Create and Write to text files

Maitrey Pandya

Hello,

I am working on a windows application where I have a form which asks user to enter details. Once finished, user can save this data as a text file. I also want user to pick a location and name of the text file. But, I am not quite sure how I will implement both of these logics.

1. When "Save As TXT" is pressed allow user to pick a location and name of the text file.

2. Write a code to gather text from each text boxes and save it.

Text file should look like this:

Name: xyz

Inner Tube OD: 4 in

etc.,

Attached is the screenshot of my application form. I would love to share my complete program if it helps.

Thanks in advance,

5 Replies

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Maitrey Pandya6y ago
Hello Viswanatha,

Thank you for a detailed explanation and code. However, I am still getting few errors which I believe is minor. Please see below;

1. The type or namespace name "TubeData" could not be found..

2. The name "tubeDataBindingSource" doesn not exist in the current context.

3. Form 1 doesn not contain a definition for "Form1_Load" and no accessible extension method "Form1_Load" accepting a first argument of type 'Form1' could be found

Also, did you hard coded these values in your program? My logic supposed to gather this data from text box and value can be anything. I also have "Save" logic where I import data from txt file to this application, make changes and save it back.

{

Name = "No Name",

TubeWall = 1,

TubeOD = 1

};

Appreciate your help.

Thank you,

Maitrey Pandya
Viswanatha Swamy6y ago
Hi Maitrey Pandya,
Good morning. I have updated the code with XML Import/Export. Please get the latest code. Many thanks.

Code URL: https://github.com/vishipayyallore/speaker_series/tree/master/C%23/SaveAndImportTextFile

Image:
Code:
public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        private TubeData _tubeData;
        const string textFilePattern = "Text files (*.txt)|*.txt";
        const string xmlFilePattern = "Xml files (*.xml)|*.xml";

        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            _tubeData = new TubeData
            {
                Name = "No Name",
                TubeWall = 1,
                TubeOD = 1
            };
            tubeDataBindingSource.DataSource = _tubeData;
        }

        private void ShowFileSaveDialog(string filePattern, string title = "Save Tube Data as")
        {
            saveFileDialog1.Title = title;
            saveFileDialog1.Filter = filePattern;
            saveFileDialog1.FilterIndex = 1;
            saveFileDialog1.RestoreDirectory = true;

            saveFileDialog1.ShowDialog();
        }

        private void btnSaveToText_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            const string title = "Save Tube Data as Text File";

            ShowFileSaveDialog(textFilePattern, title);
        }

        private void btnSaveToXml_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            const string title = "Save Tube Data as Xml File";

            ShowFileSaveDialog(xmlFilePattern, title);
        }

        private void saveFileDialog1_FileOk(object sender, CancelEventArgs e)
        {
            // Get file name.
            string name = saveFileDialog1.FileName;

            var fileContent = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(_tubeData);

            if (saveFileDialog1.Filter.Contains("*.xml"))
            {
                XNode node = JsonConvert.DeserializeXNode(fileContent, "Root");
                fileContent = node.ToString();
            }

            // Write to the file name selected.
            File.WriteAllText(name, fileContent);
        }

        private string GetFileNameFromOpenDialog(string filePattern, string title = "Import Tube Data from")
        {
            string fileName = string.Empty;

            openFileDialog1.Filter = filePattern;
            openFileDialog1.Title = title;
            DialogResult result = openFileDialog1.ShowDialog();

            if (result == DialogResult.OK)
            {
                try
                {
                    fileName = openFileDialog1.FileName;
                }
                catch (IOException ioException)
                {
                    MessageBox.Show(ioException.Message);
                }
            }

            return fileName;
        }

        private void btnImportFromText_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            const string title = "Import Tube Data from Text File";
            string fileName = GetFileNameFromOpenDialog(textFilePattern, title);

            if(!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(fileName))
            {
                string text = File.ReadAllText(fileName);
                _tubeData = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(text);
                tubeDataBindingSource.DataSource = _tubeData;
            }
        }

        private void btnImportFromXml_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            const string title = "Import Tube Data from Xml File";
            string fileName = GetFileNameFromOpenDialog(xmlFilePattern, title);

