how HTTP request is constructed and how to use System.Net.HttpWebRequest???

This code does a simple GET to www.google.com

' Create the HttpWebRequest to www.google.com
Dim req As HttpWebRequest = DirectCast(HttpWebRequest.Create("http://www.google.com"), HttpWebRequest)
 
Dim resp As HttpWebResponse = Nothing
Dim respStream As Stream = Nothing
Dim responseText As String = Nothing
Try
    ' Get the HttpWebResponse, and it's response stream
    resp = DirectCast(req.GetResponse(), HttpWebResponse)
    respStream = resp.GetResponseStream()
    
    ' Read the response text into a string
    Dim reader As New StreamReader(respStream)
    responseText = reader.ReadToEnd()
    
Finally
    ' Always, always, always close the response stream
    ' If you don't, you might run out of connections
    
    If respStream IsNot Nothing Then
        respStream.Close()
    End If
End Try

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what imports I need for this?

system.net and ??

and System.IO

just a tip, if you're using VS, hold the mouse over the red squigly line, you should see a red rectangle under the last character, hold your mouse over that and it'll tell you what namespace you can import.
imports.png

How I password credentials to it?

user name and password ?

I copy pasted this code on the button click ... and when I click on the button its talking me to localhost... and page just post back and google never shows up?

You'd have to inspect the form you're posting to, to determine what fields you need. Then create the post data:

' Create the HttpWebRequest to www.google.com
Dim req As HttpWebRequest = DirectCast(HttpWebRequest.Create("http://www.google.com"), HttpWebRequest)
req.Method = "POST"
 
' Form post data
Dim postData As String = String.Format("username={0}&password={1}", "myusername", "mypassword")
Dim buffer As Byte() = System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(postData)
 
' Add the post data to the request
req.ContentLength = buffer.Length
Dim reqStream As Stream = req.GetRequestStream()
reqStream.Write(buffer, 0, buffer.Length)
reqStream.Close()
 
' Add a CookieContainer to the request to we can keep track of a session
req.CookieContainer = new CookieContainer();
 
' And the get the response

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I read couple of articles that System.Net.HttpWebRequest outputs the XML... then we can do something like this to authenticate ...

Is this true?

  strStubUserName = UserName
        strStubPassword = Password
        'Set up user and password parameters
        Set objXMLBody = CreateObject("MSXML.DOMDocument")
        REQUEST_TEXT = "<?xml version='1.0' ?><authorization><username>" & strStubUserName & "</username><password>" & strStubPassword & "</password></authorization>"
        blnXMLLoad = objXMLBody.loadXML(REQUEST_TEXT)
        If blnXMLLoad = False Then
            Call modMain.WriteErrorLog
        End If

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I'm not entirely sure what you're asking.
I get the vague idea that you're confusing the System.Net.HttpWebRequest & System.Net.HttpWebResponse with System.Web.HttpWebRequest & System.Web.HttpWebResponse
See:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.net.httpwebresponse.aspx#ctl00_rs1_mainContentContainer_cpe315316_c

As for the Xml, are you trying to generate it or consume it, are you trying to authenticate on a 3rd party's site, or are you trying to add authentication to your own site?

I am trying to get document download from server.

Here is the old vb code ... written using MSXML... now they recommend to use System.Net.HttpWebRequest

Private Declare Function GetSaveFileNameA Lib "comdlg32.dll" (pOpenfilename As OPENFILENAME) As Long
Private Declare Function GetActiveWindow Lib "user32" () As Long
Private Type OPENFILENAME
    lStructSize As Long
    hwndOwner As Long
    hInstance As Long
    lpstrFilter As String
    lpstrCustomFilter As String
    nMaxCustFilter As Long
    nFilterIndex As Long
    lpstrFile As String
    nMaxFile As Long
    lpstrFileTitle As String
    nMaxFileTitle As Long
    lpstrInitialDir As String
    lpstrTitle As String
    flags As Long
    nFileOffset As Integer
    nFileExtension As Integer
    lpstrDefExt As String
    lCustData As Long
    lpfnHook As Long
    lpTemplateName As String
End Type
 
Public URL As String
Public UserName As String
Public Password As String
Public HOST As String
 
 
Function SaveAsCommonDialog(Optional sTitle = "Save File", Optional sFilter As String, Optional sDefaultDir As String) As String
    Const clBufferLen As Long = 255
    Dim OFName As OPENFILENAME, sBuffer As String * clBufferLen
    
