a stand alone exe as a child in an MDI container

[Sajid Saeed]

Hi All,

I want to know if there is any way a complied EXE created in C# [App_A], can
be called by another EXE [App_MDI].
The App_MDI, should be the container for the App_A.
(In short App_A should be a child form in the App_MDI parent application)

note: App_A will only contain one form.

Thanks in Advance.

Sajid Saeed

[Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]]

Sajid,

I don't think that there is. You could try and set the parent of the
window to be the MDI parent, but I have serious doubts as to whether or not
that will work. Also, calling the other EXE will cause it to be in another
process, it has its own message loop, etc, etc.

Hope this helps.
--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- ni**************@exisconsulting.com

"Sajid Saeed" <hi******@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uB**************@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...

Hi All,

I want to know if there is any way a complied EXE created in C# [App_A], can be called by another EXE [App_MDI].
The App_MDI, should be the container for the App_A.
(In short App_A should be a child form in the App_MDI parent application)

note: App_A will only contain one form.

Thanks in Advance.

Sajid Saeed

[Sajid Saeed]

Hi,

Thanks for ur comments, so it looks like, stand alone exe's will not be part
of the MDI.
I was expecting this answer...

Now is there anyway, where an assembly can be shared between two seperate
exe's, so that lets say if the parent application is closed, it forces the
other exe to clase as well.

Thanks once again

Sajid Saeed..

"Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]" <ni**************@exisconsulting.com> wrote
in message news:uU**************@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...

Sajid,

I don't think that there is. You could try and set the parent of the
window to be the MDI parent, but I have serious doubts as to whether or not that will work. Also, calling the other EXE will cause it to be in another process, it has its own message loop, etc, etc.

Hope this helps.
--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- ni**************@exisconsulting.com

[Sajid Saeed]

Hi,

Could you actually show a code snippet on how this could actually be done.

Thanks

Sajid Saeed

"Chris Capel" <ch***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:#F**************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...

Actually, there is a way, I believe. You just can't reference the file at
compile time. You load it at runtime using Assembly.Load or LoadFrom, and
then you use reflection to get the type of the form, and
Activator.CreateInstance to create an instance of the type. Of course, the
form in your EXE has to be of the right type and everything. But that should do the trick. I use this sort of tactic to run all of the applications in my system from a stub, with the files downloaded off of an application server, to simplify deployment. Since they're EXEs, they can be run standalone if
needed, but you can reference them (albeit awkwardly) as if they were
libraries. This will probably work for you.

Hope this helps.

Chris

"Sajid Saeed" <hi******@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uB**************@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...

Hi All,

I want to know if there is any way a complied EXE created in C# [App_A],

can

be called by another EXE [App_MDI].
The App_MDI, should be the container for the App_A.
(In short App_A should be a child form in the App_MDI parent application)
note: App_A will only contain one form.

Thanks in Advance.

Sajid Saeed

[Sajid Saeed]

Hi,

Sure i would like to see the code.

Thanks a mill.

Sajid Saeed

"Mark Mullin" <mu****@vibrant3d.com> wrote in message
news:32**************************@posting.google.c om...

You can do this, but it's brutally complex. Also, you may need some
C++ glue, it may not all be doable in C#. I've done this in C++ to
run IE offscreen and snag it's rendered displays as textures in a 3D
browser.

In concept, you can use Windows calls to launch the external EXE,
___providing parameters for the window to use that cause the EXE to
use offscreen memory for rendering___. If you do everything
___very___ carefully, you can then snag the raw offscreen memory used
for rendering, and transfer it to the other applications windows.
This is not a procedure for the faint of heart.

I can post C++ code that does this if you want, I don't think it's a
stunt I would recommend C# for. Not really what it's built for. You
may learn far more than you want to about low level window management.
But if you must, it is doable.

[Mark Mullin]

Ooof - now that I went and shot my mouth off, I've earned myself a
bunch of looking. Seems I am missing '99 where it counts. While I'm
doing that (it might take a while, I might just have to hack it again)
I've at least recalled the architecture.

A small C++ DLL was used to invoke IE as an active-x control, but did
so in an offscreen window. This was then wrapped by a java interface
lib built from the type library (i have that but fat lot of good it
does) and then our 3D browser used that to get images.

Hmmm, maybe I misspoke in the first place, I did just say IE active X
control, not .exe. Hmmm, my apologies.

So, a little research

1) ::CreateProcess doesn't seem on casual inspection to offer the
parameters you need to do this

2) Windows can't tell the difference between a memory dc and a real
screen window, but if it's a 3D view, glacially slow would be the
order of the day (no hardware accelleration). Actually, for that
matter, I think you loose all 2D hardware accelleration too.

The link http://www.experts-exchange.com/Prog..._20585994.html

might be of some use, it's a discussion by people trying to hook
CreateWindow and prevent the
javascript alert popup. (hmmm, do I smell an exploit ?). The PlanetCpp
post on that page gives code to show how to hook notepad, tho some
comments indicate it has a few problems.

