How To Make An Admin Panel To Controll Every Controller In My App.

Question

Hi all,
This question is strange, i think that . But i had to ask it before.....
Anyway , My clients asked me to fix some code in my apps. for example (I have to make a date changeable not fixed" In some Forms i made the datetimepicker takes the today date only and can't change to insure that the process done in the current date of Bill creation" But the client change his mind and want me to change this scenario to set the datetimepicker changeable to any date he want)
this so good and i can change it to whatever he wants .
But the question here is
Why do i have to make build to my app. every time and uninstall my app. from his machine and then install it again after any new changes to my app. ???
How can i make a Form (say for example "Admin Panel") to enable me to make any changes in the run time without need to uninstall the app. from the client machine ?
Can i use XML file to perform this mission and how ?
I want every controller in my app. obeying to this strategy .....
Any suggestions ............................

Answer 1

@Amr_Ali

How can i add a new controls in the form1 and where can i write any methods or functions ??

I'm sure it's possible to some extent but in 20 years of coding never had the need for this and would think this would need to run off some dynamic script. Although not an answer the following can give you a clue to the complexities you will face.

Answer 2

Hello @Amr_Ali

If the following is not what you care for then please provide more details.

In regards to using XML, yes this is possible so long as you can write code in the application that can follow settings in the XML but another idea is to use a Json file instead as using Json when setup to read everything is strongly typed while XML is not.

I have an example which controls unseen operations, in this case to log information to a log file. Below Helper class reads information from a Json file using Json.Net library into an instance of a class then in code we can ask for UsingLogging.

JSON

{  
  "GeneralSettings": {  
    "LogExceptions": false,  
    "DatabaseSettings": {  
      "DatabaseServer": ".\\SQLEXPRESS",  
      "Catalog": "NorthWind2020",  
      "IntegratedSecurity": true,  
      "UsingLogging": true  
    },  
    "EmailSettings": {  
      "Host": "smtp.gmail.com",  
      "Port": 587,  
      "EnableSsl": true,  
      "DefaultCredentials": false,  
      "PickupDirectoryLocation": "MailDrop"  
    }  
  }  
}  

Code

Protected Overrides Sub OnConfiguring(ByVal optionsBuilder As DbContextOptionsBuilder)  
	If Not optionsBuilder.IsConfigured Then  
  
		If Helper.UseLogging() Then  
			optionsBuilder.UseSqlServer(Helper.ConnectionString()).EnableSensitiveDataLogging().EnableDetailedErrors().LogTo(_logStream.WriteLine)  
		Else  
			optionsBuilder.UseSqlServer(Helper.ConnectionString())  
		End If  
  
	End If  
End Sub  

• Classes to store information are found here in my GitHub repository.
• The following class (also in the same repository) provides code to read the json file above with a small example to write back to the json file.
• Since the class in the last bullet uses shared methods it's easy to obtain information any place in your code to respond to and get changes in code logic where the settings may change in a admin form.
• The Admin form reads and changes settings
• No matter if there are changes or just reading, at application startup you can read settings into a singleton class or a code module and other parts of the code can use what was read at startup.

Control changes

The following is from the second bullet above which indicates how to read and respond to if changes are made at runtime to the underlying json file.

Below shows a class project (found here) which is portable to any project for reading json

The following is an example (has no ties to the code above other than it uses the exact same logic mention above) where the top form is accessed from the "Misc" menu, user makes changes and then when actions are performed they use setting from the json file.

Redirecting assembly versions

Even though the following may not suit your needs it is at least worth knowing about which does need a update installation is working with versions of a DLL which explained here.

Part of the solution is to update the .config file .e.g.

<configuration>  
   <runtime>  
      <assemblyBinding xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1">  
       <dependentAssembly>  
         <assemblyIdentity name="myAssembly"  
                           publicKeyToken="32ab4ba45e0a69a1"  
                           culture="en-us" />  
         <bindingRedirect oldVersion="1.0.0.0"  
                          newVersion="2.0.0.0"/>  
       </dependentAssembly>  
      </assemblyBinding>  
   </runtime>  
</configuration>  

Answer 3

Hello @Amr_Ali

I don't have time to do a great code sample, best I can do is give you something that I've been working on. Keeping this simple, form control properties are set in form shown event while updates are done in form closing event (you would use a button). There is no assertion e.g. make sure say a string property that is required is not empty as that would simply cloud what there is to learn from the Json operations.

