Possible to import a C# application into .ASP?

It took a couple of hours but here is a test case for you to try out.

in a generic class with NO reference to windows forms or Web Controls just these

//using System;
//using System.Data;
//using System.Data.Sql;
//using System.Data.SqlClient;
//using System.Collections.Generic;

add the following shared function (will be used in both windows forms apps and web form apps)

    public Object[] getListFromSource(Object[] sender)
        {
        genericClass1 q = new genericClass1();
        Array.Resize(ref sender, 2);
        sender[0] = "Hello";
        sender[1] = "Hello There";
        //get items from database or wherever
        //database scenario using generic sql data access class
        //    Array.Resize(ref sender, 0);
        //while (q.read())
        //    {
        //    Array.Resize(ref sender, sender.Length + 1);
        //    sender[sender.Length - 1] = q.get("fieldName");
        //    }

       // tested loading from sqlexpress database in both apps.

        return (sender);
        }

create a new windows forms project and a new asp project then add this generic class to both

on your windows form add a combo box and a button, in the Button_Click event add the following

           
            //a generic class that only has
            //using System;
            //using System.Data;
            //using System.Data.Sql;
            //using System.Data.SqlClient;
            //using System.Collections.Generic;

            genericClass1 q = new genericClass1();
            
            //for test purposes create object array
            //in real world you would resize array as items are added
            Object[] p = new Object[2];
            //get the data from, say a database and fill the object array. Note:

            p= q.getListFromSource(p);
            //add the object array to the combo box
            c.Items.AddRange(p);



on the web form add a DropDownList and button and in the the button_click event add the following

            genericClass1 q = new genericClass1();
            //as there is no direct conversion from an object to ListItem, need a work around so create another generic class
            // in the web app to do some conversions
            webGenericClass2 cl = new webGenericClass2();

      Object[] p = new Object[2];

            //call the shared function to get data from database
             p = q.getListFromSource(p);

            //fill the web control with data after conversion from object to ListItems
            ddl.Items.AddRange(cl.list(p));  //Note: there may be a more direct conversion...
 
in webGenericClass2 add the following function, this is write once use many

    public ListItem[] list(Object[] sender)
        {
        ListItem[] j = new ListItem[sender.Length];
        for(int i=0; i < sender.Count(); i++)
          {
            j[i] = new ListItem(sender[i].ToString());
            }
        
        return(j);
        }

As you can see with a little effort it is possible to write code that can be used for both Windows Forms and Widows Web Forms

My tests have shown this to work, both combo box a dropdown list were filled with the same code.

No you cannot run a desktop app on a web browser same as you cannot run a web app without a web browser but you CAN write code that both can use with a little planning and lateral thinking, yes you will need to work around some problems but these are the mothers of invention and what can't be done one way can be done another we simply need to think outside the square.

I have given you a seed, now go and grow a forest

Yeah i thought that you couldn't do that, but i
was just checking because converting a
application over to the web would be a pain.

On the other hand i could make a generic looking
app, for client-side display and just run the
application server side and so i would just have
to feed it whatever user info it needs, and then
throw out what it returns back to the client...
I guess thats a better idea then fully
redesigning a app.

Thanks for all the info.
Jason Meyer

With proper planning you could utilize the same code used in winforms and aspx using code behind.


System.Web.UI.WebControls.DropDownList  and System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox will be seen by this in code behind   protected void ddlMenuHeadings_SelectedIndexChanged(object sender, EventArgs e) as being the same

DropDownList and ComboBox both have an Items member both add items by ?.Items.Add(item);

sender can be cast to DropDownList or ComboBox

ComboBox cb = (ComboBox)sender;

DropDownList dl = (DropDownList)sender;

So while your application does not allow you to do this because you have not planned for it does not mean that you cannot write web  and forms applications that share common code.

the key is that you create classes that ARE generic AND include references for web controls AND windows forms.  It won't be easy but it can be done.


It is possible that you CAN create a ASPX web form and a Windows form with comparable controls having the same events and methods, parse these to the generic class and bingo you have web app and forms app using the same code.

For your info I have been programming for 30 years from before you were born programming is NOT accepting limitations, if you can't do it one way you do it another, impossible is going to the moon without a rocket to get you there.

If you want to be good at programming you MUST NOT accept that things cannot be done. Open your minds, think outside the square you live in.

And by the way, after 30 years programming in languages you have never heard of I am still not an expert, there is always new ways of doing things my way, your way and his way is not the best way, there is always some one who comes up with a better way of writing code... 

Using javascript can invoke the public methods exposed by the UserControl.

Hi Friend,
 
It's possible. In jave we have applet and host the applet in the website. In .NET, we can create a Windows Forms  UserControl, and host it in the website.
 
Here is a blog with detail steps.
 
http://weblogs.asp.net/spano/archive/2007/09/19/hosting-a-windows-form-control-in-a-web-page.aspx

Well i don't like the answer but i'll accept it.
Guess i have to add all the buttons and list boxes, etc... to .asp and
copy and paste all the code files into it... kinda time consuming :(