My guess is that IFF you have sufficient permissions on the machine,
you _may_ be able to intercept the apps createwindow call. If so, you
need to create an offscreen window and give that to the app. Across
processes, this could be a serious pita, and you may need to research
it extensively. If it is possible, you'll also need to assume msft
may move to prevent it in the future. It has the potential to open a
nasty can of worms.

So, sorry for my poor recollection, I was actually thinking of running
activex components offscreen. Now if your target app happens to
provide an activex interface, then you should be all set

I'll keep rooting about off and on, it's an interesting question.

regards
mmm
"Sajid Saeed" <hi******@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<ua**************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl>...

Hi,

Sure i would like to see the code.

Thanks a mill.

Sajid Saeed

"Mark Mullin" <mu****@vibrant3d.com> wrote in message
news:32**************************@posting.google.c om...

You can do this, but it's brutally complex. Also, you may need some
C++ glue, it may not all be doable in C#. I've done this in C++ to
run IE offscreen and snag it's rendered displays as textures in a 3D
browser.

In concept, you can use Windows calls to launch the external EXE,
___providing parameters for the window to use that cause the EXE to
use offscreen memory for rendering___. If you do everything
___very___ carefully, you can then snag the raw offscreen memory used
for rendering, and transfer it to the other applications windows.
This is not a procedure for the faint of heart.

I can post C++ code that does this if you want, I don't think it's a
stunt I would recommend C# for. Not really what it's built for. You
may learn far more than you want to about low level window management.
But if you must, it is doable.

[Austin Ehlers]

HAHA, I did it. Here's the code you need: (be sure to set
IsMdiContainer to true on the parent)

Form child=new Form();
Assembly asm=Assembly.LoadFile(***path to executable/dll***;
Type type=asm.GetType(***name of child form***,true,true);

object childform=Activator.CreateInstance(type);
child=(Form)childform;
child.MdiParent=this;
child.Show();

Austin Ehlers

On Mon, 21 Jul 2003 11:29:18 +0300, "Sajid Saeed"
<hi******@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hi All,

I want to know if there is any way a complied EXE created in C# [App_A], can
be called by another EXE [App_MDI].
The App_MDI, should be the container for the App_A.
(In short App_A should be a child form in the App_MDI parent application)

note: App_A will only contain one form.

Thanks in Advance.

Sajid Saeed

[Sajid Saeed]

Hi,
Thanks, i will have a go at it

Sajid
"Chris Capel" <ch***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:ec**************@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

Type childFormType =
Assembly.LoadFrom(fullExePath).GetType(nameOfChild FormType);

Form childForm = Activator.CreateInstance(childFormType);

This will give you an instance of your child form. Then just add it like you would a From from in the same assembly.

Chris

"Sajid Saeed" <hi******@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uK**************@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...

Hi,

Could you actually show a code snippet on how this could actually be done.

Thanks

Sajid Saeed

"Chris Capel" <ch***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:#F**************@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...

Actually, there is a way, I believe. You just can't reference the file

at compile time. You load it at runtime using Assembly.Load or LoadFrom, and then you use reflection to get the type of the form, and
Activator.CreateInstance to create an instance of the type. Of course, the form in your EXE has to be of the right type and everything. But that

should

do the trick. I use this sort of tactic to run all of the applications in

my

system from a stub, with the files downloaded off of an application

server,

to simplify deployment. Since they're EXEs, they can be run standalone

if needed, but you can reference them (albeit awkwardly) as if they were
libraries. This will probably work for you.

Hope this helps.

Chris

"Sajid Saeed" <hi******@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uB**************@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> Hi All,
>
> I want to know if there is any way a complied EXE created in C# [App_A], can
> be called by another EXE [App_MDI].
> The App_MDI, should be the container for the App_A.
> (In short App_A should be a child form in the App_MDI parent

application)

>
> note: App_A will only contain one form.
>
> Thanks in Advance.
>
> Sajid Saeed
>
>

[Sajid Saeed]

Hi All,

I have written the code which is shown below, well actually copied yours...
Type childFormType =
Assembly.LoadFrom("c:\\WindowsApplication1").GetTy pe("WindowsForm",true,true
);

Form childForm = (Form)Activator.CreateInstance(childFormType);

childForm.MdiParent=this;

childForm.Show();

I get the following error during runtime, on the first line of code itself

An unhandled exception of type 'System.IO.FileNotFoundException' occurred in
mscorlib.dll

Additional information: File or assembly name WindowsApplication1, or one of
its dependencies, was not found.

you know what exactly am i doing wrong...

Sajid Saeed

[Sajid Saeed]

I have written the code as per ur code.... shown below

Form child=new Form();

Assembly asm=Assembly.LoadFile("c:\\windowsapplication1.exe ");

Type type=asm.GetType("WindowsForm",true,true);

object childform=Activator.CreateInstance(type);

child=(Form)childform;

child.MdiParent=this;

child.Show();
and i get the following runtime error

An unhandled exception of type 'System.TypeLoadException' occurred in
WindowsApplication2.exe

Additional information: Could not load type WindowsForm from assembly
WindowsApplication1, Version=1.0.1300.21115, Culture=neutral,
PublicKeyToken=null.

