Sending And Recieving Data via WinSOCK

[Revivalry]

Hey everyone, this has been done before but prior to me having the project saved on my drive i reformatted, excluding all existing projects so i need help urgently.

Basically i have a project with Form1 named Client
two labels, two text boxes (username and password) , one winsock control and a command button (submit)

I have another project with Form1 named Server
and a text box

I would like to transmit data between the two so that when a username and password is typed in on the client and the button Submit is pressed, it displays in the text box of Server (depending if i have it running or not) the username and password typed on the client. I have managed to get this to work more than once and i know for definete it can be done.
Help is more than appreciated,
- revivalry

[leinad31]

Have you tried searching for code samples?

[Revivalry]

Yes i have..

[Doogle]

Here's a very simple example. Open up a project, create 2 forms, frmServer and frmClient.
On frmServer:
Draw two TextBoxes named txtUserName and txtPassword. Draw a Winsock control named Winsock1.
Insert the following into frmServer

Private Sub Form_Load()
'
' Server Form
'
Load frmClient
frmClient.Visible = True
frmClient.Top = Me.Top
frmClient.Left = Me.Left + Me.Width
frmClient.Caption = "Client"
Winsock1.LocalPort = 8001
Winsock1.Listen
Me.Caption = "Server - Listening"
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_ConnectionRequest(ByVal requestID As Long)
Winsock1.Close
Winsock1.Accept requestID
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_DataArrival(ByVal bytesTotal As Long)
Dim strData() As String
Static strBuffer As String
Dim strReceived As String
Dim lngPos As Long
Dim boFinished As Boolean
Winsock1.GetData strReceived
strBuffer = strBuffer & strReceived
Do
    lngPos = InStr(strBuffer, vbCr)
    If lngPos > 0 Then
        strData = Split(Mid$(strBuffer, 1, lngPos - 1), "|")
        txtUserName.Text = strData(0)
        txtPassword.Text = strData(1)
        If lngPos < Len(strBuffer) Then
            strBuffer = Mid$(strBuffer, lngPos + 1)
        Else
            strBuffer = ""
            boFinished = True
        End If
    Else
        boFinished = True
    End If
Loop Until boFinished = True
End Sub

On frmClient:
Draw two TextBoxes, named txtUserName and txtPassword and also draw a CommandButton named cmdSend. Draw a Winsock control named Winsock1.
Insert the following into frmClient

'
' Client Form
'
Private Sub cmdSend_Click()
If txtUserName.Text <> "" And txtPassword.Text <> "" Then
    Winsock1.RemoteHost = "localhost"
    Winsock1.RemotePort = 8001
    Winsock1.Connect
Else
    MsgBox "Must specify both Username and Password"
End If
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_Connect()
Winsock1.SendData txtUserName.Text & "|" & txtPassword.Text & vbCr
End Sub

If it's not already, make frmServer the start-up form for the project and run.
Type the username and password into the client form and click the CommandButton. Both should appear in the TextBoxes of the Server form.

You can create 2 projects if you want to separate the Client and Server. Just put frmServer in one, removing everything in the Form_Load event except for

Winsock1.LocalPort = 8001
Winsock1.Listen
Me.Caption = "Server - Listening"

and put frmClient in the other project. Run the Server and then run the Client.

[Revivalry]

That's left me breathless lol, thank you very much ill test it ==]

[Revivalry]

Here's a very simple example. Open up a project, create 2 forms, frmServer and frmClient.
On frmServer:
Draw two TextBoxes named txtUserName and txtPassword. Draw a Winsock control named Winsock1.
Insert the following into frmServer

