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Write into a log file with C#

I am using the JitBit Macro Recorder to create "bots" that save me a lot of time at work. This program can use the mouse and the keyboard and perform tasks by checking different if-options like "if image found on screen".
My newest "bot" is about 900 lines of commands long and I would like to make a log-file to find an error somewhere in there. Sadly, this program doesn't offer such an option, but it let's me use c# as a task. I have NO experience with c# but I thought, that this is easy to do for someone who has some experience.
If I click execute c# code, I get the following input field:
Important: This code MUST contain a class named "Program" with a static method "Main"!
public class Program
{
public static void Main()
{
System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("test");
}
}
Now I need two code templates:
1. Write a message to a "bot_log.txt" located on my desktop.
[19.05.2016 - 12:21:09] "Checking if item with number 3 exists..."
The number "3" changes with every run and is an exact paste of the clipboard.
2. Add an empty line to the same file
(Everything should be added to a new line at the end of this file.)

If you have no idea how to program in C#, then you should learn it,
if you want to use code provided from answers.
And if you want to generate timestamps and stuff then it's not done within minutes and I don't think someone writes the whole code just for your fitting. Normally questions should have at least a bit of general interest.
Anyway:
This works, if you have a RichTextTbox in your program.
Just do a new event (like clicking a button) and do this inside it.
(This was posted somewhere here too or on another site, with sligh changes)
public static void SaveMyFile(RichTextBox rtb)
{
// Create a SaveFileDialog to request a path and file name to save to.
SaveFileDialog saveLog = new SaveFileDialog();
// Initialize the SaveFileDialog to specify the RTF extention for the file.
saveLog.DefaultExt = "*.rtf";
saveLog.Filter = "RTF Files|*.rtf"; //You can do other extensions here.
// Determine whether the user selected a file name from the saveFileDialog.
if (saveLog.ShowDialog() == System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK &&
saveLog.FileName.Length > 0)
{
// Save the contents of the RichTextBox into the file.
try
{
rtb.SaveFile(saveLog.FileName);
}
catch
{
MessageBox.Show("Error creating the file.\n Is the name correct and is enough free space on your disk\n ?");
}
MessageBox.Show("Logfile was saved successful.");
}
}

Providing UI notifications when the ViewModel detects a file permissions issue

Being a neophyte in C#, WPF and MVVM, I am refactoring my first app prototype from a kludge that was almost fully implemented in the code-behind to an MVVM pattern. I have everything working nicely: data binding, commands, etc. Almost everything has been moved to its correct location but I am running into a little bit of an issue trying to figure out how I should handle files.
My model supports a chunk of data that is sent to and read from a remote electronic device. That data is transformed in the VM and exchanged with the V via binding. The user may optionally select to stream output to a CSV. This can be done via an OpenFileDialog or by entering the file name directly in the text box.
I am relatively certain about two considerations (correct me if you disagree):
1) It's acceptable to handle the OpenFileDialog in the V and send the filename to the MV via binding. I've seen this answered in other discussions.
2) I'll implement a filehandler class that will open the file, check permissions, format the CSV record, etc.
What I am unsure about is how the file checking should occur. If a file is locked, or has not been selected, or already exists, how can this be communicated to the V so that the user is notified? In my first cut at the app, I simply implemented this logic in the code-behind, which does not seem correct:
private bool CSVReady()
{
if (filenameTextbox.Text == "<no file selected>")
{
MessageBox.Show("Please select an output file.");
return false;
}
if (File.Exists(filenameTextbox.Text))
{
var r = MessageBox.Show("File already exists. Append to it?",
"File Warning",
MessageBoxButton.YesNo,
MessageBoxImage.Warning);
if (r == MessageBoxResult.No)
return false;
try
{
File.OpenWrite(filenameTextbox.Text).Close();
}
catch (IOException)
{
MessageBox.Show("File is already open. Please close it.");
return false;
}
}
else // file does not exist, create it and initialize the column labels.
{
if ((MessageBox.Show("File does not exist. Create it?", "File Creation", MessageBoxButton.YesNo, MessageBoxImage.Warning) ==
MessageBoxResult.No))
return false;
File.Create(filenameTextbox.Text).Close();
File.AppendAllText( // Blah blah blah
}
return true;
}