Anything that i am missing....

Sajid Saeed
"Austin Ehlers" <th***********************@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:dh********************************@4ax.com...

HAHA, I did it. Here's the code you need: (be sure to set
IsMdiContainer to true on the parent)

Form child=new Form();
Assembly asm=Assembly.LoadFile(***path to executable/dll***;
Type type=asm.GetType(***name of child form***,true,true);

object childform=Activator.CreateInstance(type);
child=(Form)childform;
child.MdiParent=this;
child.Show();

Austin Ehlers

On Mon, 21 Jul 2003 11:29:18 +0300, "Sajid Saeed"
<hi******@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hi All,

I want to know if there is any way a complied EXE created in C# [App_A], canbe called by another EXE [App_MDI].
The App_MDI, should be the container for the App_A.
(In short App_A should be a child form in the App_MDI parent application)

note: App_A will only contain one form.

Thanks in Advance.

Sajid Saeed

[Chris Capel]

Yes. The argument to LoadFrom has to be the complete filename. Include the
EXE extension.

Chris

"Sajid Saeed" <hi******@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ua**************@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

Hi All,

I have written the code which is shown below, well actually copied yours... Type childFormType =
Assembly.LoadFrom("c:\\WindowsApplication1").GetTy pe("WindowsForm",true,true );

Form childForm = (Form)Activator.CreateInstance(childFormType);

childForm.MdiParent=this;

childForm.Show();

I get the following error during runtime, on the first line of code itself
An unhandled exception of type 'System.IO.FileNotFoundException' occurred in mscorlib.dll

Additional information: File or assembly name WindowsApplication1, or one of its dependencies, was not found.

you know what exactly am i doing wrong...

Sajid Saeed

[Sajid Saeed]

Thanks.... It works.... don't know what i would have done without you
guys...

Thanks once again

Sajid Saeed
"Austin Ehlers" <th***********************@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ru********************************@4ax.com...

Comments inline.

On Thu, 24 Jul 2003 12:07:30 +0300, "Sajid Saeed"
<hi******@hotmail.com> wrote:

I have written the code as per ur code.... shown below

Form child=new Form();

Assembly asm=Assembly.LoadFile("c:\\windowsapplication1.exe ");

Type type=asm.GetType("WindowsForm",true,true);

That should be
Type type=asm.GetType("name of form in other app",true,true);
Don't forget the namespace on it if you have one.

object childform=Activator.CreateInstance(type);

child=(Form)childform;

child.MdiParent=this;

child.Show();
and i get the following runtime error

An unhandled exception of type 'System.TypeLoadException' occurred in
WindowsApplication2.exe

Additional information: Could not load type WindowsForm from assembly
WindowsApplication1, Version=1.0.1300.21115, Culture=neutral,
PublicKeyToken=null.

Anything that i am missing....

Sajid Saeed
"Austin Ehlers" <th***********************@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:dh********************************@4ax.com.. .

HAHA, I did it. Here's the code you need: (be sure to set
IsMdiContainer to true on the parent)

Form child=new Form();
Assembly asm=Assembly.LoadFile(***path to executable/dll***;
Type type=asm.GetType(***name of child form***,true,true);

object childform=Activator.CreateInstance(type);
child=(Form)childform;
child.MdiParent=this;
child.Show();

Austin Ehlers

On Mon, 21 Jul 2003 11:29:18 +0300, "Sajid Saeed"
<hi******@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Hi All,
>
>I want to know if there is any way a complied EXE created in C# [App_A],

can

>be called by another EXE [App_MDI].
>The App_MDI, should be the container for the App_A.
>(In short App_A should be a child form in the App_MDI parent

application) >
>note: App_A will only contain one form.
>
>Thanks in Advance.
>
>Sajid Saeed
>

[Sajid Saeed]

Thanks.... It works.... don't know what i would have done without you
guys...

Thanks once again

Sajid Saeed
"Chris Capel" <ch***@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:Oz**************@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

Yes. The argument to LoadFrom has to be the complete filename. Include the
EXE extension.

Chris

"Sajid Saeed" <hi******@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ua**************@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

Hi All,

I have written the code which is shown below, well actually copied yours...

Type childFormType =

Assembly.LoadFrom("c:\\WindowsApplication1").GetTy pe("WindowsForm",true,true

);

Form childForm = (Form)Activator.CreateInstance(childFormType);

childForm.MdiParent=this;

childForm.Show();

I get the following error during runtime, on the first line of code

itself

An unhandled exception of type 'System.IO.FileNotFoundException'

occurred in

mscorlib.dll

Additional information: File or assembly name WindowsApplication1, or

one of

its dependencies, was not found.

you know what exactly am i doing wrong...

Sajid Saeed