Private Sub Form_Load()
'
' Server Form
'
Load frmClient
frmClient.Visible = True
frmClient.Top = Me.Top
frmClient.Left = Me.Left + Me.Width
frmClient.Caption = "Client"
Winsock1.LocalPort = 8001
Winsock1.Listen
Me.Caption = "Server - Listening"
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_ConnectionRequest(ByVal requestID As Long)
Winsock1.Close
Winsock1.Accept requestID
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_DataArrival(ByVal bytesTotal As Long)
Dim strData() As String
Static strBuffer As String
Dim strReceived As String
Dim lngPos As Long
Dim boFinished As Boolean
Winsock1.GetData strReceived
strBuffer = strBuffer & strReceived
Do
    lngPos = InStr(strBuffer, vbCr)
    If lngPos > 0 Then
        strData = Split(Mid$(strBuffer, 1, lngPos - 1), "|")
        txtUserName.Text = strData(0)
        txtPassword.Text = strData(1)
        If lngPos < Len(strBuffer) Then
            strBuffer = Mid$(strBuffer, lngPos + 1)
        Else
            strBuffer = ""
            boFinished = True
        End If
    Else
        boFinished = True
    End If
Loop Until boFinished = True
End Sub

On frmClient:
Draw two TextBoxes, named txtUserName and txtPassword and also draw a CommandButton named cmdSend. Draw a Winsock control named Winsock1.
Insert the following into frmClient

'
' Client Form
'
Private Sub cmdSend_Click()
If txtUserName.Text <> "" And txtPassword.Text <> "" Then
    Winsock1.RemoteHost = "localhost"
    Winsock1.RemotePort = 8001
    Winsock1.Connect
Else
    MsgBox "Must specify both Username and Password"
End If
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_Connect()
Winsock1.SendData txtUserName.Text & "|" & txtPassword.Text & vbCr
End Sub

If it's not already, make frmServer the start-up form for the project and run.
Type the username and password into the client form and click the CommandButton. Both should appear in the TextBoxes of the Server form.

You can create 2 projects if you want to separate the Client and Server. Just put frmServer in one, removing everything in the Form_Load event except for

Winsock1.LocalPort = 8001
Winsock1.Listen
Me.Caption = "Server - Listening"

and put frmClient in the other project. Run the Server and then run the Client.

Ok now the ip is set to "localhost" aka "127.0.0.1" how do i set it so that when the user and pass is typed and the login is clicked from a TOTALLY DIFFERENT COMPUTER i will still recieve the data? Use a DNS or my IP?
HELP!

[Doogle]

Well as I said in my original post you split it into 2 projects, 1 for the Server and one for the Client. You can install the client on another machine and specify the IP Address for the Computer on which the Server is running. You can use a DNS name if you've got one for your Server
eg

Private Sub cmdSend_Click()
If txtUserName.Text <> "" And txtPassword.Text <> "" Then
    Winsock1.RemoteHost = "xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx"      ' Server's IP Address
    Winsock1.RemotePort = 8001
    Winsock1.Connect
Else
    MsgBox "Must specify both Username and Password"
End If
End Sub

or

Private Sub cmdSend_Click()
If txtUserName.Text <> "" And txtPassword.Text <> "" Then
    Winsock1.RemoteHost = "mydnsentry"       'DNS of Server
    Winsock1.RemotePort = 8001
    Winsock1.Connect
Else
    MsgBox "Must specify both Username and Password"
End If
End Sub

[Revivalry]

Well as I said in my original post you split it into 2 projects, 1 for the Server and one for the Client. You can install the client on another machine and specify the IP Address for the Computer on which the Server is running. You can use a DNS name if you've got one for your Server
eg

Private Sub cmdSend_Click()
If txtUserName.Text <> "" And txtPassword.Text <> "" Then
    Winsock1.RemoteHost = "xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx"      ' Server's IP Address
    Winsock1.RemotePort = 8001
    Winsock1.Connect
Else
    MsgBox "Must specify both Username and Password"
End If
End Sub

or

Private Sub cmdSend_Click()
If txtUserName.Text <> "" And txtPassword.Text <> "" Then
    Winsock1.RemoteHost = "mydnsentry"       'DNS of Server
    Winsock1.RemotePort = 8001
    Winsock1.Connect
Else
    MsgBox "Must specify both Username and Password"
End If
End Sub

Ok thank you, i now have it split into two projects and working.
In the server i would rather one big text box and each time a user and pass is inserted on the client app and login is hit the logins will list down in one text box. Do you know what i mean?