    On Error GoTo ExitFunction
    OFName.lStructSize = Len(OFName)
    OFName.hwndOwner = GetActiveWindow  'or Me.hwnd in VB
    OFName.hInstance = 0                'or App.hInstance in VB
    If Len(sFilter) Then
        OFName.lpstrFilter = sFilter
    Else
        OFName.lpstrFilter = "Text Files (*.txt)" & Chr$(0) & "*.txt" & Chr$(0) & "All Files (*.*)" & Chr$(0) & "*.*" & Chr$(0)
    End If
    OFName.lpstrFile = sBuffer
    OFName.nMaxFile = clBufferLen       'Set max number of characters
    OFName.lpstrFileTitle = sBuffer
    OFName.nMaxFileTitle = clBufferLen  'Set max number of characters
    'Set the initial directory
    If Len(sDefaultDir) Then
        OFName.lpstrInitialDir = sDefaultDir
    Else
        OFName.lpstrInitialDir = CurDir$
    End If
    OFName.lpstrTitle = sTitle
    OFName.flags = 0
 
    'Show dialog
    If GetSaveFileNameA(OFName) Then
        SaveAsCommonDialog = Left$(OFName.lpstrFile, InStr(1, OFName.lpstrFile, Chr(0)) - 1)
    Else
        SaveAsCommonDialog = ""
    End If
ExitFunction:
    On Error GoTo 0
End Function
 
 
' ===========================================================================
' LogOn
'
' Purpose:
'   Logon using WEBDAV
'
' Output:
'   HTTP Response Header
' ===========================================================================
 
Public Function Logon(ByVal strUserID As String) As String
 
Dim request As New MSXML.XMLHTTPRequest
Dim objXMLBody As Object
Dim REQUEST_TEXT As String
Dim RESOURCE_URL As String
Dim strStubUserName As String
Dim strStubPassword As String
Dim blnXMLLoad As Boolean
Dim lngLoginLoop As Long
 
 
        strStubUserName = UserName
        strStubPassword = Password
        'Set up user and password parameters
        Set objXMLBody = CreateObject("MSXML.DOMDocument")
        REQUEST_TEXT = "<?xml version='1.0' ?><authorization><username>" & strStubUserName & "</username><password>" & strStubPassword & "</password></authorization>"
        blnXMLLoad = objXMLBody.loadXML(REQUEST_TEXT)
        If blnXMLLoad = False Then
            Call modMain.WriteErrorLog
        End If
        
        RESOURCE_URL = "dscgi/ds.py/Login"
        
        'Post request
        request.abort
        request.Open "POST", "HTTP://" & URL & "/" + RESOURCE_URL, False
        request.setRequestHeader "Host", HOST
        request.setRequestHeader "USer-Agent", "DsAxess/3.1"
        request.setRequestHeader "Content-Type", "text/xml"
        request.setRequestHeader "Content-Length", Len(REQUEST_TEXT)
        request.setRequestHeader "Accept", "text/xml"
        request.send objXMLBody
                
        'Check the outcome of the request and return true for success or false for failed
        If request.Status = "200" Then
            'Login Succeeded
            Logon = request.getResponseHeader("Set-Cookie")
        Else
            'Login failed
            Logon = request.getResponseHeader("Set-Cookie")
        End If
 
    'Clean up
    request.abort
    Set objXMLBody = Nothing
    Set request = Nothing
End Function
 
' ===========================================================================
' GetXML
'
' Purpose:
'   This function returns XML for any DocuShare Operation
'
' Output:
'   HTTP Response in XML format
' ===========================================================================
 
Public Function GetXML(ByVal strParentHandle As String, ByVal REQUEST_TEXT As String, ByVal Operation As String) As String
'On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
 
Dim request As MSXML.XMLHTTPRequest
Dim objXMLBody As Object
Dim RESOURCE_URL As String
Dim blnXMLLoad As Boolean
Dim strAuthToken As String
        
    'Make request url
    RESOURCE_URL = "dscgi/ds.py/" & Operation & "/" & strParentHandle
    
   'Logon
    strAuthToken = Logon(UserName)
    
    'Set up search
    Set request = New MSXML.XMLHTTPRequest
    request.abort
    request.Open "POST", "HTTP://" & URL & "/" & RESOURCE_URL, False
    request.setRequestHeader "Host", HOST
    request.setRequestHeader "User-Agent", "DsAxess/3.1"
    request.setRequestHeader "Content-Type", "text/xml"
    request.setRequestHeader "Content-Length", Len(REQUEST_TEXT)
    request.setRequestHeader "Set-Cookie", strAuthToken
    request.setRequestHeader "Accept", "text/xml"
    
