Shrink File Paths with an Ellipsis in C#

August 18, 2015August 19, 2015 Chad Leave a comment

I searched online for a way to shorten a path in .NET. I couldn’t find a solid solution so I had to roll my own. The following method will handle your basic compression needs. It has also been smartened-up to perform some base filename care to reveal the most import characters first. It can handle both Windows and Mac file system structures. It can also properly compact network paths.

The method can also take a custom delimiter of one or more characters. A custom delimiter is nice in cases where an actual ellipsis (the default character) won’t render properly in the UI. Here is what you can expect:

Win	Mac	Network
`…s…`	`…s…`	`…s…`
`…stripes…`	`…stripes…`	`…stripes…`
`…stripes.jpg`	`…stripes.jpg`	`…stripes.jpg`
`…\stripes.jpg`	`…/stripes.jpg`	`…\stripes.jpg`
`C…\stripes.jpg`	`/…/stripes.jpg`	`\…\stripes.jpg`
`C:…\stripes.jpg`	`/U…/stripes.jpg`	`\\…\stripes.jpg`
`C:\Users\chadk\…\stripes.jpg`	`/Users/chadk/Pi…/stripes.jpg`	`\\ps1\Themes\Mi…\stripes.jpg`

/// <summary>

///

/// </summary>

/// <param name="absolutepath">The path to compress</param>

/// <param name="limit">The maximum length</param>

/// <param name="delimiter">The character(s) to use to imply incompleteness</param>

/// <returns></returns>

public string ShrinkPath(string absolutepath, int limit, string delimiter = "…")

{

//no path provided

if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(absolutepath))

{

return "";

}

var name = Path.GetFileName(absolutepath);

int namelen = name.Length;

int pathlen = absolutepath.Length;

var dir = absolutepath.Substring(0, pathlen - namelen);

int delimlen = delimiter.Length;

int idealminlen = namelen + delimlen;

var slash = (absolutepath.IndexOf("/") > -1 ? "/" : "\\");

//less than the minimum amt

if (limit < ((2 * delimlen) + 1))

{

return "";

}

//fullpath

if (limit >= pathlen)

{

return absolutepath;

}

//file name condensing

if (limit < idealminlen)

{

return delimiter + name.Substring(0, (limit - (2 * delimlen))) + delimiter;

}

//whole name only, no folder structure shown

if (limit == idealminlen)

{

return delimiter + name;

}

return dir.Substring(0, (limit - (idealminlen + 1))) + delimiter + slash + name;

}

Read Metadata from Photos in C#

August 13, 2015August 21, 2015 Chad Leave a comment

In the following example I will be extracting metadata from photos in Windows & Xamarin.Mac. I am targeted specific, metadata properties but many more are available in either platform.

public class Meta

{

public long FileSize { get; set; }

public string Dimensions { get; set; }

public DateTime? DateTaken { get; set; }

public string CameraModel { get; set; }

}

Windows

This requires some additional DLLs. They are natively included in WPF projects but can be used outside of that. It requires .NET Framework 4.5+. It will work for the following image types: bmp, gif, jpg, png, tiff.

It requires three libraries:

PresentationCore.dll
System.Xaml.dll
WindowsBase.dll

using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;

using System.IO;

public static Meta ExtractMeta(string path)

{

Meta result = new Meta();

var fs = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read, FileShare.Read);

BitmapSource img = BitmapFrame.Create(fs);

BitmapMetadata md = (BitmapMetadata)img.Metadata;

//DateTaken

string date = md.DateTaken;

if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(date))

{

result.DateTaken = DateTime.Parse(date);

}

//Camera Model

result.CameraModel = md.CameraModel;

//Dimensions

result.Dimensions = img.PixelWidth + " x " + img.PixelHeight;

//FileSize

result.FileSize = fs.Length;

fs.Close();

fs.Dispose();

return result;

}

Xamarin.Mac

using Foundation;

using ImageIO;

using System.Globalization; //you may need to add this DLL

public static Meta ExtractMeta(string path)

{

Meta result = new Meta();

NSUrl url = new NSUrl (path: path, isDir: false);

CGImageSource myImageSource = CGImageSource.FromUrl (url, null);

var ns = new NSDictionary ();

var imageProperties = myImageSource.CopyProperties (ns, 0);

var tiff = imageProperties.ObjectForKey (CGImageProperties.TIFFDictionary) as NSDictionary;

var exif = imageProperties.ObjectForKey (CGImageProperties.ExifDictionary) as NSDictionary;

//DateTaken

var dtstr = (exif [CGImageProperties.ExifDateTimeOriginal]).ToString ();

if (string.IsNullOrEmpty (dtstr)) {

dtstr = (tiff [CGImageProperties.TIFFDateTime]).ToString ();

}

if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty (dtstr)) {

result.DateTaken = DateTime.ParseExact (dtstr, "yyyy:MM:dd HH:mm:ss", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);

}

//CameraModel

result.CameraModel = (tiff [CGImageProperties.TIFFModel]).ToString ();

