How Do I Save Things With Vb 6 (At Runtime)

[HaggardSmurf]

Ok, well ive made a simple little message box creator. What it does it lets you change the caption the header the buttons and the warning type of a message box. I now want to make it so if you want, you can save the message box youve just created. I have no idea how to do this, keep in mind im still a noob here is a sample of my code so you can see what level im at. (I would prefer it if you could show me how in terms that i would be able to understand.)

Private Sub cmdCreate_Click()
    strMessageBoxText = Text2.Text
    strMessageBoxHeader = Text1.Text
 
    Debug.Print "Combo1.Text = "; Combo2.Text
 
 
    If Combo1.Text = "Critical" Then
        strAlertType = 16
    ElseIf Combo1.Text = "Exclamation" Then
        strAlertType = 48
    ElseIf Combo1.Text = "Information" Then
        strAlertType = 64
    ElseIf Combo1.Text = "Question" Then
        strAlertType = 32
    End If
 
    If Combo2.Text = "Ok" Then
        strButtonCombo = 0
    ElseIf Combo2.Text = "Ok, Cancel" Then
        strButtonCombo = 1
    ElseIf Combo2.Text = "Yes, No" Then
        strButtonCombo = 4
    ElseIf Combo2.Text = "Yes, No, Cancel" Then
        strButtonCombo = 3
    ElseIf Combo2.Text = "Abort, Retry, Ignore" Then
        strButtonCombo = 2
    ElseIf Combo2.Text = "Retry, Cancel" Then
        strButtonCombo = 5
    End If
 
    strMessageBox = MsgBox(strMessageBoxText, strAlertType + strButtonCombo, strMessageBoxHeader)
 
    If strMessageBox = vbRetry Then
        Do
         strMessageBox = MsgBox(strMessageBoxText, strAlertType + strButtonCombo, strMessageBoxHeader)
        Loop While strMessageBox <> vbAbort And strMessageBox <> vbIgnore And strMessageBox <> vbCancel
    End If
 
 
    strTest = MsgBox("Want to do a more advanced test?", vbQuestion + vbYesNo, "More Advanced Test")
    If strTest = vbYes Then
        frmMessageBoxCreator.Hide
        strMessageBox = MsgBox(strMessageBoxText, strAlertType + strButtonCombo, strMessageBoxHeader)
        If strMessageBox = vbRetry Then
        Do
         strMessageBox = MsgBox(strMessageBoxText, strAlertType + strButtonCombo, strMessageBoxHeader)
        Loop While strMessageBox <> vbAbort And strMessageBox <> vbIgnore And strMessageBox <> vbCancel
    End If
        frmMessageBoxCreator.Show
    End If
    Debug.Print "Combo1.Text"; Combo2.Text
 

Oh BTW ive named the 2 variables for alert type and button combos as "str..."
thats because at first they were strings but then i changed the values to numbers instead of "vbCritical" or "vbYesNo"


Thanks,

HaggardSmurf

[Killer42]

Hi.

Just a couple of pointers, that might be some help.

• You can easily rename the variables by doing a Replace, the same as in Word, Excel or whatever. While in the code window, just press Ctrl-H or select Edit|Replace.
• At a very simple level, you can write out your values to a text file and read them back in each time you start the program. For instance, something like

  Private Sub cmdSave_Click()
  Open "Settings.txt" For Output Access Write Lock Read Write As #1
  Print #1, strMessageBoxText
  Print #1, strAlertType
  Print #1, strButtonCombo
  Print #1, strMessageBoxHeader
  Close #1
  End Sub

  Then at start-up (as an example I’ll use Form_Load procedure, but that may not fit what you’re doing) do this:
  

  Private Sub Form_Load ()
  If Dir$("Settings.Txt") <> "" then  ' File exists, so read it...
    Open "Settings.txt" For Input Access Read Shared As #1
    Line Input #1, strMessageBoxText
    Line Input #1, strAlertType
    Line Input #1, strButtonCombo
    Line Input #1, strMessageBoxHeader
    Close #1
  End If
  End Sub

• You could also save your settings in an INI file, or in the system registry.

[HaggardSmurf]

So, I would make it log the settings then how would i make it so when it opens it will show the previous message box.

Edit: I tried and it says Type Mismatch the variables are global and your variables are the same as i declared them.

[Killer42]

So, I would make it log the settings then how would i make it so when it opens it will show the previous message box.

Edit: I tried and it says Type Mismatch the variables are global and your variables are the same as i declared them.

Well, the idea was that the proc I wrote (Form_Load in the example) would set up your variables the same way you had them set before. Then it's up to you to show your message box, the same way you are doing now, I suppose.

[HaggardSmurf]

Well, the idea was that the proc I wrote (Form_Load in the example) would set up your variables the same way you had them set before. Then it's up to you to show your message box, the same way you are doing now, I suppose.

Wait... What if i took your code and put it in a different exe's form load. Then that will load the previous settings. Would that work? If i did that how would i make the exe search wherever it is for the text document.

Ex: I have a folder called messagebox creator. Both exe's are inside. I make a message box. I save the message box. I boot up the 2nd exe. How would it know to look in the folder that the 2nd exe itself is located in for the text document? Cause what i want to do is make it sendable so people can prank their friends. In order for it to be a good prank you need to be able to change the exe's name and folder name. No need to change the text document cause it will be invisible

[Killer42]

Wait... What if i took your code and put it in a different exe's form load. Then that will load the previous settings. Would that work? If i did that how would i make the exe search wherever it is for the text document.

