Develop Reference

Pass String from python script to C# UI [duplicate]

I'm making a program that controls a game server. One of the functions I'm making, is a live server logfile monitor.
There is a logfile (a simple textfile) that gets updated by the server as it runs.
How do I continuously check the logfile and output it's content in a RichTextBox?
I did this simple function just try and get the content of the log. It will of course just get the text row by row and output it to my textbox. Also it will lock the program for as long as the loop runs, so I know it's useless.
public void ReadLog()
{
using (StreamReader reader = new StreamReader("server.log"))
{
String line;
// Read and display lines from the file until the end of the file is reached.
while ((line = reader.ReadLine()) != null)
{
monitorTextBox.AppendText(line + "\n");
CursorDown();
}
}
}
But how would you go about solving the live monitoring as simple as possible?
*** EDIT ***
I'm using Prescots solution. great stuff.
At the moment I'm using a sstreamreader to put the text from the file to my textbox. I ran into the problem is that, whenever I tried to access any of the gui controls in my event handler the program just stopped with no error or warnings.
I found out that it has to do with threading. I solved that like this:
private void OnChanged(object source, FileSystemEventArgs e)
{
if (monitorTextField.InvokeRequired)
{
monitorTextField.Invoke((MethodInvoker)delegate { OnChanged(source, e); });
}
else
{
StreamReader reader = new StreamReader("file.txt");
monitorTextField.Text = "";
monitorTextField.Text = reader.ReadToEnd();
reader.Close();
CursorDown();
}
}
Now my only problem is that the file.txt is used by the server so I can't access it, since it's "being used by another process". I can't control that process, so maybe I'm out of luck.
But the file can be opened in notepad while the server is running, so somehow it must be possible. Perhaps I can do a temp copy of the file when it updates and read the copy. I don't know.

Check out the System.IO.FileSystemWatcher class:
public static Watch()
{
var watch = new FileSystemWatcher();
watch.Path = #"D:\tmp";
watch.Filter = "file.txt";
watch.NotifyFilter = NotifyFilters.LastAccess | NotifyFilters.LastWrite; //more options
watch.Changed += new FileSystemEventHandler(OnChanged);
watch.EnableRaisingEvents = true;
}
/// Functions:
private static void OnChanged(object source, FileSystemEventArgs e)
{
if(e.FullPath == #"D:\tmp\file.txt")
{
// do stuff
}
}
Edit: if you know some details about the file, you could handle the most efficent way to get the last line. For example, maybe when you read the file, you can wipe out what you've read, so next time it's updated, you just grab whatever is there and output. Perhaps you know one line is added at a time, then your code can immediately jump to the last line of the file. Etc.

Although the FileSystemWatcher is the most simple solution I have found it to be unreliable in reality.. often a file can be updated with new contents but the FileSystemWatcher does not fire an event until seconds later and often never.
The only reliable way I have found to approach this is to check for changes to the file on a regular basis using a System.Timers.Timer object and checking the file size.
I have written a small class that demonstrates this available here:
https://gist.github.com/ant-fx/989dd86a1ace38a9ac58
Example Usage
var monitor = new LogFileMonitor("c:\temp\app.log", "\r\n");
monitor.OnLine += (s, e) =>
{
// WARNING.. this will be a different thread...
Console.WriteLine(e.Line);
};
monitor.Start();
The only real disadvantage here (apart from a slight performance delay caused by file size checking) is that because it uses a System.Timers.Timer the callback comes from a different thread.
If you are using a Windows Forms or WPF app you could easily modify the class to accept a SynchronizingObject which would ensure the event handler events are called from the same thread.

As #Prescott suggested, use a FileSystemWatcher. And make sure, you open the file with the appropriate FileShare mode (FileShare.ReadWrite seems to be appropriate), since the file might still be opened by the server. If you try to open the file exclusively while it is still used by another process, the open operation will fail.
Also in order to gain a bit of performance, you could remember the last position up to which you already have read the file and only read the new parts.

Use this answer on another post c# continuously read file.
This one is quite efficient, and it checks once per second if the file size has changed.
You can either run it on another thread (or convert to async code), but in any case you would need to marshall the text back to the main thread to append to the textbox.