    'Get firm collection handle
    Set objXMLBody = CreateObject("MSXML.DOMDocument")
    
    blnXMLLoad = objXMLBody.loadXML(REQUEST_TEXT)
    If blnXMLLoad = False Then
        Call modMain.WriteErrorLog
    End If
    
    'Send Request
    request.send objXMLBody
 
    'Return result
    GetXML = request.responseText 'request.getAllResponseHeaders
    'Debug.Print request.responseText
    Debug.Print "Status " & request.Status & ": " & request.statusText
    
    'Clean up
    request.abort
    Set request = Nothing
    Set objXMLBody = Nothing
End Function
 
Function ModifyACL(ByVal CurrentXML As MSXML.DOMDocument) As String
On Error GoTo EH
 
    Dim nlTemp As MSXML.IXMLDOMNodeList
    Dim root As MSXML.IXMLDOMElement
    Dim CurrentNode As MSXML.IXMLDOMNode
    Dim oldChildNode As MSXML.IXMLDOMNode
    Dim bResult As Boolean
    
    Set nlTemp = CurrentXML.getElementsByTagName("parents")
    CurrentXML.Save (App.Path & "\temp.xml")
    Set root = nlTemp.Item(0)
    
    Debug.Print root.xml
    Debug.Print nlTemp.length
    
    bResult = CurrentXML.loadXML("<dsref handle=""Collection-11""><displayname>Initial Top-Level Collection B</displayname></dsref>")
    Set CurrentNode = CurrentXML.firstChild
    Debug.Print CurrentNode.xml
    
    Set CurrentNode = root.appendChild(CurrentNode)
    Debug.Print root.xml
    ModifyACL = root.xml
        
    Set nlTemp = Nothing
    Set root = Nothing
    Set CurrentNode = Nothing
    Set oldChildNode = Nothing
    
    
    Exit Function
EH:
    Err.Raise Err.Number
    ModifyACL = ""
End Function
 
' ===========================================================================
' GetFile
'
' Purpose:
'   This function downloads file from Docushare server
'
' Output:
'   HTTP Response in XML format
' ===========================================================================
 
Public Function GetFile(ByVal strHandle As String, ByVal strVersion As String) As String
'On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
 
Dim request As New MSXML.XMLHTTPRequest
Dim stream As New ADODB.stream
 
Dim RESOURCE_URL As String
Dim blnXMLLoad As Boolean
Dim strAuthToken As String
Dim sFilePath As String
 
        
    'Make request url
    ' RESOURCE_URL = "dsweb/Get/" & strHandle ' gets preferred version
    RESOURCE_URL = "dsweb/GetVersion/" & strHandle & "/" & strVersion
    
   'Logon
    strAuthToken = Logon(UserName)
    
    'Set up search
    request.abort
    request.Open "GET", "HTTP://" & URL & "/" & RESOURCE_URL, False
    request.setRequestHeader "Host", HOST
    request.setRequestHeader "User-Agent", "DsAxess/3.1"
    request.setRequestHeader "Set-Cookie", strAuthToken
    request.setRequestHeader "Accept", "text/xml"
    
    'Send Request
    request.send
    
    If stream.State = adStateClosed Then
     stream.Open
    End If
    stream.Type = adTypeBinary
    stream.Write request.responseBody
    
    sFilePath = SaveAsCommonDialog("Save File As", "*.*", App.Path)
    stream.SaveToFile sFilePath, adSaveCreateOverWrite
    stream.Close
 
    'Return result
    GetFile = request.responseText
    Debug.Print request.getAllResponseHeaders
    Debug.Print "Status " & request.Status & ": " & request.statusText
    
    'Clean up
    Set stream = Nothing
    request.abort
    Set request = Nothing
End Function

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Is this .. How do I get a response?

' Create the HttpWebRequest to www.google.com
Dim req As HttpWebRequest = DirectCast(HttpWebRequest.Create("http://www.google.com"), HttpWebRequest)
req.Method = "POST"
 
' Form post data
Dim postData As String = String.Format("username={0}&password={1}", "myusername", "mypassword")
Dim buffer As Byte() = System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(postData)
 
' Add the post data to the request
req.ContentLength = buffer.Length
Dim reqStream As Stream = req.GetRequestStream()
reqStream.Write(buffer, 0, buffer.Length)
reqStream.Close()
 
' Add a CookieContainer to the request to we can keep track of a session
req.CookieContainer = new CookieContainer();
 
' And the get the response

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Getting following error

at System.Net.HttpWebRequest.GetRequestStream() at _Default.Button1_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e) in

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