asked on

Is it possible to save the text typed into a text box after shutting the program down without writing it to a file?

I have a textbox and a button. I'd like to use the button to "save" the textbox.text until it is changed. The textbox.text is an e-mail address or one line. Right now I type the e-mail address into the textbox hit save button and I make the textbox.visible = false and the button.visible = false. The program runs and does what it is suppose to. I shut the program down and next time I run it the textbox is cleared. Is there an easier way to save one line in a textbox without writing to a file and reading back every time the program runs?

sj_hicks

In VS.NET 2005, you can use My.Settings which allows settings to be saved and loaded. I think it actually saves an XML file in user profiles, but this is all handled by the .NET framework and you don't need to manage the file directly from the code.

Jaime Olivares

You can save into a registry key.
The settings option, saves to a file into user's appdata directory.

markleszczynski

ASKER

I am trying to save the text entered into the txtaddress text box when I close the application. I tried to use My.settings in the txtaddress_TextChanged event. It doesn't like that. Not sure if that is even the right event to be saving the text. The code I used is below, doesn't work. Not sure what I'm doing wrong.

  Private Sub txtaddress_TextChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles txtaddress.TextChanged
        My.Settings.Save(txtaddress)
 
 
 
    End Sub

Open in new window

arif_eqbal

A simpler way to do the same:
Go to Design View
Open the Property Pages of the TextBox
If you have sorted the property view alphabetically the first Prperty will be "ApplicationSettings"
Expand it Click on thre "..." against "PropertyBindings"
From the Dialog that opens select the "Text" property in the Drop Down Click "New"
Give a Name to your setting say "EMail" here
Thats it.....

arif_eqbal

And BTW if you want to do it in Code as you were trying earlier
Look at the code snippet
I have used the "Leave" event rather than "TextChanged" if it is important for your app you can go for TextChanged event as well

 Private Sub TextBox1_Leave(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles TextBox1.Leave
        My.Settings.Item("EMail") = TextBox1.Text
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        TextBox1.Text = My.Settings.Item("EMail")
    End Sub

Open in new window

markleszczynski

ASKER

The above code does not work it crashes the program with a "settings property e-mail was not found"
I am trying to save the last text that was typed into txtAddress.text when then program closes, a variable. I also tried the "simpler way" in Design Mode. That lets me enter a default value. I need a variable. Do I need to declare EMail as a variable? the only changes i made to my application are the two lines in the code snippet regarding My.Settings.

 Private Sub txtaddress_Leave(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles txtaddress.Leave
        My.Settings.Item("EMail") = txtaddress.Text
 
    End Sub
 
 Private Sub Equipment_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        btnCloseEquipment.BackColor = Color.DarkSalmon
        Me.BackColor = Color.LightCyan
        txtaddress.Visible = False
        btnSave.Visible = False
        txtaddress.Text = My.Settings.Item("EMail")
 
    End Sub

Open in new window

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

arif_eqbal

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

markleszczynski

ASKER

This code would be in the form load event?
If My.Settings.Properties.Item("EMail") IsNot Nothing Then
txtaddress.Text = My.Settings.Item("EMail")
End If

arif_eqbal

Yes

markleszczynski

ASKER

I'm getting closer. I added the error checking code as advised above. It no longer crashes the program but the text still is not saved. Whatever text is in txtaddress is still not saved when I shut down the program. The next time I start the program txtaddres.text is blank. I attached the code I am using to "write" txtaddress.text and "read back" txtaddress.text.

write
 
Private Sub btnSave_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnSave.Click
        txtaddress.Visible = False
        btnSave.Visible = False
        My.Settings.Item("EMail") = txtaddress.Text
        My.Settings.Save()
 
Read back
 
 Private Sub Equipment_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        btnCloseEquipment.BackColor = Color.DarkSalmon
        Me.BackColor = Color.LightCyan
        txtaddress.Visible = False
        btnSave.Visible = False
        If My.Settings.Properties.Item("EMail") IsNot Nothing Then
            txtaddress.Text = My.Settings.Item("EMail")
        End If

Open in new window

markleszczynski

ASKER

Thanks for all the help. It is finally working. I had the Email property set to application it was read - only.

Soon as I set it to User it becam read/write.