            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(fileName))
            {
                string fileContent = File.ReadAllText(fileName);
                XmlDocument doc = new XmlDocument();
                doc.LoadXml(fileContent);

                fileContent = JsonConvert.SerializeXmlNode(doc);
                JObject json = JObject.Parse(fileContent);
                _tubeData = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(json.First.First.ToString());
                tubeDataBindingSource.DataSource = _tubeData;
            }
        }
    }
Maitrey Pandya6y ago
Hello Viswanatha,

Appreciate your help on this. When I implement plug your code in my program, I get an error on Please see my complete code below, I have also attached the latest screenshot of particular screen.

P.S I don't have any prior knowledge of programming and learning as I go. The only part my working on right now is "Save As Text" and "Import As Text buttons".
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Xml;
using System.IO;


namespace Exergy_Bundle_Calc
{
    public partial class FrmTubeInTubeData : Form
    {
        public FrmTubeInTubeData()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        // Program for Importing XML Files //
        XmlDocument xWriter;
        string path;
        private void tubeInTubeBindingNavigatorSaveItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            this.Validate();
            this.tubeInTubeBindingSource.EndEdit();
            this.tableAdapterManager.UpdateAll(this.databaseDataSet);

        }

        private void FrmTubeInTubeData_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            // TODO: This line of code loads data into the 'databaseDataSet.TubeInTube' table. You can move, or remove it, as needed.
            this.tubeInTubeTableAdapter.Fill(this.databaseDataSet.TubeInTube);

        }
        //Close window //
        private void BtnCancel_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            this.Close();
        }

        //Export XML Files //
        private void BtnSaveAsXML_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            XmlTextWriter xWriter = new XmlTextWriter("C:\\Users\\maitr\\Desktop\\Bundle Calc\\XML\\part2.xml", Encoding.UTF8);
            xWriter.Formatting = Formatting.Indented;

            xWriter.WriteStartElement("Tube_In_Tube_Data");

            xWriter.WriteStartElement("Name");
            xWriter.WriteString(nameTextBox.Text);
            xWriter.WriteEndElement();

            xWriter.WriteStartElement("Inner_Tube_OD");
            xWriter.WriteString(inner_Tube_ODTextBox.Text);
            xWriter.WriteEndElement();

            xWriter.WriteStartElement("Inner_Tube_Wall");
            xWriter.WriteString(inner_Tube_WallTextBox.Text);
            xWriter.WriteEndElement();

            xWriter.WriteStartElement("Inner_Tube_Length");
            xWriter.WriteString(inner_Tube_LengthTextBox.Text);
            xWriter.WriteEndElement();

            xWriter.WriteStartElement("Outer_Tube_OD");
            xWriter.WriteString(outer_Tube_ODTextBox.Text);
            xWriter.WriteEndElement();

            xWriter.WriteStartElement("Outer_Tube_Wall");
            xWriter.WriteString(outer_Tube_WallTextBox.Text);
            xWriter.WriteEndElement();

            xWriter.WriteStartElement("Inner_Tube_k");
            xWriter.WriteString(inner_Tube_kTextBox.Text);
            xWriter.WriteEndElement();

            xWriter.Close();
            MessageBox.Show("XML File created successfully");
        }