If you have correctly data bound an instance of your view model to your view's DataContext property, then you can access your view model from your view's code behind simply, like this:
...
DialogResult result = fileDialog.ShowDialog();
if (result == DialogResult.OK) filePath = fileDialog.FileName;
...
ViewModel viewModel = (ViewModel)DataContext; // <--------
viewModel.DoSomethingWithNewFilePath(filePath);
UPDATE >>>
What I am unsure about is how the file checking should occur. If a file is locked, or has not been selected, or already exists, how can this be communicated to the V so that the user is notified?
The way that you have written your file checking process is fine as far as MVVM goes. You're not breaking any rules. It's the 'quick' way to implement such functionality, but of course, there are different levels of coding quality.
In my applications, I have xxxManager classes that perform a variety of functionality for me... some might call them service classes. As such, I have a WindowManager class that handles all Window related tasks, including showing MessageBoxes and various dialogs. The reason for this is that I can interface these classes and provide mock implementations for testing, so that the tests don't really open Windows that need someone to close.
If you're not testing and not likely to want to change or add a web interface, then you really don't need that level of separation. If however, you are working on a business application, then it is generally considered good practice to separate the various concerns of the application into different folders or projects; data access, data manipulation, services and UI.
I also have a HardDriveManager class that enables me to perform all of those System.IO functions from the view model without having to add usings for the relevant dlls. So the answer is that what you're doing is ok, but you could split out the different functionality into different helper classes.

Flajaxian Custom Folder Save Location

I see a lot of people coming up with some excessive ways to change the folder location on the fly with flajaxian multiple file upload control.
Was just wondering if the more experienced could take a look at the way I've come up with and let me know if there are any major issues I should be concerned about. (Assuming I have the proper error checking in place.)
I planned on initializing the control as seen below. :
<cc1:FileUploader ID="FileUploader1" runat="server" OnFileReceived="fileUploader_FileReceived" RequestAsPostBack="true">
</cc1:FileUploader>
(I RequestAsPostBack="true" as there are some other controls I need to check in my event handler)
I simply change the HttpFileCollection.SaveAs property in the fileUploader_FileReceived event. Since flajaxian does this one file upload at a time, we can expect that there is only 1 file in the collection (or else we could use a loop).
protected void fileUploader_FileReceived(object sender,
com.flajaxian.FileReceivedEventArgs e)
{
HttpFileCollection files = Request.Files;
// Change path to whichever folder I need
String TempFileName = "C:\\NEW\\PATH\\TO\\Folder\\" + files[0].FileName;
// Save the file.
files[0].SaveAs(TempFileName);
}
This implementation seems to work great as long as the folder is existing! I was just wondering if there is anything technically wrong with an implementation like this, again , assuming all error checking was in place.
Thanks!

A better way to do this would be to use an adapter, and over write the folder location in the
OnFileNameDetermining event. This way, we also get all the goodies with the adapter.
<cc1:FileUploader ID="FileUploader1" runat="server"` OnFileReceived="fileUploader_FileReceived" RequestAsPostBack="true">
<Adapters>
<cc1:FileSaverAdapter runat="server" FolderName="Ups" OnFileNameDetermining="fileUploader_FileDetermined" />
</Adapters>
</cc1:FileUploader>
In the file determined event, we can change the folder location programatically
protected void fileUploader_FileDetermined(object sender, com.flajaxian.FileNameDeterminingEventArgs e)
{
e.FileName = "C:\\NewFolder\\" + e.File.FileName;
}
We can use the FileReceived event to check if the folder exists, and if not, create it.
protected void fileUploader_FileReceived(object sender, com.flajaxian.FileReceivedEventArgs e)
{
int fileIndex = e.Index;
if (fileIndex == 0)
{
// We are on our first file, check if the new folder exists, if not, create it
}
}

What you are doing is fine, although, if you are saving files within the web site, consider using the MapPath method to create a physical folder from a virtual path within the web site
MapPath("/Images/User1")
This my mininal APSX implementation
<fjx:FileUploader ID="FileUploader1" runat="server" OnFileReceived="FileUploader2_FileReceived">
</fjx:FileUploader>
No adapters or folder is specified. When the FileRecevied event fires, I save files to a folder based on the Forms Authentication user name (names do not use characters not allowed in folder names).
Also note that the FileReceivedEventArgs has a reference to the (HTTP) file
e.File
The FileUploader control will show all files processed - you can even set the status code (e.g. 550) if there is an error, which is returned to the client.
Note that, the server call to the FileReceived event does not occur inside a nornal page postback, even if you specify
RequestAsPostBack="true"
So, a PagePreRender does not take place.
The only issue is, how do you perform any other processing at the client after the uploads complete (e.g. showing images uploaded).
Work I have in progress to this end is to use the client side event
FileStateChanged
When the last file is processed
if (file.state > Flajaxian.File_Uploading && isLast) {
I use JQuery to click a hidden submit button. The postback looks through session values stored when the files were saved, and renders back the images into a DIV.
However, an immediate submit causes issues with empty session inside the FileReceived event for some reason (I assume because the internal asynchronous call back has not completed). A pause of a few seconds before initiating the postback works OK.

Why multiple log files are getting created with GUID using System.Diagnostics c# [duplicate]

I use TextWriterTraceListener (System.Diagnostics) in my application to trace several things like exceptions,...
The application is running on a terminal server and if there are many users using it simultaneously the listener starts to create many tracefiles with random GUIDs in the filename.
Are there possibilities or workarounds to avoid this behaviour ?