Screenshot

JSON

{  
  "GeneralSettings": {  
    "LogExceptions": false,  
    "DatabaseSettings": {  
      "DatabaseServer": ".\\SQLEXPRESS",  
      "Catalog": "NorthWind2020",  
      "IntegratedSecurity": true,  
      "UsingLogging": true  
    },  
    "EmailSettings": {  
      "Host": "smtp.gmail.com",  
      "Port": 587,  
      "EnableSsl": true,  
      "DefaultCredentials": false,  
      "PickupDirectoryLocation": "MailDrop"  
    }  
  }  
}  

Form code

Read JSON and then sets control values

Imports ConfigurationHelper  
Imports ConfigurationHelper.Classes  
Imports System.ComponentModel  
  
Public Class Form1  
    Private Sub Form1_Shown(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Shown  
  
        Dim emailSettings = GeneralSettings().GeneralSettings.EmailSettings  
  
        HostTextBox.Text = emailSettings.Host  
        EnableSslCheckBox.Checked = emailSettings.EnableSsl  
        DefaultCredentialsCheckBox.Checked = emailSettings.DefaultCredentials  
    End Sub  
  
    Private Sub Form1_Closing(sender As Object, e As CancelEventArgs) Handles Me.Closing  
  
        Dim current = GeneralSettings()  
        current.GeneralSettings.EmailSettings.Host = HostTextBox.Text  
        current.GeneralSettings.EmailSettings.EnableSsl = EnableSslCheckBox.Checked  
        current.GeneralSettings.EmailSettings.DefaultCredentials = DefaultCredentialsCheckBox.Checked  
        Helper.Update(current)  
  
    End Sub  
  
    Private Function GeneralSettings() As GeneralSettingsRoot  
        Return Helper.AllSettings()  
    End Function  
  
End Class  

Backend code

Class project, read code, update code

Answer 4

**I DON'T WHY I CAN'T POST A COMMENT **

OK it worked well, but it deals with values only(I think that) not with writing code....
I want to save and write code in run time ..
Can i save Subroutines in the JSON file . Just ask ,really i don't know ,
Your code is so nice with some modifications but i don't know how to do it ....
Could you feed my by an example with many codes or controllers ...
OK sure textbox is like combobox or checkbox but what about DataGridView and some other controller, What about write Funcnctions and Subs , What about changing the position of an controller say for example "changing the postion of an textbox from one place to another in the same form" , My needs are to facilitate the maintenance process after finishing the project, I will be able to manage my code from the client site no need to say ("I will test it in my site then i will come to your site to fix it") The whole modifications will perform from the GUI "Admin panel" on the client machine,,
Really i appreciated your efforts ,

Answer 5

@Amr_Ali This is all I can do presently as mentioned limited time.

Class for getting control types

(taken from my C# gist)

''' <summary>  
''' Collection of language extenstion methods for working with form controls.  
''' </summary>  
Public Module ControlExtensions  
  
	''' <summary>  
	''' Provides access to all controls on a form including  
	''' controls within containers e.g. panel and group-box etc.  
	''' </summary>  
	''' <typeparam name="T"></typeparam>  
	''' <param name="control"></param>  
	''' <returns></returns>  
	<Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension>  
	Public Iterator Function Descendants(Of T As Class)(control As Control) As IEnumerable(Of T)  
		For Each child As Control In control.Controls  
  
			Dim currentChild = TryCast(child, T)  
			If currentChild IsNot Nothing Then  
				Yield currentChild  
			End If  
  
			If child.HasChildren Then  
				For Each descendant As T In child.Descendants(Of T)()  
					Yield descendant  
				Next  
			End If  
		Next  
  