//Dimensions

var width = imageProperties [CGImageProperties.PixelWidth];

var height = imageProperties [CGImageProperties.PixelHeight];

result.Dimensions = string.Format ("{0} x {1}", width, height);

//FileSize

NSError fileSizeError = null;

var res = url.GetResourceValues (new NSString[1]{ NSUrl.FileSizeKey }, out fileSizeError);

if (fileSizeError == null) {

result.FileSize = long.Parse ((res [NSUrl.FileSizeKey]).ToString ());

}

return result;

}

Testing

//Mac Path

//string path = "/Users/chadkuehn/Pictures/photo.jpg";

//Windows Path

string path = @"C:\Users\chadk\Pictures\photo.jpg";

Meta obj = ExtractMeta(path);

string dimensions = obj.Dimensions;

Migrate from MySQL to SQL Server with Ease

August 10, 2015 Chad Leave a comment

To transfer a client from one host to another I needed to migrate their data from MySQL to SQL Server (or more specifically to a Microsoft SQL Database in Azure). I went down some roads trying to export from phpMyAdmin, or performing a mysqldump, to generate a script. In both cases my import into SSMS was riddled with syntax errors that would be overwhelming to correct. Once I stumbled onto the SQL Server Migration Assistant I completed my task with ease.

In my scenario I was wanting to pass from one host to another. I used my computer as a middle man and connected to both. But first you need to install some software.

MySQL ODBC Connector

This connector is utilized by SSMA. It will require you to create a free, MySQL account to download the file.

Download Latest ODBC

When installing I chose a Typical installation.

SQL Server Migration Assistant

To get the latest SQL Server Migration Assistant you should do a web search for "Download SSMA MySQL"

Direct link for SSMA v5.3 for MySQL

I chose SSMA_MySql\SSMA for MySql.5.3.0.exe. When installing, it couldn’t find the MySQL ODBC driver v5.1 or above. But it is there so disregard. I also chose a Typical installation.

Configuring SSMA

Microsoft SQL Server Migration Assistant for MySQL will be listed under your new programs. There may be a 32-bit and a 64-bit. Run the appropriate one for your operating system.

Next, I created a new project using File > New Project. I chose to Migrate to SQL Azure. But this technique isn’t limited to Azure. Choose the version of SQL Server running on your destination host. At the top there are options to Connect to MySql and Connect to SQL Azure.

When connecting to MySql you fill out the following dialog:

In the dialog that appeared it had a provider preselected. It had a yield sign beside it for some reason, disregard. I entered my domain without any prefix, left the port alone, and entered the same credentials I would if logging into cpanel. You may need to allow remote access to your computer’s public IP to allow the interaction. This can likely be done in cpanel or by contacting support.

When connecting to Azure you fill out the following dialog:

Fill out your azure information. You can get some of it by going to the Azure portal, selecting the sql server instance or database in your resource group, choose All Settings then Properties. The username will be something like mike@myresourcegroup

In my top pane I expanded the tree and checked the mysql database of interest, and also selected the node. In my sql server pane I expanded the tree and checked my database. Right click on that node and choose to Synchronize with Database. This will create all the tables which is needed before migrating the data.

Finally, go back up to your selected mysql database node, right-click and choose to Migrate data.

The data will convert without any generated scripts. Afterward, you can see the tables and data in SQL Server Management Studio.

Dependency Injection with PCLs in Xamarin

August 6, 2015August 6, 2015 Chad Leave a comment

A Portable Class Library (PCL) allows you to target the platforms you wish to support, and use Interfaces to provide platform-specific functionality. This is also known as dependency injection. You will often run into limitations with PCLs with UI-related needs which require specialized handling on each platform. In my example I will be using the Xamarin.Mac and .NET Framework 4.5 Frameworks. Other frameworks such as Windows 8, Xamarin.Android and Xamarin.iOS will automatically be included. This is a desktop app that runs on Windows and OSX, and shares code with a PCL.

Creating the Solution and Projects

I began by creating a new project in Visual Studio. Search for Portable. I chose Class Library (Portable) under C#. I did not choose the Class Library (Xamarin.Forms Portable) because I am not referencing that library in my non-mobile application. Name it Portable, select your frameworks and create.

Next, I renamed my solution to Proj. I just wanted to distinguish it from my different projects. All your files are stored in a root folder named Portable. This can be renamed later to match the solution name if desired. I then right-clicked on my solution to add a new project. I chose WPF Application and named it Win. I set it as my startup project. On my OSX Laptop I also opened the same solution in Xamarin Studio. It showed the Win project as unsupported and that’s fine. On the solution I went to Add New Project. Under Mac App I chose a General Empty Project. I named it Mac. Once complete set it as the Startup Project. Back in Windows I reopened my solution it gave me an Unsupported notice and migration report about the Mac project. Disregard.