Ex: I have a folder called messagebox creator. Both exe's are inside. I make a message box. I save the message box. I boot up the 2nd exe. How would it know to look in the folder that the 2nd exe itself is located in for the text document? Cause what i want to do is make it sendable so people can prank their friends. In order for it to be a good prank you need to be able to change the exe's name and folder name. No need to change the text document cause it will be invisible

You might want to have a look in the VB doco for info on file access, specifically with regard to specifying the path. But the short version is, if you specify just the file name (Settings.txt in the example) then it will look in the "current" directory. That will usually be where the Exe was, but can change depending on how you do things. For instance, when you create a shortcut in Windows to run an Exe you can specify where to load it from, and what directory to run in.

[HaggardSmurf]

You might want to have a look in the VB doco for info on file access, specifically with regard to specifying the path. But the short version is, if you specify just the file name (Settings.txt in the example) then it will look in the "current" directory. That will usually be where the Exe was, but can change depending on how you do things. For instance, when you create a shortcut in Windows to run an Exe you can specify where to load it from, and what directory to run in.

Oh i see, thanks i'll try making it and see what happens.

[Killer42]

Oh i see, thanks i'll try making it and see what happens.

If you want, you can also specify the full path. For instance...

Open "C:\Temp\SomeFile.Txt" For Input Access Read Shared As #1

This line is quite inflexible, of course, but you can produce all sorts of variations on the theme.

[HaggardSmurf]

If you want, you can also specify the full path. For instance...

Open "C:\Temp\SomeFile.Txt" For Input Access Read Shared As #1

This line is quite inflexible, of course, but you can produce all sorts of variations on the theme.

Ok so ive found a different code that works and i seem to understand. Im on a new project now ;) im trying to save the contence of a list box this code works for me but is saving in the C:\ drive no directory which i wanted at first but now ive changed my mind and want it to save to the save folder as the exe. Ive tried saving to "\Ips.txt" and it didnt work.

*Btw this code is for an ip monitor it will monitor ip's trying to connect to you. My lame attempt at making a firewall :P

Anyways this is the code im using:

or i = 0 To LstSave.ListCount - 1
        A(i) = LstSave.List(i)
        Next i
        ItemCount = LstSave.ListCount
        Open "C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR USER DETAILS\Desktop\tempsave.txt" For Output As 1 'open the path to the text file to save data entries
        For i = 0 To ItemCount - 1
            Write #1, A(i) 'write to the text file the contents of listbox
            Next i
            Close #1
 

Any suggestions on how to save to the current exe directory?

[HaggardSmurf]

Sorry i copied the wrong code.

This is my current code

Private Sub Form_Unload(Cancel As Integer)
    Dim Save As String
Open "\Ips.txt" For Output Access Write Lock Read Write As #1
 
        For i = 0 To List1.ListCount - 1
        A(i) = List1.List(i)
        Next i
        ItemCount = List1.ListCount
        For i = 0 To ItemCount - 1
            Write #1, A(i) 'write to the text file the contents of listbox
            Next i
            Close #1
 

Sry for the double post

[Killer42]

This might work

Private Sub Form_Unload(Cancel As Integer)
    Dim Save As String
    Open App.Path &  "\Ips.txt" For Output Access Write Lock Read Write As #1
    For i = 0 To List1.ListCount - 1
        A(i) = List1.List(i)
    Next i
    ItemCount = List1.ListCount
    For i = 0 To ItemCount - 1
        Write #1, A(i) 'write to the text file the contents of listbox
    Next i
    Close #1
 

[schandraram]

So, I would make it log the settings then how would i make it so when it opens it will show the previous message box.

Edit: I tried and it says Type Mismatch the variables are global and your variables are the same as i declared them.

I know its way too long after your post... but this might be helpful to you later too ;-)

The message box constant is a number whereas when you use the Line Input statement, you are reading in a string. Convert this string into a number and the code should work.

Hope this helps
Chandra

[HaggardSmurf]

I know its way too long after your post... but this might be helpful to you later too ;-)

The message box constant is a number whereas when you use the Line Input statement, you are reading in a string. Convert this string into a number and the code should work.

Hope this helps
Chandra

Ohhh really? Cool i will try fixing that thank you!

This might work

Private Sub Form_Unload(Cancel As Integer)
    Dim Save As String
    Open App.Path &  "\Ips.txt" For Output Access Write Lock Read Write As #1
    For i = 0 To List1.ListCount - 1
        A(i) = List1.List(i)
    Next i
    ItemCount = List1.ListCount
    For i = 0 To ItemCount - 1
        Write #1, A(i) 'write to the text file the contents of listbox
    Next i
    Close #1
 

Awsome! I thought just putting the file location as "/Ips.txt" would make it so the text doccument would be placed in the same folder. I never knew about the function app.path.

Tested it and it works Thanks! ;)

[Killer42]

Awsome! I thought just putting the file location as "/Ips.txt" would make it so the text doccument would be placed in the same folder. I never knew about the function app.path.

Sounds as though you need to take the time to understand better how paths work. Starting with a backslash indicates the root directory of the current drive. You can specify the whole or partial path. In this case, the App object provides a number of useful pieces of information, including the .Path property. I can never remember whether this indicates the path where the Exe lives, or the one where you ran it. But more often that not, they're the same thing.

Ironically, you might have got the same end result by leaving out the backslash. If you had just specified "Ips.txt" with no path it would have used the current directory - which may or may not have been the correct one.