[Doogle]

OK. Remove txtUsername and txtPassword from the Server Form and draw a new TextBox (txtData), set its MultiLine Property to true and put on a vertical scroll bar. Then you need to make some changes in the server DataArrival event vis (I've marked the lines that have changed)

Do
    lngPos = InStr(strBuffer, vbCr)
    If lngPos > 0 Then
        strData = Split(Mid$(strBuffer, 1, lngPos - 1), "|")
        txtData.Text = txtData.Text & strData(0) & vbCrLf 'Changed
        txtData.Text = txtData.Text & strData(1) & vbCrLf 'Changed
        If lngPos < Len(strBuffer) Then
            strBuffer = Mid$(strBuffer, lngPos + 1)
        Else
            strBuffer = ""
            boFinished = True
        End If
    Else
        boFinished = True
    End If
Loop Until boFinished = True

[Revivalry]

Ok that seems to be great and working, i think there's two other little things that need to be done:

when the username and password displays in the server txtData section i need them to be seperated from each other so i dont get muddled up. just a little something like -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- gets added along with the user and pass to prevent confusion..

Also when i have the client open and i press login more than once i get a run time error and i believe this is because there is a connection already open and another one cannot be created to the same server, so when login is clicked the first time i need it to: send me the data > close connection. Then it can be pressed more than once to prevent suspicion. THanks for your help so far mate you are great =]

[Doogle]

In the Server, once the data has been received then close the socket and start it listening again:

Do
    lngPos = InStr(strBuffer, vbCr)
    If lngPos > 0 Then
        strData = Split(Mid$(strBuffer, 1, lngPos - 1), "|")
        txtData.Text = txtData.Text & strData(0) & vbCrLf 
        txtData.Text = txtData.Text & strData(1) & vbCrLf 
        txtData/Text = txtData.Text & "-=-=-=-=-=-=-=" & vbCrLf
        If lngPos < Len(strBuffer) Then
            strBuffer = Mid$(strBuffer, lngPos + 1)
        Else
            strBuffer = ""
            boFinished = True
            Winsock1.Close
            Winsock1.Listen
        End If
    Else
        boFinished = True
    End If
Loop Until boFinished = True

and in the Client add:

Private Sub Winsock1_Close()
Winsock1.Close
End Sub

[wxmancanada]

Small note..

Should

txtData/Text = txtData.Text & "-=-=-=-=-=-=-=" & vbCrLf

Be this instead:

txtData.Text = txtData.Text & "-=-=-=-=-=-=-=" & vbCrLf

[Doogle]

Dsylexic keyboard

[Revivalry]

I think everything's done.. let me double check

Thanks mate ur great

[basti42]

Private Sub Winsock1_DataArrival(ByVal bytesTotal As Long)
Dim strData() As String
'****Static strBuffer As String
Dim strReceived As String
Dim lngPos As Long
'****Dim boFinished As Boolean
Winsock1.GetData strReceived
'****strBuffer = strBuffer '& strReceived
'****Do
lngPos = InStr(strReceived, vbCr)
If lngPos > 0 Then
strData = Split(Mid$(strReceived, 1, lngPos - 1), "|")
txtUserName.Text = strData(0)
txtPassword.Text = strData(1)
Text1.Text = strData(2)
If lngPos < Len(strReceived) Then
strBuffer = Mid$(strReceived, lngPos + 1)
Else
strReceived = ""
'****boFinished = True
End If
Else
'****boFinished = True
End If
'****Loop Until boFinished = True
End Sub

i added 1 more textbox to test to send multiple strings to split
and i removed the comment with asterisk(*
and it is still working...
meaning the code which i removed are no functions at all?
note: i just want to experiment/simply the code above

can you explain, TNX.

[Doogle]

The code you removed it to make sure that a complete record has been received. Whilst it may work OK without that code when you're running the client and server locally, when you try over a WAN or the Internet all the data may not arrive in one single event, it may take a number of events. Unless you cater for that you will get unexpected results and then accuse Winsock of losing data.

[Dovampi]

Hi...

i ve tried this code and its working

but, its working for the first time, then if i entered a new values and pressed cmdSend it gives me error...

how i can make it sending every time i press cmdSend without the need to close the whole program and start it again...

