[razordon]

Hi

Really grateful for a steer in the right direction.

I've created a windows form in VB Express 2005 with lots of combo boxes and print and save buttons.

I would like to be able to save the contents of the populated combo boxes, labels etc ie the whole form from the save button, preferably to excel 2003. However, would be just as happy to save it in the form format.

The only code behind the save button I have so far is this, which just navigates me to the directory. When I enter a filename and extension, the directory is empty:

Private Sub save_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Save.Click
' Displays a SaveFileDialog so the user can save the file assigned to the Save button.
Dim saveFileDialog1 As New SaveFileDialog()
saveFileDialog1.Filter = "All Files|*.*|Excel Files|*.xls|Word Files|*.doc"
saveFileDialog1.InitialDirectory = "R:\Clinical\General\Shifts"
saveFileDialog1.Title = "Save Shift File"
saveFileDialog1.FilterIndex = 1
saveFileDialog1.ShowDialog()
End Sub 

Many thanks.

[modi123_1]

I am lost - what is the problem? You don't know how to save data? You need options to save? Do you need to load up this information later?

Saving data can be as simple as using the StreamWriter.

        Dim sFoo As String = "this is my data to save"
        Dim mySW As New StreamWriter(My.Computer.FileSystem.SpecialDirectories.Desktop + "\myfilename.txt")
        mySW.WriteLine(sFoo)
        sFoo = "more text!"
        mySW.WriteLine(sFoo)
        mySW.Close()

Reading data can be easy as StreamReader!

        sFoo = String.Empty
        Dim mySR As New StreamReader(My.Computer.FileSystem.SpecialDirectories.Desktop + "\myfilename.txt")
        sFoo = mySR.ReadToEnd
        mySR.Close()
        Console.Write(sFoo)

The format and how you want to represent your data locally is up to you. XML, a CSV file, a database, a plain old text.. what ever.

[mgchild]

You might also want to look at this as well.

[razordon]

Thanks for the quick replies modi123_1 and mgchild.

I tried mgchild's option and it's progress ie creates the excel instance but how do I get the form data into it?

Alternatively, how do I save the populated form as it appears when completed. I would like to reload it as well.

I've attached a screen capture of my form for info.

Thanks for taking the time.

Razordon.

Attached File(s)

•  Patient Shifts.doc (89.5K)
  Number of downloads: 62

[razordon]

Hi

Any more suggestions please.

This is my form. Would like to save and reload it as it looks on screen, if that's possible.

Thanks for looking.

[modi123_1]

Save it with some delimiter to specify columns - like how a CSV file uses commas.

Each line is a line in the god awful screen!

<val 1>, <val2>, <val3>, .... <val20>
<val 1>, <val2>, <val3>, .... <val20>
<val 1>, <val2>, <val3>, .... <val20>
<val 1>, <val2>, <val3>, .... <val20>

You save each record in some fashion that you know it is a distinct element. Throw semicolons between shit, at brackets, what ever. Then you write that out. You read each line back in, break a part the data per your scheme and load it back up.