.NET (Core and Framework)

Re: Custom file format - how to let Windows recognize properties like labels?

5-Oct-09 1:01

You can register a file extension under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT in the system registry such that Windows will recognise the file extension, and launch a particular application if you click on such a file. There is some useful information here[^] at MSDN. However I am not aware of anything whereby Windows will actually look at the content of a file to make such a decision.

pimb25-Oct-09 5:17

pimb2

5-Oct-09 5:17

Thanks for your reply.

The extension part is not the problem actually, registering it with a custom icon etc. is working well. What's the problem is the properties part that I can't manage to get information about. It's a shame you don't have an answer on that but I'll keep looking for it.

Thanks.

Re: Custom file format - how to let Windows recognize properties like labels?

Richard MacCutchan5-Oct-09 6:25

Re: Custom file format - how to let Windows recognize properties like labels?

5-Oct-09 6:25

pimb2 wrote:
What's the problem is the properties part that I can't manage to get information about.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean here. The contents of a file mean nothing to Windows, only to an application that reads it.

pimb25-Oct-09 6:30

pimb2

5-Oct-09 6:30

I mean that properties like labels and author are saved in the contents of the file, for example with Word files (.doc, .docx).

At the moment I've managed to let Windows display several properties (like labels) in the Details pane (on Vista), just like Word files. The only thing is that I have to create a so-called Property Handler which has the job to read and write properties to a file.

Thanks.

Re: Custom file format - how to let Windows recognize properties like labels?

Richard MacCutchan5-Oct-09 7:22

Re: Custom file format - how to let Windows recognize properties like labels?

5-Oct-09 7:22

pimb2 wrote:
I mean that properties like labels and author are saved in the contents of the file, for example with Word files (.doc, .docx).

Sorry, my mistake; I'm not sure how to do this, I suspect it may be something to do with file streams. I do know that the version information in .exe files gets picked up via properties, but I've not looked into how that can be extended. I would guess MSDN has the details somewhere.

Richard MacCutchan7-Oct-09 0:49

Re: Custom file format - how to let Windows recognize properties like labels?

7-Oct-09 0:49

I just discovered some information here on MSDN[^] which may help.

pimb214-Oct-09 2:52

pimb2

14-Oct-09 2:52

Apologies for the delay in responding but I have been a little bit busy last few days.

Thanks for the link. Now, I've made quite some progress - I've managed to let Windows succesfully apply properties to a .docx file with a custom extension (ie, an Word file with the extension changed). Unfortunately, I've discovered that property handlers (dll's) must be made in native code because Windows Explorer uses internal calls to them. This means I cannot use .NET for this. I assume I should use the Word file format for the properties and put the actual contents of the file in the Word file. As the .docx file is actually a zip file, it won't give that much problems I hope.
I'll be experimenting some more.

Thanks.

Re: Custom file format - how to let Windows recognize properties like labels?

Richard MacCutchan14-Oct-09 3:01

BindingSource Insert problem ....

14-Oct-09 3:01

pimb2 wrote:
Apologies for the delay in responding

No worries, just hope you solve your problem. Maybe when you fully understand this stuff you can write an article about it.

devboycpp3-Oct-09 22:19

devboycpp

3-Oct-09 22:19

How can we set a value for a field in code before ending the insert? I have a bindingsource and have bound some textboxes to it. But I want to set some of my database fields in code rather than through textboxes . These fields don't allow null values so that I will get exception if they are not set in code.

Why does my visual studio 2008 give me an error of "XMAL editor missing" when I try to use designer in WPF

havegunwilltravel3-Oct-09 9:27

havegunwilltravel

3-Oct-09 9:27

I Just loaded VS2008 pro 90 trail. When I try to display an WPF XMAL in the designer it gives me the error that I do not have an editor for XMAL.

Anyone know what needs to be loaded/change or where I get the XMAL editor.