[leinad31]

Post the error

[Dovampi]

"Runtime error '40020':
Invalid operation at current state"

when i click Debug

it highlights (Winsock1.RemoteHost = "localhost")

[jmsrickland]

You cannot just press cmdSend everytime and anytime you want to. You must wait until the previous operation has finished. What you are doing is trying to send one sendData command after another and the previous command is not finished yet. I do not know how you are coding you project so I can't tell you what to correct.

[VBNetDude]

What if I don't know the remote computer's IP Address. Say, some friend wants to connect to a chat room. Can he transfere his IP Address so that people can talk with him?

[Dovampi]

You cannot just press cmdSend everytime and anytime you want to. You must wait until the previous operation has finished. What you are doing is trying to send one sendData command after another and the previous command is not finished yet. I do not know how you are coding you project so I can't tell you what to correct.

i am using the same code provided here...

yeah i am aware of that operation must finish so that another one can go in proccess

but, does that happen...

how i could know that sendData is finished so i can press cmdSend again

[jmsrickland]

One way would be to use either Private Sub Winsock1_SendComplete() or Private Sub Winsock1_SendProgress(ByVal bytesSent As Long, ByVal bytesRemaining As Long). In the _SendProgress event your data has been sent when bytesRemaining reaches zero. You could set an indicator in the _SendComplete event that informs your cmdSend sub when it is OK to send again. In your cmdSend sub check this indicator and if off then turn it on (indicator must be declared as Public) just before you issue the sendData command. Then in the _SendComplete sub turn the indicator off.

[Dovampi]

One way would be to use either Private Sub Winsock1_SendComplete() or Private Sub Winsock1_SendProgress(ByVal bytesSent As Long, ByVal bytesRemaining As Long). In the _SendProgress event your data has been sent when bytesRemaining reaches zero. You could set an indicator in the _SendComplete event that informs your cmdSend sub when it is OK to send again. In your cmdSend sub check this indicator and if off then turn it on (indicator must be declared as Public) just before you issue the sendData command. Then in the _SendComplete sub turn the indicator off.

i ve tried it by i couldnt do it

sorry i am too biggner in VB

can you write for me the modification code please

[jmsrickland]

  '
  '
Dim DataSent As Boolean
  '
  ' Other declarations, etc
  '
Private Sub FormLoad()
  '
 DataSent = True
  '
  ' 
  '
End Sub

Private Sub cmdSend(.....)
  '
  '
 If DataSent Then
   DataSent = False
   Winsock1.sendData data
 End If
  '
  '
End Sub
  '
  ' Other Subs, etc
  '
Private Sub Winsock1_SendComplete()
 DataSent = True
End Sub

[Dovampi]

Dim DataSent As Boolean
'
' Client Form
'
Private Sub cmdSend_Click()
If txtUserName.Text <> "" And txtPassword.Text <> "" Then
    Winsock1.RemoteHost = "localhost"
    Winsock1.RemotePort = 8001
    Winsock1.Connect
Else
    MsgBox "Must specify both Username and Password"
End If

End Sub

Private Sub Form_Load()
DataSent = True
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_Connect()
If DataSent Then
   DataSent = False
   Winsock1.SendData txtUserName.Text & "|" & txtPassword.Text & vbCr
 End If
End Sub
Private Sub Winsock1_SendComplete()
DataSent = True
End Sub

this is the code...

still not working...

[jmsrickland]

Well, of course not. Your cmdSend sub is used only for connecting to the remote socket. You can do this only once. In your _Connect() sub you know you have made a connection and therefore you do not need to test the indicator DataSent. If you want to send more data after the initial connect you will need a Sub for that and in that sub you test the DataSent indicator. The name of your Sub cmdSend is misleading and it should be called cmdConnectToServer_Click(); not cmdSend_Click(). Make a new sub called cmdSend_Click() and put in it this code:

Private Sub cmdSend_Click(.....)
  '
  '
 If DataSent Then
   DataSent = False
   Winsock1.sendData data
 End If
  '
  '
End Sub

In your sub Winsock1_Connect() put this code:

Private Sub Winsock1_Connect()
 Winsock1.SendData txtUserName.Text & "|" & txtPassword.Text & vbCr
End Sub

[jmsrickland]

If I understand your original problem correctely based on this statement how i could know that sendData is finished so i can press cmdSend again you are really trying to connect to the same host more than once which you cannot do unless the host has closed his socket. You do not want to press cmdSend again. The first time you press it, it requests a connection and in your _Connect() event the connection is completed. That's it. Don't do it again. However, like I said, if the host closes his socket then you can do it again and you will know that the host has closed his socket in your Winsock1_Close event.