Try adding a Timer and have the Timer.Tick set to an Interval of 1 second. On Timer.Tick you run the function.
private void myTimer_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
ReadLog();
}

How to detect when a page is being update to IIS

Whenever I update my web app on IIS, any user who currently using it, will see the page be unresponsive and it won't work again until they refresh the browser. (The update process last for about 30 seconds)
I would like to show up a notification, such as a javascript alert, for user to know that the page is being udpated and please try to refresh the page after 30 seconds, etc.
I tried to catch the Exception in Global.ascx but no exception was thrown in this case.

Consider using app_offline.htm. It is a page that will cause clients to see your IIS app as being down. When you're through updating, just remove the page.

You could create a FileSystemWatcher in global.ascx then bubble up (update a js for instance) an exception when a file is updated. You could start with this:
using System.IO;
namespace WebApplication1
{
public class Global : System.Web.HttpApplication
{
FileSystemWatcher watcher;
void Application_Start(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
// Code that runs on application startup
watcher = new FileSystemWatcher(this.Context.Server.MapPath("/"));
watcher.Changed += new FileSystemEventHandler(watcher_Changed);
}
void watcher_Changed(object sender, FileSystemEventArgs e)
{
//set a value in js file
FileInfo jsFilesChanged = new FileInfo(Path.Combine(this.Context.Server.MapPath("/"), "scripts", "files_changed.js"));
using (StreamWriter jsWriter = (!jsFilesChanged.Exists) ? new StreamWriter(jsFilesChanged.Create()) : new StreamWriter(jsFilesChanged.FullName, false))
{
jsWriter.WriteLine("var changed_file = \"" + e.Name + "\";");
}
}
//.......
}
}
Then in client code include files_changed.js and create a periodic timeout call to check the var changed_file. Also, make sure watcher doesn't get garbage collected.
Some references:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.io.filesystemwatcher.aspx
http://www.developerfusion.com/article/84362/extending-filesystemwatcher-to-aspnet/

How the big boys do this:
You need to have a way of posting an alert on a page. Typically this is done by having a table in your database for these alerts. Basically you are just storing some text in there like "hey, the site is going down for maintenance between 8:00am and 8:01am"..
On each page load, you check that table and display any messages found in a conspicuous place (like the top).
Prior to pushing an update you add the alert, while giving them enough time to wrap up whatever it is that they are doing.
After the push is complete you clear out the alerts table.
Honestly the main issue you have is simply one of scheduling updates and communicating to the users what's about to happen. You want to do so in a way that isn't a surprise. That said, you might consider enabling the optimizeCompilations flag in order to try and speed up the compilation time of your website when it is first hit after pushing an update.