Re: Why does my visual studio 2008 give me an error of "XMAL editor missing" when I try to use designer in WPF

havegunwilltravel3-Oct-09 9:35

havegunwilltravel

3-Oct-09 9:35

Sorry XAML.

Re: Why does my visual studio 2008 give me an error of "XMAL editor missing" when I try to use designer in WPF

Mark Salsbery3-Oct-09 11:13

Mark Salsbery

3-Oct-09 11:13

I would first install SP1 if you haven't already.

Then maybe

No xaml designer in vs2008[^]

Mark Salsbery
Microsoft MVP - Visual C++
Java | [Coffee]

Re: Why does my visual studio 2008 give me an error of "XMAL editor missing" when I try to use designer in WPF

annathor7-Oct-09 2:10

annathor

7-Oct-09 2:10

Had the same problem, the solution for me was using Microsoft Expression Blend for the GUI design and visual studio for the rest.

.net reflactor Problem help

hande543-Oct-09 2:01

3-Oct-09 2:01

hi!

I would like to disassembly some dll files with .Net Reflactor but I got the MSCDRUN, Module 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSCDRUN.DLL' does not contain a CLI header". compliance. I searched this problem the only thing I learned about the reason is this files had not been written any cli languages or there might be usage of obfuscation tool to keeping code secret . do you have any opinion how can I overcome this problem ?

Luc Pattyn3-Oct-09 2:06

Luc Pattyn

3-Oct-09 2:06

So it holds native code, not .NET managed code. You could use DUMPBIN to peek inside.

Smile | :)

Luc Pattyn

Local announcement (Antwerp region): Lange Wapper? Neen!

hande543-Oct-09 2:27

3-Oct-09 2:27

thanks for your attention. could you explain it in detail ? because it does not express me anaything Frown | :(

Dave Kreskowiak3-Oct-09 2:29

Dave Kreskowiak

3-Oct-09 2:29

Simple. You don't. Reflector will not work on a native code .DLL.

You can find other disassemblers out there, but reversing a native code .DLL is not going to be that easy.

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007, 2008
But no longer in 2009...

hande543-Oct-09 2:35

3-Oct-09 2:35

Hi Dave

I am new to this subject so I have very little opinion do you have any idea for other disassemblers ?

Richard MacCutchan3-Oct-09 5:51

3-Oct-09 5:51

I think Dave gave you the answer; you can disassemble a dll but it will not mean much to you. Perhaps you could explain what you are trying to achieve with this?

hande543-Oct-09 6:30

3-Oct-09 6:30

I have a graduation project. I need to get the data form the blood pressure meter which has a usb gateway. this device also includes software that enables user to archieve the result in html or txt format. What I need to do is trasferring measured result from BP meter to PDA instead of PC. I think that if I reach the dll code of the application I can find a solution to do it. ıf you have better I idea I am completely open mind.

Luc Pattyn3-Oct-09 8:40

Luc Pattyn

3-Oct-09 8:40

Rather than disassembling existing executable code you should try this list:
1. read the documentation, especially the "programmers guide" for your BP meter;
2. study the source code of any PC application that the manufacturer may have provided;
3. check the manufacturer's web site;
4. contact the manufacturer if any of the above isn't available;
5. google your problem.

Smile | :)

Luc Pattyn

Local announcement (Antwerp region): Lange Wapper? Neen!

Dave Kreskowiak3-Oct-09 9:52

Dave Kreskowiak

3-Oct-09 9:52

Disassembling the code in that .DLL is not going to help you at all. MSCDRUN is the runtime library for Microsoft's Connection Designer. It doesn't have anything in it that describes how the connection itself is made or how data is transferred.

Like Luc said, your best bet is to start with the manufacturer of the device and see if they have an SDK for it.

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007, 2008
But no longer in 2009...

hande544-Oct-09 4:08

4-Oct-09 4:08

thanks for your attention. some of my collegues suggested me to make reverse engineering using dll files of the software but as you mention before I could analyze some of dll but they do not imply anything to me. I will follow your suggested way.