        //Import XML Files //
        private void BtnImportAsXML_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            OpenFileDialog ofd = new OpenFileDialog();
            ofd.Filter = "XML |* .xml"; // Only XML File to be Imported
            if (ofd.ShowDialog() == DialogResult.OK)
            {
                path = ofd.FileName;
                xWriter = new XmlDocument();
                xWriter.Load(path);
                nameTextBox.Text = xWriter.SelectSingleNode("Tube_In_Tube_Data/Name").InnerText;
                inner_Tube_ODTextBox.Text = xWriter.SelectSingleNode("Tube_In_Tube_Data/Inner_Tube_OD").InnerText;
                inner_Tube_WallTextBox.Text = xWriter.SelectSingleNode("Tube_In_Tube_Data/Inner_Tube_Wall").InnerText;
                inner_Tube_LengthTextBox.Text = xWriter.SelectSingleNode("Tube_In_Tube_Data/Inner_Tube_Length").InnerText;
                outer_Tube_ODTextBox.Text = xWriter.SelectSingleNode("Tube_In_Tube_Data/Outer_Tube_OD").InnerText;
                outer_Tube_WallTextBox.Text = xWriter.SelectSingleNode("Tube_In_Tube_Data/Outer_Tube_Wall").InnerText;
                inner_Tube_kTextBox.Text = xWriter.SelectSingleNode("Tube_In_Tube_Data/Inner_Tube_k").InnerText;
            }
        }

        // Save Files //
        private void BtnSave_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            xWriter.SelectSingleNode("Tube_In_Tube_Data/Name").InnerText = nameTextBox.Text;
            xWriter.SelectSingleNode("Tube_In_Tube_Data/Inner_Tube_OD").InnerText = inner_Tube_ODTextBox.Text;
            xWriter.SelectSingleNode("Tube_In_Tube_Data/Inner_Tube_Wall").InnerText = inner_Tube_WallTextBox.Text;
            xWriter.SelectSingleNode("Tube_In_Tube_Data/Inner_Tube_Length").InnerText = inner_Tube_LengthTextBox.Text;
            xWriter.SelectSingleNode("Tube_In_Tube_Data/Outer_Tube_OD").InnerText = outer_Tube_ODTextBox.Text;
            xWriter.SelectSingleNode("Tube_In_Tube_Data/Outer_Tube_Wall").InnerText = outer_Tube_WallTextBox.Text;
            xWriter.SelectSingleNode("Tube_In_Tube_Data/Inner_Tube_k").InnerText = inner_Tube_kTextBox.Text;
            xWriter.Save(path);
            MessageBox.Show("File has been successfully saved");
        }

        private void BtnSaveAsTXT_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {


        }

    }
}
Viswanatha Swamy6y ago
Maitrey Pandya,
Good evening. I have created a small sample application and checked into my repository (https://github.com/vishipayyallore/speaker_series/tree/master/C%23/SaveAndImportTextFile). Please let me know if you need some assistance. Many thanks.

Step 1:
public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            _tubeData = new TubeData
            {
                Name= "No Name", TubeWall = 1, TubeOD = 1
            };
            tubeDataBindingSource.DataSource = _tubeData;
        }
Step 2:
private void btnSaveToText_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            saveFileDialog1.Filter = "txt files (*.txt)|*.txt|All files (*.*)|*.*";
            saveFileDialog1.FilterIndex = 2;
            saveFileDialog1.RestoreDirectory = true;

            saveFileDialog1.ShowDialog();
        }
Step 3:
private void saveFileDialog1_FileOk(object sender, CancelEventArgs e)
        {
            // Get file name.
            string name = saveFileDialog1.FileName;

            // Write to the file name selected.
            File.WriteAllText(name, JsonConvert.SerializeObject(_tubeData));
        }
Step 4:
private void btnImportFromText_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            DialogResult result = openFileDialog1.ShowDialog();

            if (result == DialogResult.OK) // Test result.
            {
                try
                {
                    string text = File.ReadAllText(openFileDialog1.FileName);
                    _tubeData = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(text);
                    tubeDataBindingSource.DataSource = _tubeData;
                }
                catch (IOException ioException)
                {
                    MessageBox.Show(ioException.Message);
                }
            }
        }
Jignesh Kumar6y ago
Hi,

Please find below link,
Save Txt and XML file,
https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/article/how-to-export-data-in-excel-pdf-csv-word-json-xml-and-text-file/

import XML file,
https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/167ad2/read-xml-file-using-xml-reader-in-C-Sharp/

import text file
https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/mahesh/how-to-read-a-text-file-in-C-Sharp/