Re: Generating formatted file - C# Discussion Boards

29-Mar-09 19:53

Hi to all,

I want to create multiple documents or reports (Word Files or PDF Files) as following format,

Reference No: 

Name:
       -----------      --------------      ---------------
         Surname          First Name          Middle Name

Date Of Birth:

I have to fill the content in blan spaces.
How I can do above formmating while generating files?

In one forum, it is written to use StreamReader & StreamWriter classes to create formatted files.
How to use StreamWriter using content of a StreamReader (from a fixed file), to generate new formatted file?

Regards,
Aniket A. Salunkhe

Natza Mitzi29-Mar-09 20:06

29-Mar-09 20:06

You can create an rtf file that ms word can read by doing the following:

string line;
using (StreamWriter writer = File.CreateText(@"C:\file.rtf"))
{
line = String.Format("Reference No: {0}", 3233);
writer.WriteLine(line);
writer.WriteLine();
line = String.Format("Name: {0}", "Ron");
writer.WriteLine(line);
writer.WriteLine();
//....
writer.Flush();
}

Natza Mitzi

Andy Rama31-Mar-09 8:57

31-Mar-09 8:57

Thanks for suggestion.
With the help of your code, I have wriiten statements as follows,

line = String.Format("Name: {0} {1} {2}", txtLastName.Text, txtMiddleName.Text, txtFirstName.Text);<br />
      writer.WriteLine(line);<br />
      writer.WriteLine();<br />
      line = String.Format("Date OF Birth: {0}", dtDateOfBirth.Value.ToString("dd-MMM-yyyy"));<br />
      writer.WriteLine(line);<br />
      writer.WriteLine();<br />
      line = String.Format("Address: {0}", txtAddress.Text);<br />
      writer.WriteLine(line);<br />
      writer.WriteLine();<br />
      writer.WriteLine();<br />
      line = String.Format("Education: {0}", txtEducation.Text);<br />
      writer.WriteLine(line);<br />
      writer.WriteLine();<br />
      writer.Flush();

Output file is as,

Name: ASD FGH JKL

Date OF Birth: 30-Feb-2009

Address: Block Number,
Area, City
PinCode


Education: Done School in 1999, with % of Marks.
Done PG in 2004 with % of marsk.</

But I want output file as with 'Justify' alignement,

Name: ASD FGH JKL

Date OF Birth: 30-Feb-2009

Address:
   Block Number,
   Area, City
   PinCode


Education: 
   Done School in 1999, with % of Marks.
   Done PG in 2004 with % of marsk.

How to do this?

Thanks & Regards,
Aniket A. Salunkhe

Natza Mitzi31-Mar-09 19:13

31-Mar-09 19:13

I am not too familiar with rtf yet I can suggest an alternative (less elegant) solution: You simply add a tab char to your output string:

line = String.Format("Address:");
writer.WriteLine(line);
line = String.Format("\t{0}", txtAddress1.Text);
writer.WriteLine(line);
line = String.Format("\t{0}", txtAddress2.Text);
writer.WriteLine(line);

Natza Mitzi

Andy Rama1-Apr-09 19:52

1-Apr-09 19:52

Thanks for the suggestion.

I tried it. But it is not going to work properly with a Paragraph (from multiple lines textbox).

Is there any formatting function availables with StreamWriter?
Else do you know how to use macro ( written by Microsoft Word in VB ) in C#?

Thanks & Regards,
Aniket A. Salunkhe

Natza Mitzi1-Apr-09 20:51

1-Apr-09 20:51

I do not have much input on both of your questions.

AS far as I know, formatting is done with string.Format and StringBuilder.AppendFormat which formatting wise is the same thing. I can suggest that you check what kind of char to inject to your string (like a paragraph mark) in rtf.

I have no experience using office marcos from code. You can look at MS Office Dev Tools or if you are using VS 2008 try an Office add in project.

You can also try reposting your question and give the options you are trying (rtf, macro etc.)

I am interested in hearing the solution you find.

I hope this helps

Natza Mitzi

Andy Rama4-Apr-09 8:28

4-Apr-09 8:28

Thanks for suggestion.

