item

  135.     legs As item

  136.     boots As item

  137.     righthand As item

  138.     lefthand As item

  139.     ring1 As item

  140.     ring2 As item

  141.     neck1 As item

  142.     neck2 As item

  143.     trinket1 As item

  144.     trinket2 As item

  145.     trinket3 As item

  146.     backpack(40) As item

  147.     pocket(12) As item

  148.     pouch20(5) As item 'gained at level 20

  149.     pouch35(7) As item 'gained at level 35

  150.     pouch50(9) As item 'gained at level 50

  151.     pouch65(11) As item 'gained at level 65

  152.     pouch80(13) As item 'gained at level 80

  153.     pouch95(15) As item 'gained at level 95

  154.  
  155. End Type

  156.  
  157.  
  158. 'house/land/village variables for character

  159. Global acres As Integer

  160. Global armypower As Integer

  161. Global taxrate As Double 'per turn, in credits

  162. Global population As Double

  163.  
  164.  
  165. Public Type hero

  166.  
  167.     identity As identity

  168.     spellList As spellList

  169.     stats As stats

  170.     combat As combat

  171.     resists As resists

  172.     wealth As wealth

  173.     rep As rep 'reputation

  174.     inventory As inventory

  175.     

  176. End Type

  177.  
  178. Public myHero As hero

Quite hefty, I know, and it will get even larger as i add more things to the game. Reguardless, when it is saved directly to a text file, it is 18kb with a name filled out and the basic entries are put in. I'm not quite sure if it is too large, and it is causing it. I tried sending each sub-UDT (identity, spellList, stats, etc) and it still doesnt work. Anyone have any suggestions?

OK, moving on, assuming we get this to work, How do I do the array of bytes as a buffer? Ive seen examples and I truly dont get it; if you can point me to a tutorial, explain a bit, or give me the name of a good book I can buy, I'd much appreciate it.

Thanks!