IBM Messenger in VB.NET

• Download demo project - 46.1 Kb

Introduction

Imagine if you could send a message to an AS400 (or I5) machine, by using a neat and small program that gives you a lot of power on messaging.

How it works

This program uses a “Stored Procedure” in AS400 (or I5) to send a message to another user, or all the users. All you need to do is to type the message, choose the recipients, and hit the “SEND” button. You are allowed to save the message, or retrieve a message to be sent. Adding new recipient is as easy as filling in an input box! All together, this program is very easy to use and straightforward.

Something about the code

1. Here is the main trick that uses the Stored Procedure (SNDMSG):

   "CALL QSYS.QCMDEXC('" & StrCom & "'," & ParameterL & ")"

   CALL QSYS.QCMDEXC() is a function that lets you run a procedure in AS400 (or I5). This function accepts two parameters:

   1. Procedure name
   2. Procedure length

   The following is the made up procedure:

   "SNDMSG MSG('" & Messagetxt & "') TOUSR(" & Recepient & ")"

   The variable ParameterL keeps the length of the procedure and its parameters. Once you make up the procedure, then the CALL QSYS.QCMDEXC() would execute it. However, setting up a procedure and an accurate length for the procedure and its parameters are crucial.

2. The second trick in the program is an “embedded .wav file”. Once you click on the “SEND” button, it sends the message and runs an embedded .wav file.

   'Play Sound
   Private Declare Function PlaySound Lib "winmm.dll" (ByVal data() As Byte, _
         ByVal hMod As IntPtr, ByVal hwFlags As Integer) As Integer
    Private Const SND_ASYNC As Integer = &H1        'Play asynchronously
    Private Const SND_MEMORY As Integer = &H4       'Play wav in memory
   
    'The .wav will be stored in this byte array
    Private Shared ClickSound As Byte()
   
    Shared Sub New()
     'Get running assembly name
     Dim NameSpc As String = _
      Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetName().Name.ToString()
     'Look for the button click sound in the resource stream.
     Dim SoundFile As String
     Dim WavStrm As IO.Stream = _
      Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetManifestResourceStream( _
      NameSpc + "." + "DRIVEBY.WAV")
     'ReDim the byte array to be the size of the embedded .wav
     ReDim ClickSound(CType(WavStrm.Length, Integer))
     'Load the .wav from the stream into the byte array
     WavStrm.Read(ClickSound, 0, Int(CType(WavStrm.Length, Integer)))
    End Sub
   
    'Override the OnClick event to play the sound
    '  Protected Overrides Sub OnClick(ByVal ea As EventArgs)
    '  Call PlayWav(ClickSound)
    '  MyBase.OnClick(ea)
    ' End Sub
   
    'Play embedded .wav resource
    Public Sub PlayWav(ByVal WavResource As Byte())
     PlaySound(WavResource, IntPtr.Zero, SND_ASYNC Or SND_MEMORY)
    End Sub