Develop Reference

Mail merge word docx in Azure app service

In an App Service running on Azure I need to replace mail merge fields in a word/docx-document with content.
As I understand interop can't be used because it needs word to be installed.
So how do I replace mail merge fields on Azure in a c# app service?
Maybe one can use the OpenXML SDK for this? But how?
[Update]
OpenXML worked, I created the following helper class to replace the mailmerge content:
public static void DocXReplaceMergeFields(Stream docStream, Dictionary<string, string> placeholder)
{
using (var docXml = WordprocessingDocument.Open(docStream, true))
{
//docXml.ChangeDocumentType(WordprocessingDocumentType.Document);
foreach (var run in docXml.MainDocumentPart.Document.Descendants<Run>())
{
foreach (var text in run.Descendants<Text>().Where(a => a.Text.StartsWith("«") && a.Text.EndsWith("»")))
{
var propertyName = text.Text.Substring(1, text.Text.Length - 2);
if (placeholder.TryGetValue(propertyName, out var propertyValue))
text.Text = propertyValue;
}
}
var settingsPart = docXml.MainDocumentPart.GetPartsOfType<DocumentSettingsPart>().First();
var oxeSettings = settingsPart.Settings.Where(a => a.LocalName == "mailMerge").FirstOrDefault();
if (oxeSettings != null)
{
settingsPart.Settings.RemoveChild(oxeSettings);
settingsPart.Settings.Save();
}
docXml.MainDocumentPart.Document.Save();
}
}

You can give a try using Open XML SDK:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/open-xml/word-processing
If that doesn't work for some reason, try doing the same using an Azure Logic App:
https://medium.com/plumsail/create-complex-excel-and-word-documents-from-templates-in-microsoft-flow-azure-logic-apps-and-794334e59f0f

Get access to the URL's being used in System.Web.Optimization

Background: I'm using the HTML 5 Offline App Cache and dynamically building the manifest file. Basically, the manifest file needs to list each of the static files that your page will request. Works great when the files are actually static, but I'm using Bundling and Minification in System.Web.Optimization, so my files are not static.
When in the DEBUG symbol is loaded (i.e. debugging in VS) then the actual physical files are called from the MVC View. However, when in Release mode, it calls a virtual file that could look something like this: /bundles/scripts/jquery?v=FVs3ACwOLIVInrAl5sdzR2jrCDmVOWFbZMY6g6Q0ulE1
So my question: How can I get that URL in the code to add it to the offline app manifest?
I've tried:
var paths = new List<string>()
{
"~/bundles/styles/common",
"~/bundles/styles/common1024",
"~/bundles/styles/common768",
"~/bundles/styles/common480",
"~/bundles/styles/frontend",
"~/bundles/scripts/jquery",
"~/bundles/scripts/common",
"~/bundles/scripts/frontend"
};
var bundleTable = BundleTable.Bundles;
foreach (var bundle in bundleTable.Where(b => paths.Contains(b.Path)))
{
var bundleContext = new BundleContext(this.HttpContext, bundleTable, bundle.Path);
IEnumerable<BundleFile> files = bundle.GenerateBundleResponse(bundleContext).Files;
foreach (var file in files)
{
var filePath = file.IncludedVirtualPath.TrimStart(new[] { '~' });
sb.AppendFormat(formatFullDomain, filePath);
}
}
As well as replacing GenerateBundleResponse() with EnumerateFiles(), but it just always returns the original file paths.
I'm open to alternative implementation suggestions as well. Thanks.
UPDATE: (7/7/14 13:45)
As well as the answer below I also added this Bundles Registry class to keep a list of the required static files so that it works in debug mode in all browsers. (See comments below)
public class Registry
{
public bool Debug = false;
public Registry()
{
SetDebug();
}
[Conditional("DEBUG")]
private void SetDebug()
{
Debug = true;
}
public IEnumerable<string> CommonScripts
{
get
{
if (Debug)
{
return new string[]{
"/scripts/common/jquery.validate.js",
"/scripts/common/jquery.validate.unobtrusive.js",
"/scripts/common/knockout-3.1.0.debug.js",
"/scripts/common/jquery.timepicker.js",
"/scripts/common/datepicker.js",
"/scripts/common/utils.js",
"/scripts/common/jquery.minicolors.js",
"/scripts/common/chosen.jquery.custom.js"
};
}
else
{
return new string[]{
"/scripts/common/commonbundle.js"
};
}
}
}
}
I'm by no means happy with this solution. Please make suggestions if you can improve on this.

I can suggest an alternative from this blog post create your own token.
In summary the author suggests using web essentials to create the bundled file and then creating a razor helper to generate the token, in this case based on the last changed date and time.
public static class StaticFile
{
public static string Version(string rootRelativePath)
{
if (HttpRuntime.Cache[rootRelativePath] == null)
{
var absolutePath = HostingEnvironment.MapPath(rootRelativePath);
var lastChangedDateTime = File.GetLastWriteTime(absolutePath);
if (rootRelativePath.StartsWith("~"))
{
rootRelativePath = rootRelativePath.Substring(1);
}
var versionedUrl = rootRelativePath + "?v=" + lastChangedDateTime.Ticks;
HttpRuntime.Cache.Insert(rootRelativePath, versionedUrl, new CacheDependency(absolutePath));
}
return HttpRuntime.Cache[rootRelativePath] as string;
}
}
Then you can reference the bundled file like so...
#section scripts {
<script src="#StaticFile.Version("~/Scripts/app/myAppBundle.min.js")"></script>}
Then you have control of the token and can do what you want with it.

