Making a Chat Program

Question

Ok, lets start:

I want to make a chat application, and I have gotten the 'server' source from a site

Imports System.Net.Sockets
Imports System.Text
Module Module1
    Dim clientsList As New Hashtable
    Sub Main()
        Dim serverSocket As New TcpListener(2121)
        Dim clientSocket As TcpClient
        Dim counter As Integer

        serverSocket.Start()
        msg("Chat Server Started ....")
        counter = 0

        While (True)
            counter += 1
            clientSocket = serverSocket.AcceptTcpClient()

            Dim bytesFrom(10024) As Byte
            Dim dataFromClient As String

            Dim networkStream As NetworkStream = clientSocket.GetStream()
            networkStream.Read(bytesFrom, 0, CInt(clientSocket.ReceiveBufferSize))
            dataFromClient = System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetString(bytesFrom)
            dataFromClient = dataFromClient.Substring(0, dataFromClient.IndexOf("$"))

            clientsList(dataFromClient) = clientSocket

            broadcast(dataFromClient + " Joined ", dataFromClient, False)

            msg(dataFromClient + " Joined Dropbox Chat ")
            Dim client As New handleClinet
            client.startClient(clientSocket, dataFromClient, clientsList)
            If clientSocket.Available Then
                msg("Mg")
            End If
        End While

        clientSocket.Close()
        serverSocket.Stop()
        msg("exit")
        Console.ReadLine()
    End Sub

    Sub msg(ByVal mesg As String)
        mesg.Trim()
        Console.WriteLine(" >> " + mesg)
    End Sub
    Private Sub broadcast(ByVal msg As String, _
    ByVal uName As String, ByVal flag As Boolean)
        Dim Item As DictionaryEntry
        For Each Item In clientsList
            Dim broadcastSocket As TcpClient
            broadcastSocket = CType(Item.Value, TcpClient)
            Dim broadcastStream As NetworkStream = _
                    broadcastSocket.GetStream()
            Dim broadcastBytes As [Byte]()

            If flag = True Then
                broadcastBytes = Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(uName + " sier : " + msg)
            Else
                broadcastBytes = Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(msg)
            End If

            broadcastStream.Write(broadcastBytes, 0, broadcastBytes.Length)
            broadcastStream.Flush()
        Next
    End Sub

    Public Class handleClinet
        Dim clientSocket As TcpClient
        Dim clNo As String
        Dim clientsList As Hashtable

        Public Sub startClient(ByVal inClientSocket As TcpClient, _
        ByVal clineNo As String, ByVal cList As Hashtable)
            Me.clientSocket = inClientSocket
            Me.clNo = clineNo
            Me.clientsList = cList
            Dim ctThread As Threading.Thread = New Threading.Thread(AddressOf doChat)
            ctThread.Start()
        End Sub

        Private Sub doChat()
            'Dim infiniteCounter As Integer
            Dim requestCount As Integer
            Dim bytesFrom(10024) As Byte
            Dim dataFromClient As String
            Dim sendBytes As [Byte]()
            Dim serverResponse As String
            Dim rCount As String
            requestCount = 0

            While (True)
                Try
                    requestCount = requestCount + 1
                    Dim networkStream As NetworkStream = _
                            clientSocket.GetStream()
                    networkStream.Read(bytesFrom, 0, CInt(clientSocket.ReceiveBufferSize))
                    dataFromClient = System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetString(bytesFrom)
                    dataFromClient = _
            dataFromClient.Substring(0, dataFromClient.IndexOf("$"))
                    msg("From client - " + clNo + " : " + dataFromClient)
                    rCount = Convert.ToString(requestCount)

                    broadcast(dataFromClient, clNo, True)
                Catch ex As Exception
                    MsgBox(ex.ToString)
                End Try
            End While
        End Sub

    End Class
End Module

And I have coded this little thing to connect to the server:

Option Explicit On
Imports System.Net.Sockets
Imports System.Text
Public Class Form1
    Dim clientSocket As New System.Net.Sockets.TcpClient()
    Dim serverStream As NetworkStream
    Dim readData As String
    Dim infiniteCounter As Integer

    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
    ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnSend.Click

        Dim outStream As Byte() = _
        System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(TextBox2.Text + "$")
        If clientSocket.Connected Then
            serverStream.Write(outStream, 0, outStream.Length)
            serverStream.Flush()
            TextBox2.Clear()

        Else
            txtMessages.Text = txtMessages.Text + _
            Environment.NewLine + " >> " + "You must connect to the server first"
        End If


