Run Program as Administrator programmatically

I need to run a program as Administrator programmatically.

Fortunately googling this was so easy. Found this one:
Run Program As Administrator in vb.net

Open the Project Properties then click on View Windows Setting button. It will open the app.manifest file.

Using Squirrel to replace ClickOnce

Installing Squirrel

While I was searching for a way to make ClickOnce deploy easier after all hardship about certificate and identity errors, I bump into Squirrel.Windows. Thanks to Travis's comment in this question: Deploy a ClickOnce application without signing. Even though no one answer that was Marked ans Answer (yet at the time), the comments really help to give me an idea about some alternatives.

I create a new project that target a .Net Framework 3.5 and start searching for it in the Manage Nuget Packages for Solution.Current latest stable version is 1.4.0. I install it right away.

Create a new Nuget Package for my Visual Studio Application

To create a new Nuget Package, I must install the Nuget Package Explorer. If uses Internet Explorer, it will run immediately to install if click the Download button.

This is when I run it:

1. I just have to create a new package (Ctrl+N).

“An attempt was made to reference a token that does not exist” when sign the assembly

I'm working on a ClickOnce deploy-able project. Since begining of the project and many build and published, no error about this happen. but suddenly this error occur:

Cannot import the following key file: ***.pfx. The key file may be password protected. To correct this, try to import the certificate again or import the certificate manually into the current user’s personal certificate store.

Then I try to reselect the ***.pfx in the "Project Properties->Signing->Choose a name key file". Then This message appear:

“An attempt was made to reference a token that does not exist”

I don't understand why this happen. After searching the net and many attempts for several hours, I finally able to solve it just by running the Visual Studio as Administrator.


I got it from here: Error when using Visual Studio 2010 for assembly signing: “An attempt was made to reference a token that does not exist”

But my solution was not from the chosen as answer but from Josh M.:

Running Visual Studio as Administrator fixed this issue for me.

Problem Solved.

ps: Maybe I should always run the Visual Studio as Administrator. Who knows, I might save several hours of searching.

Conditional Compilation

Today I learn  that I can do Conditional Compiling on VB.Net,

In conditional compilation, particular blocks of code in a program are compiled selectively while others are ignored.

Reference: Conditional Compilation in Visual Basic

For example if I Write this code in the form Load event:

    Private Sub frmStarter_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Load

#If DEBUG Then
        MsgBox("This is DEBUG build")
#Else
        MsgBox("This is not a DEBUG build")
#End If
    End Sub

When I build in DEBUG mode, the "MsgBox("This is DEBUG build")" and when I build in RELEASE mode or any other custom mode, the "MsgBox("This is not a DEBUG build")" will be triggered.

This is really handy.

Positioning a control on the center of the form

Sometimes when I created a resizable or maximized form, I want to position my control on the center of my form depending on the screen resolution.

I use this code:

Protected Overrides Sub OnLoad(ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
    MyBase.OnLoad(e)
    Dim btn = New Button()
    Controls.Add(btn)
    btn.Location = New Point((ClientSize.Width - btn.Width) \ 2, _
                             (ClientSize.Height - btn.Height) \ 2)
End Sub

Reference: Centering (perfectly) dynamically created buttons on form?

Problem with "Application identity is not set". (solved?)

Today I got a problem when I test my application. I commonly build my application then run it from the "debug" or "release" folder in my VirtualBox.

After some googling, I learn that the cause of the problem comes from this code:

lblVersion.text = Deployment.Application.ApplicationDeployment.CurrentDeployment.CurrentVersion.ToString

Reference: How to show program version in your form?

Include the project2.exe.config info in a reference executable in .NET?

I have a problem in a referenced project where the project2.exe.config file for a referenced project in not included in the project. Every time I must copy the project2.exe.config file into my project manually to make it works.

Tried googling and found this:

I have one executable project, let's say A, which is launching another executable project Bin the run. In order to have a B.exe in A's current working folder, I add B as A's reference so that after the compilation a B.exe will be copied into A's folder. However, I noticed the configuration that I make for B is not copied or generated in A's folder (there is no B.exe.config file in A's folder, only B.exe), and hence the stuff such as tracing for B is not configured correctly.
I can of course copy the B.exe.config manually to A's folder, but I bet there is some automatic way to do that. Could anybody help me?

Reference: How to include the App.config info in a reference executable in .NET?