I've just taken a look at the documentation for TextWriterTraceListener and there's a note about 1/3 of the way down the page
If an attempt is made to write to a file that is in use or unavailable, the file name is automatically prefixed by a GUID
So, this would appear to be by design. If the file is indeed unavailable then there's nothing that can be done about it with the current implementation. What you could try doing is writing a custom implementation of TextWriterTraceListener that overrides the relevant Write/WriteLine methods so that the output goes to a file, per user, with a name that better suits your needs.
If what you want is for ALL logging from ALL users on the Terminal Server to go to a single file, then you'll almost certainly need to have some kind of "3rd party" process running that "owns" the file and synchronises writes to it, such as a Windows Service that is then called by your custom TextWriterTraceListener

Was the fix calling the Trace.Listeners.Add(xxx listener) multiple times on accident?
Because if you have multiple listeners added they write too all listeners when you call the Trace.writeline();
Also local IIS might be continueing to have the file in use when you shut down the application.

I am currently testing the addition of System.Diagnostics.Trace.Listeners.Clear() in my output method...
// Upon a new day re-create the TextWriterTraceListener to update our file name...
if (_date?.Day != DateTime.Now.Day) { _listener = null; }
if (_listener == null)
{
System.Diagnostics.Trace.Listeners.Clear();
_fileName = $"{DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd")}_Trace.json";
// Add a writer that appends to the trace.log file:
_listener = new System.Diagnostics.TextWriterTraceListener(_fileName);
_listener.IndentSize = 4;
_listener.TraceOutputOptions = System.Diagnostics.TraceOptions.None; // TraceOptions.DateTime | TraceOptions.ThreadId;
System.Diagnostics.Trace.AutoFlush = true;
System.Diagnostics.Trace.Listeners.Add(_listener);
// Obtain the Console's output stream, then add that as a listener...
System.Diagnostics.Trace.Listeners.Add(new System.Diagnostics.TextWriterTraceListener(Console.Out));
}

How to get selected text from an active application, without using a clipboard

What am I doing:
My main intent is to enable user friendly text to speech for personal use on Win 7. Approach should work in Google Chrome, VS and Eclipse.
Code example:
Following code creates global keyboard hook for ctrl + alt + space, called hookEvent. If event fires, it starts/stops speaking clipboard contents ( that can be updated with ctrl + c ).
/// <summary>
/// KeyboardHook from: http://www.liensberger.it/web/blog/?p=207
/// </summary>
private readonly KeyboardHook hook = new KeyboardHook();
private readonly SpeechSynthesizer speaker = //
new SpeechSynthesizer { Rate = 3, Volume = 100 };
private void doSpeaking(string text)
{
// starts / stops speaking, while not blocking UI
if (speaker.State != SynthesizerState.Speaking)
speaker.SpeakAsync(text);
else
speaker.SpeakAsyncCancelAll();
}
private void hookEvent(object sender, KeyPressedEventArgs e)
{
this.doSpeaking(Convert.ToString(Clipboard.GetText()));
}
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
hook.KeyPressed += new EventHandler<KeyPressedEventArgs>(hookEvent);
hook.RegisterHotKey(ModifierKeysx.Control|ModifierKeysx.Alt, Keys.Space);
}
Question:
I would prefer not using the clipboard. Or at least, restoring the value after, something like:
[MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.Synchronized)]
private string getSelectedTextHACK()
{
object restorePoint = Clipboard.GetData(DataFormats.UnicodeText);
SendKeys.SendWait("^c");
string result = Convert.ToString(Clipboard.GetText());
Clipboard.SetData(DataFormats.UnicodeText, restorePoint);
return result;
}
What are my options?
Edit:
To my surprise, I found that my clipboard reader is the best way to go. I created a notification area app, that responds to left click (speaking clipboard) and right click (menu opens up). In menu the user can chance speed, speak or create a audio file.

MS provide accessibility tools that do cover what you're trying to do. If you take a look at documents about screen scraping. In short, every component is accessible in some manner, if you use some of the windows debugging tools you can get to see the component names/structures within. You can then use that, however, its complicated as most times you would need to be very specific for each application you intend to scrape from.
If you manage to scrape you dont need to use the clipboard, as you can access the text property of the apps direct. Its not something I've had to do, hence, Ive no code to offer off the top of my head, but the term "screen scraping" should point you in the right direction.

If to expand a little on what Bugfinder said, Microsoft provider a UI Automation Framework to solve problems like the one you mentioned:
In particular you can use the TextSelectionChangedEvent of TextPattern:
The problem with this solution is that it only works on supported operating systems and applications - and not all support this.
Your clipboard solution is acceptable for applications that do not provide a good automation interface.
But for many applications the UI Automation Framework will work well and will provide you with a far better solution.