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Communication between C# .NET and PHP/Laravel

In my laravel application, I want to provide the users with the opportunity to download a copy of their stored data in the form of a Word document. I found that certain parts of this can only be accomplished using C#/.NET.
For this, I wrote a C# application alongside a method called GetWordProfile(User user) which returns FileInfo set to the actual path of the output file (this is always within the storage folder of laravel, so laravel has access to it). I only need the path and everything's done and dusted since from this point on, I can manage my laravel application to download this for the user.
However, the question is how do I get there? I must not forget about potential errors which may occur and thus display them (the errors are (inside my C# application) handled by log4net in a file as well as on the console; same goes for all output).
I tried to run my application using shell_exec respectively exec, however, both only returned zero results (null) (despite having set $output for exec) and thus seem not to be suitable. Also, I usually don't want loops (inside PHP/laravel) too much since you're then using a lot of computing power which is unnecessary for this sort of task, also you don't want to let your users wait more than, say, 5 secs, seeing nothing in your browser but the script being executed within a blank page (during the execution there's no content, obviously).
EDIT: I also approached the use of COM which ultimately did not work properly out either.
What is an appropriate approach towards this?

I did something similar with Python + C# a while back using IPC (Inter-process Communication) using named pipes.
EDIT: URL is broken. Here's the question someone asked previously on this topic.
Interprocess Communication using Named Pipes in C# + PHP

Catching Data from uSCXML?

I have setup a little C# console app and can run the interpreter on scxml files and it appears to run just fine. Unfortunately there is very little in terms of examples for using uSCXML.
I embedded the interpreter in my app for runtime use, so all the questions refer to catching the data from uSCXML through the C# code.
Here are my questions:
1) How do I receive events from a running scxml? ( for example < send event="event1" /> )
2) Using Lua as my DataModel how do I grab a variable and its expression/data from the scxml?
Thank you very much for any help

uSCXML principal developer here. Post an issue on github and I will a) provide an example and b) update this answer to explain it. The way to do it would be a custom IO processor or registering an InterpreterMonitor and overriding beforeEvent, however, this callback is for events processed by the interpreter, not sent from it. You could send to yourself and ignore it though.
As to the second question, you can just send the respective data as an event (preferred) or get the datamodel from the interpreter's ActionLanguage and perform evalAsData(expr).
Again, post an issue on github where I will actually be seeing these questions.

How do I open OLEDB Prompt for 32-bit from x64

Good day everyone,
I am writing a C# application that will allow users to dynamically set the database they want to connect to (I'll work a bit with the database data and such, but that's not important). The important part is that I'm allowing my users to connect to data-stores from OLEDB using the code below.
ADODB.Connection connection;
MSDASC.DataLinks instance = new MSDASC.DataLinksClass();
if( (connection = instance.PromptNew() as ADODB.Connection) == null ) return;
This will open the very same Dialog that windows opens for *.udl files, and that's exactly what I want.
However, I hit a interesting problem to which your brightness could come in handy: some customer WILL have to browse for x86 drivers, and the vast majority will certainly use x64.
I know you can open x86 UDL files with the following command-line:
"C:\Windows\syswow64\rundll32.exe" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\System\Ole DB\oledb32.dll",OpenDSLFile "C:\myConnectionFile.udl"
When the default (64 bit) command is:
"C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Ole DB\oledb32.dll",OpenDSLFile "C:\myConnectionFile.udl"
In other words: windows' allowing users to create entries in both fashion. I would like to do the same in my app, using the API.
I have considered the option of creating a temp UDL file and opening from the command-line above, which made my conversation with my technical lead rather unpleasant, so that's not an option.
All suggestions are welcome. I will not dismiss unsafe coding nor the thought of building wrapper in C++ if we get to that (although my C++ is inconveniently rusty nowadays).
Thank you all in advance and happy coding...