Resharper - Go To Implementation listing reference twice

In one of my solutions, when I right click a symbol and choose "Go To Implementation" for an object defined in one of the other solution projects, it lists the reference twice and forces me to choose one.
Based on the icons, it appears that one of the items in the list represents the project, and the other represents a dll. It doesn't matter which one I click - it goes to the same source file.
I only have the library reference once in this particular project - it is referencing the project.
What would cause this to happen? Some sort of circular reference issue perhaps?

As far as I can tell, this can also happen if you have a solution with several projects, where a certain project is referenced as project and also as pure file by two other projects in the solution.
Another advice that I can give if something is broken with ReSharper, is to clear the cache.

I had this problem and I just fixed it.
First, try do a Clean Solution and then a Build.
In my case, one rogue Project in my solution was compiled using an older version of the .NET framework than the other Projects, so when Resharper added a reference to my other Projects for me, it must have added it as a dll reference instead of as a Project reference.
My fix was
Upgrade old Project to the same version of .NET framework as the other Projects
Remove references to other Projects from that old Project
Add references to the other Projects again (as Project references this time)
Clean solution
Build solution
Done.

I've found a couple different cases that cause this problem, and got so annoyed that I wrote a little console app to scan my solution and find the problems for me. Here it is for anyone who might find this useful. To run it pass it the path to your solution folder and it will print out the issues on the console. It's very "quick and dirty" but it found the issues for me.
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
if (args != null && args.Any())
{
foreach (var s in args)
{
Console.WriteLine("Checking " + s);
DirectoryInfo dir = new DirectoryInfo(s);
var files = dir.GetFiles("*.csproj", SearchOption.AllDirectories);
var projects = files.Select(x => new Project(x)).ToList();
var grouped = projects.GroupBy(x => x.TargetFrameworkVersion);
if(grouped.Count()>1)
{
Console.WriteLine("Solution contains multiple versions of Target Frameworks, this may cause duplicate assemblies in R# cache");
foreach (var group in grouped)
{
Console.WriteLine(group.Key);
foreach (var project in group)
{
Console.WriteLine(project.AssemblyName);
}
}
}
//loop through for debugging
foreach (var project in projects)
{
foreach (var reference in project.References)
{
foreach (var checkProject in projects)
{
if (checkProject.AssemblyName == reference)
{
Console.WriteLine("Reference in" + project.FileName + " referencing " +
reference+" that should be a ProjectReference, this may cause duplicate entries in R# Cache");
}
}
}
}
}
Console.WriteLine("Complete");
Console.ReadLine();
}
else
{
Console.WriteLine("You must provide a path to scan for csproj files");
}
}
}
public class Project
{
public string FileName { get; set; }
public string AssemblyName { get; set; }
public string ProjectGuid { get; set; }
public string TargetFrameworkVersion { get; set; }
public IList<string> References { get; set; }
private FileInfo _file;
private XmlDocument _document;
private XmlNamespaceManager _namespaceManager;
public Project(FileInfo file)
{
_file = file;
FileName = _file.FullName;
_document = new XmlDocument();
_document.Load(_file.FullName);
_namespaceManager = new XmlNamespaceManager(_document.NameTable);
_namespaceManager.AddNamespace("msbld", "http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003");
var projectGuidNode = _document.SelectSingleNode("//msbld:ProjectGuid", _namespaceManager);
ProjectGuid = projectGuidNode.InnerText;
var assemblyNameNode = _document.SelectSingleNode("//msbld:AssemblyName", _namespaceManager);
AssemblyName = assemblyNameNode.InnerText;
var targetFrameworkNode = _document.SelectSingleNode("//msbld:TargetFrameworkVersion", _namespaceManager);
TargetFrameworkVersion = targetFrameworkNode.InnerText;
References = new List<string>();
var referenceNodes = _document.SelectNodes("//msbld:Reference", _namespaceManager);
foreach (var node in referenceNodes)
{
var element = (XmlElement) node;
//file references
if (element.HasChildNodes)
{
foreach (var child in element.ChildNodes)
{
var childElement = (XmlElement)child;
if (childElement.Name == "HintPath")
{
var value = childElement.InnerText;
value = value.Substring(value.LastIndexOf("\\") + 1);
value = value.Replace(".dll", "");
References.Add(value);
}
}
}
//gac references
else
{
foreach (var attr in element.Attributes)
{
var attribute = (XmlAttribute)attr;
if (attribute.Name == "Include")
{
var value = attribute.Value;
string reference = value;
if (value.Contains(','))
{
reference = value.Substring(0, value.IndexOf(','));
}
References.Add(reference);
break;
}
}
}
}
}
}

