Another XML Writing Question

[jcrouse]

Here is some of my code

Dim myXmlTextWriter As XmlTextWriter = New XmlTextWriter(" C:\CPViewer\CPV iewer.xml", System.Text.Enc oding.Unicode

myXmlTextWriter .Formatting = System.Xml.Form atting.Indente
myXmlTextWriter .WriteStartElem ent("CPViewer"
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Height", Me.Height
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Width", Me.Width
'myXmlTextWrite r.WriteElementS tring("Backgrou nd", Me.BackgroundIm age
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("label2_To p", Label2.Top
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("label2_Le ft", Label2.Left
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("label2_He ight", Label2.Height
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("label2_Wi dth", Label2.Width
'myXmlTextWrite r.WriteElementS tring("label2_F ont", Label2.Font
'myXmlTextWrite r.WriteElementS tring("label2_F oreColor", Label2.ForeColo r
'myXmlTextWrite r.WriteElementS tring("label2_B ackColor", Label2.BackColo r

myXmlTextWriter .WriteEndElemen t(
myXmlTextWriter .Flush(
myXmlTextWriter .Close(

As you can tell by the comments I'm not sure how to write out anything but text strings. How do I write out other properties such as font types, color and images

Thank you
Joh

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

John,
With an XmlTextWriter, I would just are you are for the label. For an Image,
I would use WriteBase64 or WriteBinHex. For Font I would write each element
of the Font, For Color I would use Color.ToString. You may be able to use
ToString on Font also...

However I consider using nested elements, something like:

Dim myXmlTextWriter As XmlTextWriter = New XmlTextWriter(" C:\CPViewer\CPV iewer.xml", System.Text.Enc oding.Unicode)
myXmlTextWriter .Formatting = System.Xml.Form atting.Indented
myXmlTextWriter .WriteStartElem ent("CPViewer")
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Height", Me.Height)
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Width", Me.Width)
'myXmlTextWrite r.WriteElementS tring("Backgrou nd", Me.BackgroundIm age)
myXmlTextWriter .WriteBinHex("B ackground", form.Background Image)
myXmlTextWriter .WriteStartElem ent("label2")
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Top", label2.Top.ToSt ring())
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Left", label2.Left.ToS tring())
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Height",
label2.Height.T oString())
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Width", label2.Width.To String())
myXmlTextWriter .WriteStartElem ent("Font")
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Bold",
label2.Font.Bol d.ToString())
...
myXmlTextWriter .WriteEndElemen t()
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("ForeColor ",
label2.ForeColo r.ToString())
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("BackColor ",
label2.BackColo r.ToString())
myXmlTextWriter .WriteEndElemen t()
myXmlTextWriter .WriteEndElemen t()
myXmlTextWriter .Flush()
myXmlTextWriter .Close()
Hope this helps
Jay

"jcrouse" <an*******@disc ussions.microso ft.com> wrote in message
news:35******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com... Here is some of my code:

Dim myXmlTextWriter As XmlTextWriter = New XmlTextWriter(" C:\CPViewer\CPV iewer.xml", System.Text.Enc oding.Unicode)
myXmlTextWriter .Formatting = System.Xml.Form atting.Indented
myXmlTextWriter .WriteStartElem ent("CPViewer")
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Height", Me.Height)
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Width", Me.Width)
'myXmlTextWrite r.WriteElementS tring("Backgrou nd", Me.BackgroundIm age) myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("label2_To p", Label2.Top)
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("label2_Le ft", Label2.Left)
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("label2_He ight", Label2.Height)
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("label2_Wi dth", Label2.Width)
'myXmlTextWrite r.WriteElementS tring("label2_F ont", Label2.Font)
'myXmlTextWrite r.WriteElementS tring("label2_F oreColor", Label2.ForeColo r) 'myXmlTextWrite r.WriteElementS tring("label2_B ackColor", Label2.BackColo r)
myXmlTextWriter .WriteEndElemen t()
myXmlTextWriter .Flush()
myXmlTextWriter .Close()

As you can tell by the comments I'm not sure how to write out anything but text strings. How do I write out other properties such as font types, color
and images?
Thank you,
John

[jcrouse]

Well, I got the nested elements working. The fonts and color are not working, and neither is the background image. I can write the parameters to the XML file but can't read it in. I can't figure out the syntax. Here is my code to write out the parameters