[Dovampi]

Well, of course not. Your cmdSend sub is used only for connecting to the remote socket. You can do this only once. In your _Connect() sub you know you have made a connection and therefore you do not need to test the indicator DataSent. If you want to send more data after the initial connect you will need a Sub for that and in that sub you test the DataSent indicator. The name of your Sub cmdSend is misleading and it should be called cmdConnectToServer_Click(); not cmdSend_Click(). Make a new sub called cmdSend_Click() and put in it this code:

Private Sub cmdSend_Click(.....)
  '
  '
 If DataSent Then
   DataSent = False
   Winsock1.sendData data
 End If
  '
  '
End Sub

In your sub Winsock1_Connect() put this code:

Private Sub Winsock1_Connect()
 Winsock1.SendData txtUserName.Text & "|" & txtPassword.Text & vbCr
End Sub

putting Winsock1.sendData data in cmdSend_Click() cuasing error again

for sure i am changing data to txtUserName.Text & "|" & txtPassword.Text & vbCr

and yes, what i want the code to do is that when i press send the data be transfferd through th sock and aftter finishing the transfer it close automatically

so, when i press send again it works without any problems and etc

[jmsrickland]

Sockets don't close automatically; you have to close the socket. Alway put a Winsoclk1.Close in your connection sub just before you start to make a connection.

Private Sub cmdSend_Click()
 If txtUserName.Text <> "" And txtPassword.Text <> "" Then
   Winsock1.Close
   Winsock1.RemoteHost = "localhost"
   Winsock1.RemotePort = 8001
   Winsock1.Connect
Else
    MsgBox "Must specify both Username and Password"
End If

and yes, what i want the code to do is that when i press send the data be transfferd through th sock and aftter finishing the transfer it close automatically

so, when i press send again it works without any problems and etc

After you send the data close your socket

Private Sub Winsock1_Connect()
 Winsock1.SendData txtUserName.Text & "|" & txtPassword.Text & vbCr
 Winsock1.Close
End Sub

[Dovampi]

Sockets don't close automatically; you have to close the socket. Alway put a Winsoclk1.Close in your connection sub just before you start to make a connection.

Private Sub cmdSend_Click()
 If txtUserName.Text <> "" And txtPassword.Text <> "" Then
   Winsock1.Close
   Winsock1.RemoteHost = "localhost"
   Winsock1.RemotePort = 8001
   Winsock1.Connect
Else
    MsgBox "Must specify both Username and Password"
End If

and yes, what i want the code to do is that when i press send the data be transfferd through th sock and aftter finishing the transfer it close automatically

so, when i press send again it works without any problems and etc

After you send the data close your socket

Private Sub Winsock1_Connect()
 Winsock1.SendData txtUserName.Text & "|" & txtPassword.Text & vbCr
 Winsock1.Close
End Sub

sorry but are you even trying what you suggesting...

because none of them is working...

i did what you suggested before...

it dont give the error but it dont send anything at all

[jmsrickland]

Sorry, I goofed in what I typed. Put the .Close in the _SendComplete event instead of the _Connect event

Private Sub Winsock1_Connect()
 Winsock1.SendData txtUserName.Text & "|" & txtPassword.Text & vbCr
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_SendComplete()
 Winsock1.Close
End Sub

[Dovampi]

' Client Form
'
Private Sub cmdSend_Click()
If txtUserName.Text <> "" And txtPassword.Text <> "" Then
    Winsock1.Close
    Winsock1.RemoteHost = "localhost"
    Winsock1.RemotePort = 8001
    Winsock1.Connect
Else
    MsgBox "Must specify both Username and Password"
End If
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_Connect()
Winsock1.SendData txtUserName.Text & "|" & txtPassword.Text & vbCr
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_SendComplete()
 Winsock1.Close
End Sub

first time data transfer without problem as usuall

but, now its not giving any error when i click again on send

but, no data transfering...

did you try this code?!!

is it working with you...