    End Sub

    Private Sub msg()
        If Me.InvokeRequired Then
            Me.Invoke(New MethodInvoker(AddressOf msg))
        Else
            txtMessages.Text = txtMessages.Text + _
    Environment.NewLine + " >> " + readData
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
    ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnConnect.Click
        readData = "Connected to Chat Server ..."
        msg()
        clientSocket.Connect(cmbIP.Text, 2121)
        'Label1.Text = "Client Socket Program - Server Connected ..."
        serverStream = clientSocket.GetStream()

        Dim outStream As Byte() = _
        System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(TextBox3.Text + "$")
        serverStream.Write(outStream, 0, outStream.Length)
        serverStream.Flush()

        Dim ctThread As Threading.Thread = _
   New Threading.Thread(AddressOf getMessage)
        ctThread.Start()
        btnDconnect.Enabled = True
        btnConnect.Enabled = False
        Timer1.Enabled = True
    End Sub

    Private Sub getMessage()
        For infiniteCounter = 1 To 2
            infiniteCounter = 1
            serverStream = clientSocket.GetStream()
            Dim buffSize As Integer
            Dim inStream(10024) As Byte
            buffSize = clientSocket.ReceiveBufferSize
            serverStream.Read(inStream, 0, buffSize)
            Dim returndata As String = _
            System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetString(inStream)
            readData = "" + returndata
            msg()
        Next
    End Sub

    Private Sub btnDconnect_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnDconnect.Click


        btnConnect.Enabled = True
    End Sub

    Private Sub TextBox2_KeyDown(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles TextBox2.KeyDown
        If e.KeyCode = Keys.Enter Then
            Dim outStream As Byte() = _
            System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(TextBox2.Text + "$")
            serverStream.Write(outStream, 0, outStream.Length)
            serverStream.Flush()
            TextBox2.Clear()
        End If

    End Sub

    Private Sub TextBox2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles TextBox2.Click
        TextBox2.Clear()
    End Sub

    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load


    End Sub

    Private Sub txtMessages_TextChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)

 

    End Sub

    Private Sub Timer1_Tick(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick
        txtMessages.SelectionStart = txtMessages.Text.Length
        txtMessages.ScrollToCaret()





    End Sub
End Class

So my questions is:

How can I add a 'disconnect' function, so both the server and client can run without getting 'not responding'?

How do I add a command, so when i type '.screenshot' , a messagebox comes up on the one im chatting with "*Nickname* have requested a screenshot", and if he accept, it saves to a specified location? (don't worry about getting the file to my computer, i use dropbox, so it will be like C:\*USER*\My Documents\My Dropbox\, and it will get uploaded to us both, this is a project between me and a friend, so we can chat while we code other stuff on dropbox)

How can i make a listbox with all the users 'logged' in the chat, and you can change status, and if you are online, the text of your name on the listbox is green, if you type 'away', it makes your name orange?

This is the main questions, if I need anymore help, I will add that too.

Thanks in advanced guys, it is very appreciated with any replies.

- Dyar

Answer 1

Hoi Dyar,

you wrote: ...i got the Server code....

In this Servercode must be written, how to disconnect or list users.
If it is an irc-chat then i.e. "Disconnect Servername" would work, or /list users

Doei
Franz

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Answer 2

Yes this is what i need help with. How do i make the server compitable with 'disconnecting' ? And the bunch of others questions

Answer 3

Hoi,

first you have to look at the commandos of the "real" chatprogramm with that server.
Mostly on the website there are many commands listed which users can use.
Mainly about irc-chats is many help and docu available


Doei
Franz

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Answer 4

Hi, I do not really understand what you are trying to say. I will just wait till someone else got any ideas man. Thanks for trying to help me, but this doesn't solve my problem

Answer 5

Do you understand how the code that you posted works?

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Mark the best replies as answers. "Fooling computers since 1971."

Answer 6

It listens on the port 2121, and check for incoming connctions I suppose. This program is for learning purpose, so I am trying to get as much help as possible with this

Answer 7

It listens on the port 2121, and check for incoming connctions I suppose. This program is for learning purpose, so I am trying to get as much help as possible with this

That is what it does.
Do you understand how it works?

It is not a crime not know.  I know I don't. 
I would have to read through in detail and study it a bit.

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Mark the best replies as answers. "Fooling computers since 1971."

Answer 8

Well, I don't actually understand 100% how it works.

I got another question to add;

I want the users to have a choice what color they want on the text, how can i make the textbox make ONLY their text to a specific color, without having the whole textbox with the color?

Answer 9

Well, I don't actually understand 100% how it works.

I got another question to add;

I want the users to have a choice what color they want on the text, how can i make the textbox make ONLY their text to a specific color, without having the whole textbox with the color?

have a look here please:

http://www.bigspeed.net/articles/securechatvb7/securechat.html

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