Dim myXmlTextWriter As XmlTextWriter = New XmlTextWriter(" C:\CPViewer\CPV iewer.xml", System.Text.Enc oding.Unicode

myXmlTextWriter .Formatting = System.Xml.Form atting.Indente
myXmlTextWriter .WriteStartElem ent("CPViewer"
myXmlTextWriter .WriteStartElem ent("Form"
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Height", Me.Height
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Width", Me.Width
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Backgroun d", OpenFileDialog1 .FileName
myXmlTextWriter .WriteEndElemen t(
myXmlTextWriter .WriteStartElem ent("Label2"
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Top", Label2.Top.ToSt ring()
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Left", Label2.Left.ToS tring()
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Height", Label2.Height.T oString()
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Width", Label2.Width.To String()
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Font", Label2.Font.ToS tring()
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("ForeColor ", Label2.ForeColo r.ToString()
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("BackColor ", Label2.BackColo r.ToString()
myXmlTextWriter .WriteEndElemen t(
myXmlTextWriter .WriteEndElemen t(

myXmlTextWriter .Flush(
myXmlTextWriter .Close(

And here is the XML file it creates

<CPViewer><Form ><Height>600</Height><Width>8 00</Width><Backgrou nd>C:\CPViewer\ BackgroundImage .jpg</Background></Form><Label2><T op>58</Top><Left>42</Left><Height>40 </Height><Width>1 40</Width><Font>[Font: Name=Arial, Size=9.75, Units=3, GdiCharSet=0, GdiVerticalFont =False]</Font><ForeColor >Color [White]</ForeColor><Back Color>Color [Red]</BackColor></Label2></CPViewer

But I can't read in

The background line gives this error

An unhandled exception of type 'System.Argumen tException' occurred in system.windows. forms.dl
Additional information: Cannot bind to property 'Background' on target control

And the font and color lines give this error

An unhandled exception of type 'System.Invalid CastException' occurred in mscorlib.dl
Additional information: Invalid cast from System.String to System.Drawing. Font

I tried your suggestions but guess I didn't get the syntax correct

Thank you
Joh

[Jared]

I don't really know what you are trying to do, through, it looks like a job
for dynamic properties. - Jared
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...ingstorage.asp

"jcrouse" <an*******@disc ussions.microso ft.com> wrote in message
news:3C******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...

Well, I got the nested elements working. The fonts and color are not
working, and neither is the background image. I can write the parameters
to the XML file but can't read it in. I can't figure out the syntax. Here
is my code to write out the parameters:

Dim myXmlTextWriter As XmlTextWriter = New
XmlTextWriter(" C:\CPViewer\CPV iewer.xml", System.Text.Enc oding.Unicode)

myXmlTextWriter .Formatting = System.Xml.Form atting.Indented
myXmlTextWriter .WriteStartElem ent("CPViewer")
myXmlTextWriter .WriteStartElem ent("Form")
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Height", Me.Height)
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Width", Me.Width)
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Backgroun d",
OpenFileDialog1 .FileName)
myXmlTextWriter .WriteEndElemen t()
myXmlTextWriter .WriteStartElem ent("Label2")
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Top", Label2.Top.ToSt ring())
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Left", Label2.Left.ToS tring())
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Height",
Label2.Height.T oString())
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Width",
Label2.Width.To String())
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Font", Label2.Font.ToS tring())
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("ForeColor ",
Label2.ForeColo r.ToString())
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("BackColor ",
Label2.BackColo r.ToString())
myXmlTextWriter .WriteEndElemen t()
myXmlTextWriter .WriteEndElemen t()

myXmlTextWriter .Flush()
myXmlTextWriter .Close()

And here is the XML file it creates:

<CPViewer><Form ><Height>600</Height><Width>8 00</Width><Backgrou nd>C:\CPViewer\ BackgroundImage .jpg</Background></Form><Label2><T op>58</Top><Left>42</Left><Height>40 </Height><Width>1 40</Width><Font>[Font:
Name=Arial, Size=9.75, Units=3, GdiCharSet=0,
GdiVerticalFont =False]</Font><ForeColor >Color
[White]</ForeColor><Back Color>Color [Red]</BackColor></Label2></CPViewer>

But I can't read in.

The background line gives this error:

An unhandled exception of type 'System.Argumen tException' occurred in
system.windows. forms.dll
Additional information: Cannot bind to property 'Background' on target
control.

And the font and color lines give this error:

An unhandled exception of type 'System.Invalid CastException' occurred in
mscorlib.dll
Additional information: Invalid cast from System.String to
System.Drawing. Font.

I tried your suggestions but guess I didn't get the syntax correct.

Thank you,
John

[Cor Ligthert]

Hi John,

Now you should have readed my text that it is easier when you try to read an
XML dataset to write that as well as a XML dataset. However you did not give
any comments on that in my opinion.

(To give Jay a little extra information as well)

Cor

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

Cor,
Your text where?

Jay

"Cor Ligthert" <no**********@p lanet.nl> wrote in message
news:uL******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP12.phx.gbl...

Hi John,

Now you should have readed my text that it is easier when you try to read an XML dataset to write that as well as a XML dataset. However you did not give any comments on that in my opinion.

(To give Jay a little extra information as well)

Cor

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

John,
Hmm...

I was concerned that the Font would add extra info, which it did. Rather
then using Font.ToString it might be easier to use each property of Font, as
you do with Label.