PCL Code

Now let’s write some code. In my example I am going to retrieve Machine Information. In my experience I have struggled to find a PCL nuget that could fetch detailed platform machine information. Under my Portable I added a new class called IPlatform. Inside it I created an interface:

public interface IPlatform

{

Dictionary<string, object> GetMachineInfo();

}

Next, I created an PlatformManager class with the following code:

public class PlatformManager

{

IPlatform _platform;

public PlatformManager(IPlatform platform)

{

_platform = platform;

}

public Dictionary<string, object> GetMachineInfo()

{

return this._platform.GetMachineInfo();

}

Next, I added a third class to the portable. I named it StaticUtils

public static class StaticUtils

{

static PlatformManager _platformManager;

public static void AssignPlatformManager(IPlatform platform) {

_platformManager = new PlatformManager(platform);

}

public static PlatformManager PlatformManager

{

get

{

return _platformManager;

}

Windows Project Code

Now we need to create the proper hooks in our Win project. In my app.xaml.cs file I added the following:

private void Application_Startup(object sender, StartupEventArgs e)

{

//implement the interface

Portable.IPlatform implementedInterface = new WinInterface();

//pass in the interface to create a static PlatformManager object to be referenced

Portable.StaticUtils.AssignPlatformManager(implementedInterface);

}

Next, I added a class called WinInterface I added this code:

public class WinInterface: Portable.IPlatform

{

public Dictionary<string, object> GetMachineInfo()

{

var is64Bit = Environment.Is64BitOperatingSystem;

var processorCnt = Environment.ProcessorCount;

var osVersion = Environment.OSVersion.ToString();

var osName = "Windows";

var ci = new Microsoft.VisualBasic.Devices.ComputerInfo();

var ram = ci.AvailablePhysicalMemory;

var appVersion = FileVersionInfo.GetVersionInfo(Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location).FileVersion;

var machineName = Environment.MachineName;

var dict = new Dictionary<string, object>();

dict["Is64Bit"] = is64Bit;

dict["ProcessorCount"] = processorCnt;

dict["MachineName"] = machineName;

dict["OSName"] = osName;

dict["OSVersion"] = osVersion;

dict["RAM"] = ram;

dict["AppVersion"] = appVersion;

return dict;

}

Mac Project Code

In my AppDelegate.cs file I added the following:

public AppDelegate ()

{

Portable.IPlatform implementedInterface = new MacInterface ();

Portable.StaticUtils.AssignPlatformManager(implementedInterface);

}

Next, I added a class called MacInterface I added this code:

public class MacInterface: Portable.IPlatform

{

public Dictionary<string, object> GetMachineInfo ()

{

var is64Bit = Environment.Is64BitOperatingSystem;

var processorCnt = Environment.ProcessorCount;

var osVersion = Foundation.NSProcessInfo.ProcessInfo.OperatingSystemVersionString;

var ram = Foundation.NSProcessInfo.ProcessInfo.PhysicalMemory;

var osName = "Mac";

var appVersion = Foundation.NSBundle.MainBundle.ObjectForInfoDictionary ("CFBundleShortVersionString").ToString ();

var machineName = Environment.MachineName;

var dict = new Dictionary<string, object> ();

dict ["Is64Bit"] = is64Bit;

dict ["ProcessorCount"] = processorCnt;

dict ["MachineName"] = machineName;

dict ["OSName"] = osName;

dict ["OSVersion"] = osVersion;

dict ["RAM"] = ram;

dict ["AppVersion"] = appVersion;

return dict;

}

How It All Works

The platform project starts and instantiates their class of methods implementing the portable interface. We then call an assignment method in the portable’s StaticUtils class. The assignment method instantiates a new, static PlatformManager for us to reference, and the manager stores the passed interface into a variable within itself. With a static reference we can access it through the life on the application. Now, when we want to fetch our platform method details we reference the static PlatformManager, which references the interface that implements the platform-specific code. Calling it like so will return the desired data:

1	var info = StaticUtils.PlatformManager.GetMachineInfo ();

Download a working example developed in Visual Studio 2013.

Using Linq with ItemsCollection

August 5, 2015August 6, 2015 Chad Leave a comment

I was working with an ItemCollection that was defining a menu. To hone in on a specific MenuItem I did something like this:

using System.Windows.Controls;

using System.Linq;

MenuItem target = null;

foreach (var obj in TrayIcon.ContextMenu.Items)

{

MenuItem menuitem = obj as MenuItem;

if (menuitem != null)

{

if (menuitem.Name == "menuMessages")

{

target = menuitem;

break;

}

But I didn’t like. It just seemed big and old school. I wanted to use the leverage of Linq to simplify it. But I noticed quickly that I didn’t have access to the Linq helper functions. This is because ItemsCollection is only an IEnumerable, not a Typed IEnumerable. You can foreach it just fine but you have to use the Cast function to make it "Linq-ready". Here is my solution:

1 2	var targets = TrayIcon.ContextMenu.Items.Cast<object>().Where(i => i.ToString().Contains("MenuItem")); var target = targets.Cast<MenuItem>().FirstOrDefault(i=>i.Name == "menuMessages");

I had to first cast to an object because some items in the list were not MenuItem (e.g., MenuSeperator). Still not as clean as I’d like but a bit better. If I didn’t have seperators it could have been even simpler.