windows service strange behavior

I implemented windows service with eventLog and FileSystemWatcher that looks for changes in specific directory and writes messages into MyLog.
strange thing 1:
I install it via installUtil.exe (since the VS2012 doesn't have installer templates) and in some situations when I go to "Services" and start the service I get:
The [service name] service on local computer started and then stopped. Some Services stop automatically if they are not in use by another services or programs.
I've already seen this question. 2 answeres from this post why it can be so:
1) There is no thread starting in OnStart() method.
I use the designer and set most of the properties in the Properties window and I never started any thread manually, but in some cases everything was working, so I think this is not the case.
2) An exception occures in OnStart() method. I think it's not the case cause I don't change the code. I just uninstall, build and install again the same service and in some cases it runs, in some not.
When I was stuck for mabby 2 hours with this thing I noticed that the Source property of eventLog is too long: "FilesMonitoringServices". I changed it to "MonitorSource" and everything started to work. Than I reinstalled it cauple of times and got the same warning as the above. I changed the Source property again and now the service runs.
This is the first strange thing.
strange thing 2: worse. Even if it runs it logs only OnStart() and OnStop() methods, I mean the fileSystemWatcher event handler never excutes. It is strange because today I reinstalled this service mabby hundred times and 3 times it was working but after I reinstalled it once again it stoped. And I haven't changed the code between the reinstallations at all.
Here is the methods and constructor from my class (MonitoringService) that inherits ServiceBase:
public MonitoringService()
{
InitializeComponent();
if (!EventLog.SourceExists(eventLog.Source))
{
EventLog.CreateEventSource(eventLog.Source, eventLog.Log);
}
// haven't changed it between the reinstallations
fileWatcher.Path = #"path";
}
protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
{
fileWatcher.EnableRaisingEvents = true;
eventLog.WriteEntry("start", EventLogEntryType.Information);
base.OnStart(args);
}
protected override void OnStop()
{
fileWatcher.EnableRaisingEvents = false;
fileWatcher.Dispose();
eventLog.WriteEntry("stop", EventLogEntryType.Information);
base.OnStop();
}
And file system watcher event handler:
private void fileSystemWatcher1_Changed(object sender, FileSystemEventArgs e)
{
using (var conn = new SqlConnection(GetConnectionString()))
{
conn.Open();
var productId = Convert.ToInt32(Regex.Match(e.Name, #"\d+").Value);
const string cmd = "UPDATE Products SET ImageModifiedDate=#date WHERE ProductId=#productId";
using (var command = new SqlCommand(cmd, conn))
{
command.Parameters.AddWithValue("#productId", productId);
command.Parameters.AddWithValue("#date", DateTime.Now);
command.ExecuteNonQuery();
}
}
eventLog.WriteEntry(string.Format("{0} has been changed: {1}", e.Name, DateTime.Now), EventLogEntryType.Information);
}
Question: it seems to me that this behavior is caused not by my code but rather by operation system settings . Can it be so?
****Edits: just discovered more specific stuff:**
1) If it shows the message (when I want to start the service):
The [service name] service on local computer started and then stopped. ....
I need to change Source property of eventLog, rebuild and reinstall. And this message will not show up; mabby next time.
2) I have the following folders hierarchy: images/prod-images. images and prod-images directories both contain image files. When the service is runing and I change the image from prod-images folder the message is written into the log as I wanted and the database is updated. But after one this event the service stops! (I checked this 3 times). And when I restart it and repeat this again a couple of times it updates database, writes logs and on the 3d time I get
The [service name] service on local computer started and then stopped. ....
But this is not the best part) If I change the image that is in images directory I can do it multiple times and the service doesn't stop. (only images from images/prod-images are bound to entries in the database).
So, mabbe this feature somehow referes to the database accessing?
Edits 2: in visual studio I use DEBUG -> Attach to Process to debug the service. I set up the breakpoints and change the image. First time the event handler executes flawlessly: the database is updated and the log message is written. But than I continue to press F11 (Step Into) and this event handler executes second time. At the line
var productId = Convert.ToInt32(Regex.Match(e.Name, #"\d+").Value);
I get "FormatException was unhandled". After this I stop debugging and the service stops! That's it: the exception occures in event handler.
Do You have any idea why it executes second time? Thanks!
P.S. I've already submited Davut Gürbüz answer cause he pointed me in the right direction.
Anyway, check out my own answer that explains the actual problem.

If you got start-stop error, this means you have an error in constructor.
Put a try catch into your ctor. You may log the error to eventlog in catch block.
Beside this I create a main method and start win service as a console app. If I get an instance of service in my main method I can also Debug it.
//You should select Console Application from Application properties
static void Main(string[] args)
{
MyWindowsService service = new MyWindowsService();
if (Environment.UserInteractive)
{
service.OnStart(args);
Console.WriteLine("Press any key to stop program");
Console.Read();
service.OnStop();
}
else
{
ServiceBase.Run(service);
}
}
Hope helps

The reason why the fileSystemWatcher1_Changed event handler method was executing twice is because I was monitoring images folder included subdirectories. And this event handler was monitoring all LastWrite events.
So, when I changed the image in images/prod-images directory this handler reacted to the image changing and also to the folder changing.
In this situation I either can change the monitoring path to prod-images or insert an if statement when updating the DB.
Such a silly mistake took me a couple of days to find it out))

How to poll a directory in ASP.NET?

I want to poll a directory to check whether new file is added to the directory in ASP.NET web application (C#). If any new file is added I want to read that file.
Can anybody give me an idea how to do that?
Thanks.

