Introduction
I just happened to run across this in a Visual Studio 2005 help file. I had seen all the hype for VB.NET 2.0 with the new My namespace, and I thought that might be nice to use in C#. This article follows the simple steps I found in the Visual Studio help file to do just that.
Background
You might ask why I was looking through the Visual Studio 2005 help files? I was reading up on some topics that I thought would help me be a little more ready for the next Microsoft certification upgrade tests. Anyway, I was looking through the namespace help just to see if there was anything interesting. I ran across this example and thought I would write an article on it so others could benefit.
The Code
It is really quite simple. First you need to add a reference to the Visual Basic Library. I know it makes me a little nervous too.
Next, add a using
clause:
using Microsoft.VisualBasic.Devices;
Finally use the MyServices
namespace:
Computer myComputer = new Computer();
myComputer.Audio.Play(@"c:\WINDOWS\Media\chimes.wav");
There are quite a few cool things (classes) in the namespace. Here is a short list:
Audio
Clipboard
Clock
FileSystem
Info
Keyboard
Mouse
Name
Network
Ports
Registry
Screen
NOTE
The help file mentions that there are some classes that were not compatible. The example they gave was FileSystemProxy
.
The link to the help file is: ms-help://MS.VSCC.v80/MS.MSDN.v80/MS.VisualStudio.v80.en/dv_csref/html/e7152414-0ea5-4c8e-bf02-c8d5bbe45ff4.htm.
The title is: C# Programmer's Reference
How to: Use the My Namespace (C# Programming Guide)
Conclusion
So I hope you find this useful. I don't think I will be using this in every project, but it is nice to know that you can do it when you need to.
History
- 20th January, 2006: Initial post
I started my programmer career over 26 years ago doing COBOL and SAS on a MVS mainframe. It didn't take long for me to move into windows programming. I started my windows programming in Delphi (Pascal) with a Microsoft SQL server back end. I started working with vb.net when the beta 2 came out in 2001. After spending most of my programming life as a windows programmer I started to check out asp.net in 2004. I achieved my MCSD.net in April 2005. I have done a lot of MS SQL database stuff. I have a lot of experience with Window Service and Web services as well. I spent three years as a consultant programing in C#. I really enjoyed it and found the switch between vb.net and C# to be mostly syntax. In my current position I am programming in C# working on WPF and MSSql database stuff. Lately I have been using VS2019.
On a personal note I am a born again Christian, if anyone has any questions about what it means to have a right relationship with God or if you have questions about who Jesus Christ is, send me an e-mail. ben.kubicek[at]netzero[dot]com You need to replace the [at] with @ and [dot] with . for the email to work. My relationship with God gives purpose and meaning to my life.