The NetSend Plus (.NET/C#)

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• Download demo project - 162 Kb

Introduction

The "NetSend Plus" is a simple yet a powerful tool, which enables you to send windows popup messages over the network. This work in cooperate with the windows "NetApi.dll", therefore it can do all what "net send" command can do, additionally I have added some other set of features, which are quite useful as well. The "NetSend Plus" provides almost all the features you find in any Net Send application available. Let's go through the product to have a better understanding.

Background

I think, you all have used "Net Send" command to send messages. But with this tool, the nice skin, put dot to the black ugly command prompt screen you used to send popup messages. I know how difficult it is to remember IP address/ machine name of all your colleagues but with this tool, you can rename your buddy list with all the familiar names. So with this tool every thing is easier..

System Requirements

• Windows 98, Window 2000, XP, NT, 2003.
• At least 32 MB of memory.
• At least 333 MHz of processor speed.
• Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0/1.1

The Core Features of "NetSend Plus".

• Automatically detects and loads LAN computer list (buddy list).
• Buddy list appending feature enables you to give several domain names and add buddy lists.
• Rename each buddy with a friendly name.
• Delete selected buddies/buddy from the list.
• Formatting your messages with line feeds etc.
• Sending messages to multiple users at the same time.
• Add new computers/ buddies to your buddy list.
• Scheduling messages, so then it will send automatically at the scheduled time.
• Message log feature.
• Message board.
• Saving the buddy list.
• Nice friendly skin.

Automatically detects and loads LAN computer list (buddy list).

The application automatically detects and loads the computers in your network so that, the user doesn’t need to fill text/ XML file following several formats. Most of the time you don't have to give a password but it is always better to give one. The domain name and user name are automatically detected by the system itself, noting that you don't have many domain/workgroup within your LAN. But if you have multiple domain/workgroup in your LAN system you may need to get some assistance from your Network Admin to add all the domains/workgroups names one after the other and add their sub machines to the net send application. Please click on the "?" mark to have more help on each item control. This is a sample window, which has detected for this time, my LAN domain and user name automatically. Please check for the validity of the detected data before click on OK.

Right click on the big white area >> Select Load Computer List >> Add Data to the "Net Data" window >> Click OK.

Buddy list appending feature, you can give several domain names and add buddy lists.

This will help you to append another computer list which belongs to another domain/ workgroup.

Right click on the big white area >> Select Load Computer List >> Add Data to the "Net Data" window >> Click OK.

Rename each buddy with a friendly name.

Rename a particular computer so that you can have some meaningful name. But if you add a new computer manually by right clicking on the buddy list page, you may need to save the computer list once before changing the name. In the next version, you will not have to do this.

Right click on a buddy >> Select Rename Computer.

Delete selected buddies/buddy from the list.

Right click on the selected buddy/ buddies >> Select Delete Computer.

Formatting your messages with line feeds etc.

The message will recognize the line feed so that, you can create some meaning full messages, such as adding message header and signature etc...

Sending messages to multiple users at the same time.

Select computers/Buddies from the buddy list and then click on Select button, it will add the computer list to the selected computer list box (even you can drag these selected computers and drop them on the selected computer list box). After that just type the message you want and click on Send. This will send the message to all the buddies in your list sequentially.

Add new computers/buddies to your buddy list.

Add new computers manually just by right click on your mouse. So then it will add a new buddy with the name "New Computer" where you can edit and give a meaningful name (Note: The name should be a valid name of a computer in your domain). As an example, just add a computer with the name "*", then save it and then close the application and change the name to some thing like "All" after loading the application back. (You all know that * will send the message to all connected computers, when you use Net Send command at DOS prompt.)

Right Click on the Buddy List >> Select Add New Computer.

Scheduling messages, so then it will send automatically at the scheduled time.

First you have to type your message, and then you need to add some buddies to the sender list. Now you are ready to schedule your message.

Click on "Schedule" button >> Fill the time field.

Note: Behind the seen for scheduling the system, use "at" DOS command.

Message log feature.

You can see the message log and that will basically give a report on individual message/receiver.

Click off the "View Message Log" button.

Saving the buddy list.

This is important, when you add new buddies you need to save them for later use.

Point of Interest

For your benefit I have added the source code of this tool as well.