Good day fellow developers,
After a tedious and lengthy research process I have around the answer I was looking for.
In order to use OLEDB providers for both 32 and 64 bit platform from one single C# 64bit app I'll need to create an Out-of-Process Wrapper to the 32bit call, and make the call over IPC (Internal Process Calls). Because the amount of functionalities I'm exposing is moderate, the hindrance was just re-creating some method calls on the wrapper.
This blog helped me put the parts together, and now I'm able to determine what type of OLEDB connection I'll allow my user create, and I'm also able to perform all operations I need regardless of the Provider Architecture.
I hope this will benefit other people who might be having the issue.
If time (and NDA) allows, I'll get the code here for people to copy and try it later.
These links were also very useful on my research
http://blog.mattmags.com/2007/06/30/accessing-32-bit-dlls-from-64-bit-code/
Registering the DLL Server for Surrogate Activation
https: // msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms686606(v=vs.85).aspx)
Writing Serviced Component
https: // msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/3x7357ez(VS.80).aspx)
How to: Create Serviced Component
https: // msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ty17dz7h(VS.80).aspx)
Create Out-Of-Process COM in C#/.Net?http: // stackoverflow.com/questions/446417/create-out-of-process-com-in-c-net
Thanks everyone
D

Mercurial , writing hooks using a .NET api

Hi I am looking for examples of how to write Mercurial hooks in a .NET language, including how to setup .hg/hgr
I have used the "Mercurial.Net" Api, but the information in the Windows environment variables is a bit limited and returning error messages on the standard error channel does not appear to work. I guess I am doing something wrong.
I am using .Net for a number of reasons , one being to link up with other systems using WFC

EDIT The new version of Mercurial.Net makes writing hooks easier, see see http://mercurialnet.codeplex.com/discussions/261283
Create a "Windows Application" project (eg MyHook).
Add a reference to "Mercurial.Net" (you can use NuGet to make it easier http://nuget.org/List/Packages/Mercurial.Net).
In your main method, do whatever processing you want (eg retrieve the log and then the info on the last commit - see http://mercurialnet.codeplex.com/discussions/261283 for examples). You can add a MessageBox.Show(message) to check that the hook is indeed executed.
Compile your project.
Add the hook to your .hg/hgrc file (below is an example of a hook that will be executed after each commit, see https://www.mercurial-scm.org/wiki/Hook for more info, http://hgbook.red-bean.com/read/handling-repository-events-with-hooks.html for even more info):
[hooks]
commit.hook1 = "C:\path to file\MyHook.exe"
The next time you commit your hook should be executed.
Check http://docs.vkarlsen.no/Mercurial.Net/ to learn about the classes of Mercurial.Net.

Hook into the Windows File Copy API from C#

Is there a way to hook into the Windows File Copy API from C#? I'm aware this would require unmanaged code, but a code sample or starter would be helpful. I've already seen the C++ code, but it's all greek.
UPDATE: I apologize, I should have been more clear about my intentions. I wish to actually change the copy feature of Windows to be more rigid (e.g. allow queing, scheduling, handle restarts, pauses, etc.). When I said hook, I meant API hook so that when someone starts a copy I get the sources and destinations and can handle it to my heart's desire. I'm old school and used to hook the Mac OS API a lot to do these things so I assumed that in the C++ WINAPI world there was some type of equiv.

Update:
As others have stated, why not just use System.IO.File.Copy(...)? It calls this same underlying API. As Michael G points out, perhaps you intend to call the the FileCopyEx API that allows you to hook progress-indication callbacks(???) That's really the only reason to P/Invoke file-copy stuff in .NET. Details on how to implement FileCopyEx that can be found here: http://pinvoke.net/default.aspx/kernel32/CopyFileEx.html
Original answer: (which you really shouldn't use...)
Code snippet removed because you really shouldn't use it...
If you're hell-bent on making busted-code, you can find out how to use it at: Found at http://pinvoke.net/default.aspx/kernel32/CopyFile.html

I wish to actually change the copy feature of Windows to be more rigid
You shouldn't do that in managed code, because of the same reasons you should not write managed shell extensions.

You can do so by calling System.IO.File.Copy. Its internal implementation already uses the Windows API.
Edit: File.Copy also handles permissions correctly and has the benefit of throwing an exception with meaningful data if something fails, so you don't have to manually check and analyze the return status.

You can use Deviare API Hook that lets you intercept any API from .NET and read parameters using VARIANT types. There is a full example very easy to follow in C#.

The other benefit of using unmanaged Copy File API is the ability to have a progress callback.
Note: as stated in other answers, I would use the managed version of File.Copy as it's safer, and can usually do everything you require.