[jmsrickland]

The code I am giving you is based on what I think you want to do. You have two programs. One is a client and the other is a server. The client connects to the server. Client then sends some data. When data has been sent your client's _SendComplete event is entered. There you close the client's sockets. The server get's the data but does not close his socket. If he does you will need to re-open it again before you press the cmdSend button After client closes his socket and the server does not you now can press the cmdSend button again. If this is what you are doing then the code I posted works.

[Dovampi]

The code I am giving you is based on what I think you want to do. You have two programs. One is a client and the other is a server. The client connects to the server. Client then sends some data. When data has been sent your client's _SendComplete event is entered. There you close the client's sockets. The server get's the data but does not close his socket. If he does you will need to re-open it again before you press the cmdSend button After client closes his socket and the server does not you now can press the cmdSend button again. If this is what you are doing then the code I posted works.

well if you assuming that its working, can you give me a code that you tried it and working perfectly...

because, i spent hours trying to resolve this problem and i couldnt as i dont have much experiance in VB

[jmsrickland]

This is the Client Code

Private Sub cmdSend_Click()
 If txtUserName.Text <> "" And txtPassword.Text <> "" Then
   Winsock1.Close
   Winsock1.RemoteHost = "localhost"
   Winsock1.RemotePort = 8001
   Winsock1.Connect
 Else
   MsgBox "Must specify both Username and Password"
 End If
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_Connect()
 Winsock1.SendData txtUserName.Text & "|" & txtPassword.Text & vbCrLf
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_SendComplete()
 Winsock1.Close
End Sub

This is the Server code

Private Sub Form_Load()
 Winsock1.Close
 Winsock1.LocalPort = 8001
 Winsock1.Listen
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_ConnectionRequest(ByVal requestID As Long)
 Winsock1.Close
 Winsock1.Accept requestID
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_DataArrival(ByVal bytesTotal As Long)
 Dim s As String
 Winsock1.GetData s
 Text1.Text = Text1.Text & s & vbCrLf
 Form_Load
End Sub

[Dovampi]

This is the Client Code

Private Sub cmdSend_Click()
 If txtUserName.Text <> "" And txtPassword.Text <> "" Then
   Winsock1.Close
   Winsock1.RemoteHost = "localhost"
   Winsock1.RemotePort = 8001
   Winsock1.Connect
 Else
   MsgBox "Must specify both Username and Password"
 End If
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_Connect()
 Winsock1.SendData txtUserName.Text & "|" & txtPassword.Text & vbCrLf
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_SendComplete()
 Winsock1.Close
End Sub

This is the Server code

Private Sub Form_Load()
 Winsock1.Close
 Winsock1.LocalPort = 8001
 Winsock1.Listen
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_ConnectionRequest(ByVal requestID As Long)
 Winsock1.Close
 Winsock1.Accept requestID
End Sub

Private Sub Winsock1_DataArrival(ByVal bytesTotal As Long)
 Dim s As String
 Winsock1.GetData s
 Text1.Text = Text1.Text & s & vbCrLf
 Form_Load
End Sub

hmmmmmmmmmm

you know i just feel that i will explode...

i ve done everything correctly from before...

you know what was wrong with my code?!!

i didnt put Form_Load in Winsock1_DataArrival(....)

so what was happing that everything was working correctly just the form needed to be reloaded--->what an stupid mistake...

thanks a lot for your time and your precious help...

[VBNetDude]

What if I don't know the remote computer's IP Address. Say, some friend wants to connect to a chat room. Can he transfere his IP Address so that people can talk with him?

[yuvarajv]

I want to stream movies from remote server to the client, can anyone help me with the coding, it would be great, thanks

[VBNetDude]

I want to stream movies from remote server to the client, can anyone help me with the coding, it would be great, thanks

That question might be better asked in a new thread.