FTP Directory/SubDirectory listing using edtFTPnet,C#

On my FTP Server I have the following folder structure
- Parent Directory
-a.txt
-b.txt.old
-SubDirectory1
-c.txt
-NestedSubDirectory1
-d.txt
-SubDirectory2
-e.txt
-f.txt.old
The number of SDs are not fixed. I need a way to get all the files(can be any format) without the .old extension from the Parent Directory.
I'm currently using the 3rd party dll edtFTPnet.
ftpConnection.GetFileInfos()Where(f => !(f.Name.EndsWith(".old"))).ToList();
This helps me get the details of the files and folders at the current working directory level.
Can someone tell me a way to get all the files with the parentdirectory, subdirectories and nested subdirectories.
The solution may or may not use edtFTPnet.

FTPConnection.GetFileInfos() returns an array of FTPFile. The class FTPFile has a boolean property Dir which indicates whether its filename accesses a file (false) or directory (true).
Something like this should work:
void ReadSubDirectories(FTPConncetion connection, FTPFile[] files)
{
foreach (var file in files)
{
if (file.Dir)
{
// Save parent directory
var curDir = connection.ServerDirectory;
// Move into directory
connection.ChangeWorkingDirectory(file.Name)
// Read all files
ReadSubDirectories(connection, connection.GetFileInfos());
// Move back into parent directory
connection.ChangeWorkingDirectory(curDir)
}
else
{
// Do magic with your files
}
}
}
However you might be better off using just .NET's built-in FtpWebRequest class since its methods and naming conventions are clearer, it's better documented and it's easier to find references online.

Try to use extensions like this:
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
using (var connection = new FTPConnection
{
ServerAddress = "127.0.0.1",
UserName = "Admin",
Password = "1",
})
{
connection.Connect();
connection.ServerDirectory = "/recursive_folder";
var resultRecursive =
connection.GetFileInfosRecursive().Where(f => !(f.Name.EndsWith(".old"))).ToList();
var resultDefault = connection.GetFileInfos().Where(f => !(f.Name.EndsWith(".old"))).ToList();
}
}
}
public static class FtpClientExtensions
{
public static FTPFile[] GetFileInfosRecursive(this FTPConnection connection)
{
var resultList = new List<FTPFile>();
var fileInfos = connection.GetFileInfos();
resultList.AddRange(fileInfos);
foreach (var fileInfo in fileInfos)
{
if (fileInfo.Dir)
{
connection.ServerDirectory = fileInfo.Path;
resultList.AddRange(connection.GetFileInfosRecursive());
}
}
return resultList.ToArray();
}
}

Get current ClickOnce's application publisher name?

Is it possible to read the publisher name of the currently running ClickOnce application (the one you set at Project Properties -> Publish -> Options -> Publisher name in Visual Studio)?
The reason why I need it is to run another instance of the currently running application as described in this article and pass parameters to it.
Of course I do know my application's publisher name, but if I hard code it and later on I decide to change my publisher's name I will most likely forget to update this piece of code.

Here is another option. Note that it will only get the publisher name for the currently running application, which is all I need.
I'm not sure if this is the safest way to parse the XML.
public static string GetPublisher()
{
XDocument xDocument;
using (MemoryStream memoryStream = new MemoryStream(AppDomain.CurrentDomain.ActivationContext.DeploymentManifestBytes))
using (XmlTextReader xmlTextReader = new XmlTextReader(memoryStream))
{
xDocument = XDocument.Load(xmlTextReader);
}
var description = xDocument.Root.Elements().Where(e => e.Name.LocalName == "description").First();
var publisher = description.Attributes().Where(a => a.Name.LocalName == "publisher").First();
return publisher.Value;
}

You would think this would be trivial, but I don't see anything in the framework that gives you this info.
If you want a hack, you can get the publisher from the registry.
Disclaimer - Code is ugly and untested...
...
var publisher = GetPublisher("My App Name");
...
public static string GetPublisher(string application)
{
using (var key = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey(#"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall"))
{
var appKey = key.GetSubKeyNames().FirstOrDefault(x => GetValue(key, x, "DisplayName") == application);
if (appKey == null) { return null; }
return GetValue(key, appKey, "Publisher");
}
}
private static string GetValue(RegistryKey key, string app, string value)
{
using (var subKey = key.OpenSubKey(app))
{
if (!subKey.GetValueNames().Contains(value)) { return null; }
return subKey.GetValue(value).ToString();
}
}
If you find a better solution, please follow-up.

I dont know about ClickOnce, but normally, you can read the assembly-info using the System.Reflection framework:
public string AssemblyCompany
{
get
{
object[] attributes = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetCustomAttributes(typeof(AssemblyCompanyAttribute), false);
if (attributes.Length == 0)
{
return "";
}
return ((AssemblyCompanyAttribute)attributes[0]).Company;
}
}
Unfortunately, theres no "publisher" custom-attribute, just throwing this out as a possible work-around