	End Function  
	''' <summary>  
	''' Get all TextBox controls from specified control  
	''' </summary>  
	''' <param name="control">Desired control which can be a form or a control like a panel or GroupBox on a form</param>  
	''' <returns>List of TextBoxes or an empty list if no TextBoxes on control</returns>  
	<Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension>  
	Public Function TextBoxList(control As Control) As List(Of TextBox)  
		Return control.Descendants(Of TextBox)().ToList()  
	End Function  
	''' <summary>  
	''' Get all TextBox controls from specified control  
	''' </summary>  
	''' <param name="control">Desired control which can be a form or a control like a panel or GroupBox on a form</param>  
	''' <returns>List of TextBoxes or an empty list if no TextBoxes on control</returns>  
	<Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension>  
	Public Function ListViewViewList(control As Control) As List(Of ListView)  
		Return control.Descendants(Of ListView)().ToList()  
	End Function  
	''' <summary>  
	''' Get all CheckBox controls from specified control  
	''' </summary>  
	''' <param name="control">Desired control which can be a form or a control like a panel or GroupBox on a form</param>  
	''' <returns>List of CheckBox or an empty list if no CheckBox on control</returns>  
	<Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension>  
	Public Function CheckBoxList(control As Control) As List(Of CheckBox)  
		Return control.Descendants(Of CheckBox)().ToList()  
	End Function  
	''' <summary>  
	''' Get all ComboBox controls from specified control  
	''' </summary>  
	''' <param name="control">Desired control which can be a form or a control like a panel or GroupBox on a form</param>  
	''' <returns>List of ComboBox or an empty list if no ComboBox on control</returns>  
	<Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension>  
	Public Function ComboBoxList(control As Control) As List(Of ComboBox)  
		Return control.Descendants(Of ComboBox)().ToList()  
	End Function  
	''' <summary>  
	''' Get all ListBox controls from specified control  
	''' </summary>  
	''' <param name="control">Desired control which can be a form or a control like a panel or GroupBox on a form</param>  
	''' <returns>List of ListBox or an empty list if no ListBox on control</returns>  
	<Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension>  
	Public Function ListBoxList(control As Control) As List(Of ListBox)  
		Return control.Descendants(Of ListBox)().ToList()  
	End Function  
	''' <summary>  
	''' Get all Panel controls from specified control  
	''' </summary>  
	''' <param name="control">Desired control which can be a form or a control like a panel or GroupBox on a form</param>  
	''' <returns>List of Panel or an empty list if no Panel on control</returns>  
	<Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension>  
	Public Function PanelList(control As Control) As List(Of Panel)  
		Return control.Descendants(Of Panel)().ToList()  
	End Function  
	''' <summary>  
	''' Get all GroupBox controls from specified control  
	''' </summary>  
	''' <param name="control">Desired control which can be a form or a control like a panel or GroupBox on a form</param>  
	''' <returns>List of GroupBox or an empty list if no GroupBox on control</returns>  
	<Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension>  
	Public Function GroupBoxList(control As Control) As List(Of GroupBox)  
		Return control.Descendants(Of GroupBox)().ToList()  
	End Function  
	''' <summary>  
	''' Get all Button controls from specified control  
	''' </summary>  
	''' <param name="control">Desired control which can be a form or a control like a panel or GroupBox on a form</param>  
	''' <returns>List of Button or an empty list if no Button on control</returns>  
	<Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension>  
	Public Function ButtonList(control As Control) As List(Of Button)  
		Return control.Descendants(Of Button)().ToList()  
	End Function  
	''' <summary>  
	''' Get all RadioButton controls from specified control  
	''' </summary>  
	''' <param name="control">Desired control which can be a form or a control like a panel or GroupBox on a form</param>  
	''' <returns>List of RadioButton or an empty list if no RadioButton on control</returns>  
	<Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension>  
	Public Function RadioButtonList(control As Control) As List(Of RadioButton)  
		Return control.Descendants(Of RadioButton)().ToList()  
	End Function  
	''' <summary>  
	''' Get selected/checked RadioButton for a control such as a panel, group box or form  
	''' </summary>  
	''' <param name="control">control, form, panel or group box</param>  
	''' <param name="Checked">True false, defaults to true</param>  
	''' <returns>One checked Radio button or a empty value</returns>  
	<Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension>  
	Public Function RadioButtonChecked(control As Control, Optional ByVal Checked As Boolean = True) As RadioButton  
		Return control.Descendants(Of RadioButton)().ToList().FirstOrDefault(Function(radioButton) radioButton.Checked = Checked)  
	End Function  
	''' <summary>  
	''' Control names for a control  
	''' </summary>  
	''' <param name="controls">Controls</param>  
	''' <returns>names for controls</returns>  
	<Runtime.CompilerServices.Extension>  
	Public Function ControlNames(controls As IEnumerable(Of Control)) As String()  
		Return controls.Select(Function(control) control.Name).ToArray()  
	End Function  
End Module  

Control container

Public Class ControlContainer  
    Public Property FormName() As String  
    Public Property Text() As String  
    Public Property Location As Point  
    Public Property Name As String  
    Public Property Size As Size  
    Public Property Anchor As AnchorStyles  
    Public Property TabIndex As Integer  
    Public Property Type As Type  
    Public Property Checked() As Boolean  
  
End Class  

Class to store details

Public Class FormOperations  
    Private Shared Container As New List(Of ControlContainer)  
  
    Public ReadOnly Property HasControls() As Boolean  
        Get  
            Return Container.Count > 0  
        End Get  
    End Property  
    Public Shared Sub Collect(sender As Form)  
  
        Container.Clear()  
  
        Dim itemList As New List(Of ControlContainer)  
  
        sender.ButtonList.ForEach(Sub(button)  
                                      itemList.Add(New ControlContainer() With {  
                                        .Type = GetType(Button),  
                                        .Text = button.Text,  
                                        .Anchor = button.Anchor,  
                                        .Location = button.Location,  
                                        .TabIndex = button.TabIndex,  
                                        .Name = button.Name,  
                                        .FormName = sender.Name  
                            }  
                         )  
                                  End Sub)  
  
        sender.CheckBoxList.ForEach(Sub(checkBox)  
                                        itemList.Add(New ControlContainer() With {  
                                            .Type = GetType(CheckBox),  
                                            .Anchor = checkBox.Anchor,  
                                            .Location = checkBox.Location,  
                                            .TabIndex = checkBox.TabIndex,  
                                            .Name = checkBox.Name,  
                                            .Checked = checkBox.Checked,  
                                            .FormName = sender.Name  
                            }  
                         )  
                                    End Sub)  
  
        Dim buttons = itemList.Where(Function(item) item.Type Is GetType(Button)).ToList()  
        Dim checkBoxes = itemList.Where(Function(item) item.Type Is GetType(CheckBox)).ToList()  
  
        Container.AddRange(buttons)  
        Container.AddRange(checkBoxes)  
    End Sub  
  
    Public Shared Function GetByForm(sender As String) As List(Of ControlContainer)  
        Return Container.Where(Function(item) item.FormName = sender).ToList()  
    End Function  
  
  
End Class  

Serialize/deserialize

Can be done with Serialize and Deserialize method of JSON.NET via a NuGet package install.

Install-Package Newtonsoft.Json -Version 12.0.3