Windows Forms and Console Application

[dm1608]

Hi --

I have a VB6 application that I plan on rewriting in C#.NET. The program
today basically connects to a SQL Server and parses varies system stats from
our mainframes and rolls the data up for up/downtime statistics, etc.

Since the current program today requires me to click various buttons and
tabs to load/review the information being parses and saved, I would like to
implement this applications as both a Windows Forms and Console application.
My thought was that I can run the Windows Form application like normal and
manually click buttons and stuff to perform the desired function. However,
I would also like the ability to run the .EXE via a scheduler, if needed, to
automated this process as well.

Can anybody provide me some points on how I can have both features in the
same application?

In addition, how can I check whether I'm running in console mode vs windows
mode in order to execute the correct events automatically?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Chris Dunaway]

Develop it as a normal Windows Application with your forms, buttons,
etc., but start it using a main method that will allow you pass command
line arguments. Then, based on the arguments passed, you can either
show the main form for manual operation or execute the code without
showing the main form based on the parameters passed in.

I wouldn't worry about using a true console app. A normal Windows app
should work. You will have to design it so the UI is separated from
the main functionality of the app so that you can execute the code both
from the UI and from the command line.

 

[Nick Hounsome]

Hi --

I have a VB6 application that I plan on rewriting in C#.NET. The program
today basically connects to a SQL Server and parses varies system stats
from our mainframes and rolls the data up for up/downtime statistics, etc.

Since the current program today requires me to click various buttons and
tabs to load/review the information being parses and saved, I would like
to implement this applications as both a Windows Forms and Console
application. My thought was that I can run the Windows Form application
like normal and manually click buttons and stuff to perform the desired
function. However, I would also like the ability to run the .EXE via a
scheduler, if needed, to automated this process as well.

Can anybody provide me some points on how I can have both features in the
same application?

In addition, how can I check whether I'm running in console mode vs
windows mode in order to execute the correct events automatically?

Thanks for any help.

I would put all the functionality into a non-GUI class and put that in a dll
and then write separate GUI and command line exes to use it. The advantage
of this is that you have the flexibility to add new GUIs or commandline
switches without changing the core stuff.

 

[Bob Powell [MVP]]

I've just done almost exactly this. Here's how...

Create a DLL that has the main engine which provides a class having methods
and properties as needed.

For long operations, provide an event that may be handled so that the engine
can suggest a good time to yield to the OS, such as calling
Application.DoEvents.

For command-line usage, load a console app that takes parameters and calls
the required methods on an instance of your engine class

for UI based usage, create an instance of the engine class, handle the yield
event if needed with a call to Application.DoEvents and create a Dialog
style front-end to drive the methods of the engine class instance.

--
Bob Powell [MVP]
Visual C#, System.Drawing

Ramuseco Limited .NET consulting
http://www.ramuseco.com

Find great Windows Forms articles in Windows Forms Tips and Tricks
http://www.bobpowell.net/tipstricks.htm

Answer those GDI+ questions with the GDI+ FAQ
http://www.bobpowell.net/faqmain.htm

All new articles provide code in C# and VB.NET.
Subscribe to the RSS feeds provided and never miss a new article.

 

[dm1608]

How --

Can you explain more about the events?

Most of what I will be doing will be SQL queries. Some take 10-15 secs...
others take 1-2 mins depending on how busy the SQL Server is. Is there a
way I can do events for this?

Also, how did you handle the checking of args and whether you're launching
or form or not?

Any help would be appreciated.