Natza Mitzi wrote:
You can also try reposting your question and give the options you are trying (rtf, macro etc.)

I am interested in hearing the solution you find.

I will do that.

Now I am using StreamWriter to create a rtf file as per your suggestion.
I have 2 questions,
1. Can I add image using StreamWriter? & How?
2. If now possible to add image using StreamWriter. Can I creat/append a file using existing file which is having some data (for example image)?

I tried to add image using StreamWriter, but didn't get any solution.

Thanks & Regards,
Aniket A. Salunkhe

Natza Mitzi5-Apr-09 9:20

5-Apr-09 9:20

Hey,
I found an article that seems to be good for you:

A class library for RTF processing in C#[^]

Checkout the section "RtfDocument class" it seems to be what you are looking for.

Natza Mitzi

Andy Rama5-Apr-09 16:50

5-Apr-09 16:50

Thank you.

I think it is be helpful for me. Provided class has AddImage method too.

I will reply to you, as soon as I complete my task.

Thanks & Regards,
Aniket A. Salunkhe

Andy Rama22-Apr-09 20:43

Windows Service Application

22-Apr-09 20:43

Thank you very much.

It is very helpful for me, to generate a file with formatted text & image.

Thanks & Regards,
Aniket A. Salunkhe

a.hamidy29-Mar-09 18:32

a.hamidy

29-Mar-09 18:32

Dear All,
I have created a very basic and simple windows service application using c# in vs 2005.
i have override the "onstart" method and i want that when my service starts a message should appear just to confirm that service starts running.
the service starts successfully but no message appears to me. i have tried to write that message to a file but still no file is created.
this the code bellow

protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
        {
            System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("Service is start...");
        }

i have googled and used topic in msdn to create window service application.
why the message box does not appear when i am starting the service?

Natza Mitzi29-Mar-09 19:32

29-Mar-09 19:32

Services do not show UI. They are logged in as adifferent user and can not display data to a desktop. You can use Trace.Assert(false,"Hello");

Natza Mitzi

a.hamidy29-Mar-09 20:22

a.hamidy

29-Mar-09 20:22

yeah you are right, but if we enable the option "Allow User to Interact with Desktop".
we can show UI to the user.
i have enabled this option through code, still i need to restart my computer to get affected. I want this without restarting the system.

Natza Mitzi29-Mar-09 20:38

29-Mar-09 20:38

Instead you can use a client application that interacts with the service.
Using GUI in services is dangerous

Natza Mitzi

a.hamidy29-Mar-09 21:12

a.hamidy

29-Mar-09 21:12

can you please have more detail on client application and the interaction way between client and server application.
you mean i should call window forms from my installer class.

Natza Mitzi29-Mar-09 21:38

29-Mar-09 21:38

This is a suggestion of implementation.
The installer should install both service and application. The service should run independently (treated as a server) and the application should run as a client, post requests and run the service to do what it needs to. The connection between the client application can be implemented using .net remoting and the interaction will be transparent. My preferred way is to implement a service and a client application that runs from the system tray using a notify icon. The client application can have the service controller for starting/stopping/pausing/installing/uninstalling the service.
I saw some articles around the code project with samples of notify icons, service controllers and .net remoting. I hope this helps

Natza Mitzi

Vikram A Punathambekar29-Mar-09 21:24

Vikram A Punathambekar

29-Mar-09 21:24

Member 6059028 wrote:
Allow User to Interact with Desktop

This is VERY bad practice. I believe you can't even do this in Vista.

Cheers,
Vıkram.

Carpe Diem.

#realJSOP29-Mar-09 23:46

#realJSOP

29-Mar-09 23:46

You can't display interface components in a Windows service.

"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
-----
"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

Pete O'Hanlon29-Mar-09 23:52

Pete O'Hanlon

29-Mar-09 23:52

You can - you shouldn't, but you can. Windows Services have a property "Interact with desktop" that allows a user to do precisely this - it's yet another crappy design decision.

"WPF has many lovers. It's a veritable porn star!" - Josh Smith

As Braveheart once said, "You can take our freedom but you'll never take our Hobnobs!" - Martin Hughes.

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