I was not expecting Color to add extra info! If your colors are only named
colors you could use Color.Name to write & Color.FromName to read. However
this fails with non-named colors. You could always use Color.ToArgb &
Color.FromArgb instead.

Hope this helps
Jay

"jcrouse" <an*******@disc ussions.microso ft.com> wrote in message
news:3C******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...

Well, I got the nested elements working. The fonts and color are not working, and neither is the background image. I can write the parameters to
the XML file but can't read it in. I can't figure out the syntax. Here is my
code to write out the parameters:
Dim myXmlTextWriter As XmlTextWriter = New XmlTextWriter(" C:\CPViewer\CPV iewer.xml", System.Text.Enc oding.Unicode)
myXmlTextWriter .Formatting = System.Xml.Form atting.Indented
myXmlTextWriter .WriteStartElem ent("CPViewer")
myXmlTextWriter .WriteStartElem ent("Form")
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Height", Me.Height)
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Width", Me.Width)
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Backgroun d", OpenFileDialog1 .FileName) myXmlTextWriter .WriteEndElemen t()
myXmlTextWriter .WriteStartElem ent("Label2")
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Top", Label2.Top.ToSt ring())
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Left", Label2.Left.ToS tring())
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Height", Label2.Height.T oString()) myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Width", Label2.Width.To String()) myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("Font", Label2.Font.ToS tring())
myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("ForeColor ", Label2.ForeColo r.ToString()) myXmlTextWriter .WriteElementSt ring("BackColor ", Label2.BackColo r.ToString()) myXmlTextWriter .WriteEndElemen t()
myXmlTextWriter .WriteEndElemen t()

myXmlTextWriter .Flush()
myXmlTextWriter .Close()

And here is the XML file it creates:

<CPViewer><Form ><Height>600</Height><Width>8 00</Width><Backgrou nd>C:\CPViewe
r\BackgroundIma ge.jpg</Background></Form><Label2><T op>58</Top><Left>42</Left<Height>40</Height><Width>1 40</Width><Font>[Font: Name=Arial, Size=9.75, Units=3, GdiCharSet=0, GdiVerticalFont =False]</Font><ForeColor >Color
[White]</ForeColor><Back Color>Color [Red]</BackColor></Label2></CPViewer>
But I can't read in.

The background line gives this error:

An unhandled exception of type 'System.Argumen tException' occurred in system.windows. forms.dll Additional information: Cannot bind to property 'Background' on target control.
And the font and color lines give this error:

An unhandled exception of type 'System.Invalid CastException' occurred in mscorlib.dll Additional information: Invalid cast from System.String to System.Drawing. Font.
I tried your suggestions but guess I didn't get the syntax correct.

Thank you,
John

[Cor Ligthert]

Hi Jay,

Another thread

http://groups.google.com/groups?selm...TNGP11.phx.gbl

Cor

Your text where?

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

Cor,
Yes using a DataSet is an option, as is using XmlSerializatio n.

My concern with XmlSerializatio n & DataSets, is that they still will not
save Colors, Fonts & Controls, so John is back to where he started. Hence I
was staying with the XmlWriter, as you can manually write out the Colors,
Fonts and Controls.

Hope this helps
Jay

"Cor Ligthert" <no**********@p lanet.nl> wrote in message
news:OD******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP11.phx.gbl...

Hi Jay,

Another thread

http://groups.google.com/groups?selm...TNGP11.phx.gbl
Cor

Your text where?

[Cor Ligthert]

Hi Jay,

Yes using a DataSet is an option, as is using XmlSerializatio n. My concern with XmlSerializatio n & DataSets, is that they still will not
save Colors, Fonts & Controls, so John is back to where he started. Hence I
was staying with the XmlWriter, as you can manually write out the Colors,
Fonts and Controls.

It is posible to serialize a font object and put that in a dataset however
it can in seperate string characters as well in my opinion.

I do not know if you saw it, Tom supplied this code some weeks ago to this
newsgroup. So the font can just be stored as a string and than be
deserialized.

However I will choose for 3 items in a table that makes the dataset as well
(human) readable.

Cor

\\\Tom Shelton
Private Function SerializeFontOb ject(ByVal fnt As Font) As String
Dim bf As New BinaryFormatter
Dim mem As New MemoryStream
Try
bf.Serialize(me m, fnt)
Return Convert.ToBase6 4String(mem.ToA rray())
Catch
Return String.Empty
Finally
mem.Close()
End Try
End Function
Private Function DeserializeFont Object(ByVal fnt As String) As Font
Dim bf As New BinaryFormatter
Dim mem As New MemoryStream(Co nvert.FromBase6 4String(fnt))
Try
Return DirectCast(bf.D eserialize(mem) , Font)
Finally
If Not mem Is Nothing Then
mem.Close()
End If
End Try
End Function
///