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VB.NET Discussion Thread
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Sep 16th, 2007

Reading the first four bytes of a (binary) files?

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Hi there, I was wondering if there was an easy way to read the first four bytes of a file. The ones in particular I'm looking for are 49 42 53 50 ("IBSP") and 46 42 53 50 ("FBSP"), but that bit should be easy.

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AzraelUK

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Sep 16th, 2007

Re: Reading the first four bytes of a (binary) files?

When you say bytes do you really mean the first four bytes or do you mean the first four numbes? I have a suspicion you mean the latter.

Last edited by iamthwee; Sep 16th, 2007 at 4:52 pm.

iamthwee

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Sep 18th, 2007

Re: Reading the first four bytes of a (binary) files?

Uhh... the first four hexadecimal numbers if you open the file in a hex editor. As I evidently didn't imply, when you open it in Notepad, the first four characters are either IBSP or FBSP.

AzraelUK

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Sep 18th, 2007

Re: Reading the first four bytes of a (binary) files?

Try this:

VB.NET Syntax (Toggle Plain Text)
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        TextBox1.Text = String.Empty
        Using fs As New FileStream("c:\test.txt", FileMode.Open)
            fs.Position = 0
            Using br As New BinaryReader(fs)
                For x As Int16 = 0 To 3
                    TextBox1.Text &= Asc(br.ReadChar) & " "
                Next
            End Using
        End Using
    End Sub
    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        TextBox1.Text = String.Empty
        Using fs As New FileStream("c:\test.txt", FileMode.Open)
            fs.Position = 0
            Using br As New BinaryReader(fs)
                For x As Int16 = 0 To 3
                    TextBox1.Text &= Asc(br.ReadChar) & " "
                Next
            End Using
        End Using
    End Sub

waynespangler

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Sep 18th, 2007

Re: Reading the first four bytes of a (binary) files?

Hmm... Type 'FileStream' is not defined :/

AzraelUK

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Sep 18th, 2007

Re: Reading the first four bytes of a (binary) files?

import System.IO

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