Normally you would use the FileSystemWatcher class. However, you have another problem. A web application isn't really suited for background processes. You can get away with it by using a background task and threading in general, but it's probably not a good idea. Always assume that your web application is stateless and can be re-started by the server at any time.
Ask yourself:
What is going to trigger this polling?
How is the application going to respond to this polling?
A web application is essentially a request/response system. Thus, any server-side logic (such as the polling) should be triggered by a request. But once the response is given, what is going to become of the polling? Suppose you fork off a thread in the web application which will poll in the background. What is it going to do when it finds something? There's no request/response interacting with it at that point.
Could this polling perhaps be delegated to another application? Perhaps a Windows Service? Then, in response to finding something during the polling, it can modify values in the web application's database. That way future requests to the web application would see the updated state.
This would more cleanly separate the concerns on an architectural level.

you can use FileSystemWatcher and create the instance in Application_Start event.
Sample code:
protected void Application_Start(
Object sender, EventArgs e)
{
FileSystemWatcher fsw =
new FileSystemWatcher(
Server.MapPath( “.” ) );
Application.Add( “myfsw” , fsw );
// Add event handlers here
fsw.EnableRaisingEvents = true;
}
Dispose this when application ends.
protected void Application_End(
Object sender, EventArgs e)
{
FileSystemWatcher fsw =
(FileSystemWatcher
)Application[“myfsw”];
Application.Remove( “myfsw” );
fsw.Dispose();
}

First after your program loads check the directory content and keep it as a list.After that add a timer. The timer will check the content of the directory and compare the current content with the last logged content. After comparing you can see which files are changed in the directory.
you can change the frequency of the timer based on your needs.
Hope it helps.
edit:
call GetDirectoryContent(); in your program's onload.
FileInfo[] lastUpdatedFies;
FileInfo[] temporaryFiles;
private void GetDirectoryContent()
{
DirectoryInfo di = new DirectoryInfo("c:/mydirectorypath/");
lastUpdatedFies = di.GetFiles(".");
}
private void GetDirectoryContent()
{
DirectoryInfo di = new DirectoryInfo("c:/mydirectorypath/");
lastUpdatedFies = di.GetFiles("*.*");
}
protected void tmrDirectory_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
DirectoryInfo di = new DirectoryInfo("c:/mydirectorypath/");
temporaryFiles = di.GetFiles("*.*");
foreach (FileInfo f in lastUpdatedFies)
{
//compare the list of files and do whatever you want.
// you can track any kind of data this way.
}
}`
you can also adjust the timer frequency. In this example i just kept track of files.so you will learn only if a file is deleted or added. if you want to keep track of the file size you can also do it in the same way.

Add Filewatcher in global.asmx when the application start event.

It's not clear, what do you want to do with these files. If you want read these files and cache them for future output, you can use ASP.NET Cache with CacheDependency on specific directory and a callback which will re-read the directory and add new file to cache. You should take a look at Cache.Insert method and CacheDependency constructor

How to reopen a file immediately after it closes via my C# application

I ran out of ideas and couldn't find any reference about it so here I go...
I need to keep a secondary application wich is not related to my c# project always running in background. So if this secondary application crashes or someone else close it manually it will automatically re launch again via my c# app.
I have no clue of how to accomplish this one, I mean checking if this application closes by something external to my c# app.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

The below code is in C# and it is inside a WinForm.
private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Process p = Process.GetProcessesByName("Notepad")[0];
p.EnableRaisingEvents = true;
p.Exited += new EventHandler(p_Exited);
}
void p_Exited(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
MessageBox.Show("Exit");
}
It looks for a Process with Name Notepad & retrieved the first instance of it. It sets EnableRaisingEvents to true on it and hooks to the Exited event. Whenever notepad is closed it would display an alert.
Based on this logic, you can build your app.

As a solution you can use Windows service which invokes your always running application .
You can make that service catch error return codes from the app and restart it depending on errors.

you can keep checking for a process if it is running or not using process class in vb.net
For Each p As Process In Process.GetProcessesByName("communicator")
ShowWindow(p.MainWindowHandle, SHOW_WINDOW.SW_NORMAL)
Next p
if the process you want not inthe list you may launch it again.
Ashish kumar

Simplest way is to run a timer and in the tick event, use-
if (Process.GetProcessesByName("communicator").Count() == 0)
{
Process.Start("communicator.exe");
}

You can use FileSystemWatcher to keep a watch of the file modified by other application.
FileSystemWatcher has events like Changed, Created,Renamed, Deleted, which can be subscribed to keep track of a file changes.