VB.NET Geckofx | XulRunner Tutorial Part X

~ : Setting up Geckofx and XulRunner : ~

If you don't know what is Gecko and XulRunner then you might first consider reading this - 

Info on Gecko | XulRunner

# Downloading the Packages

1) Let's Download the latest Geckofx and XulRunner!

• If you have Nuget installed then in command-line simply type.

Install-Package Geckofx45

QuickStart (from official nuget page)

Include "geckofx-45" nuget package (In Visual Studio project right click References and click "Manage NuGet Packages..")

In C#
[STAThread] static void Main(string[] args) { Xpcom.Initialize("Firefox"); var geckoWebBrowser = new GeckoWebBrowser {Dock = DockStyle.Fill}; Form f = new Form(); f.Controls.Add(geckoWebBrowser); geckoWebBrowser.Navigate("https://onefriendforyou.blogspot.com"); Application.Run(f); }

So in VB.NET it should be..
<stathread> _ Private Shared Sub Main(args As String()) Xpcom.Initialize("Firefox") Dim geckoWebBrowser = New GeckoWebBrowser() With { _ Key .Dock = DockStyle.Fill _ } Dim f As New Form() f.Controls.Add(geckoWebBrowser) geckoWebBrowser.Navigate("https://onefriendforyou.blogspot.com") Application.Run(f) End Sub
Done.. Now leave my blog right away! Bye, Goodbye! -_-

OR

Now your files will be in C:\Users\UserName\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Project Name\packages\Geckofx45.45.0.18
You will find a Geckofx45.45.0.18.nupkg file there...
Do as i say from # Extracting the Packages

• If you don't have Nuget, no problem!

Click here to download Geckofx and XulRunner.

Now I assume you have the packages so let's go further.

# Extracting the Packages

1. It will be a (.nupkg) file named as Geckofx45.45.0.18.nupkg
2. After downloading --> Open it with WinRAR.

   

Open the 'content' folder' and --> Extract the Firefox folder on Desktop.

Now Go Back and open 'lib' folder then 'net40' and extract all the files on Desktop.

# Starting A New Project

2) Start a New Project in VB.NET with any name.

# Copying the Packages to Project's directory

Now copy them to your project directory...



Those 2 dll's are in your Project directory, isn't it?

# Adding Reference

Now in Visual Basic IDE, Add Reference to them..

Geckofx-Core.dll and Geckofx-Winforms.dll

Now i hope you will see the both files in your Solution Explorer.

# Configuring Application Events

Now Open Application Events.vb, select all and paste the below code.
Imports Gecko Imports System.IO Namespace My ' The following events are available for MyApplication: ' ' Startup: Raised when the application starts, before the startup form is created. ' Shutdown: Raised after all application forms are closed. This event is not raised if the application terminates abnormally. ' UnhandledException: Raised if the application encounters an unhandled exception. ' StartupNextInstance: Raised when launching a single-instance application and the application is already active. ' NetworkAvailabilityChanged: Raised when the network connection is connected or disconnected. Partial Friend Class MyApplication Protected Overrides Function OnStartup(ByVal eventArgs As Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.StartupEventArgs) As Boolean Dim ProfileDirectory As String = My.Application.Info.DirectoryPath & "\Firefox\Profile" If Not Directory.Exists(ProfileDirectory) Then Directory.CreateDirectory(ProfileDirectory) End If Xpcom.ProfileDirectory = ProfileDirectory Gecko.Xpcom.Initialize("Firefox") Return True End Function End Class End Namespace


# Adding Geckofx to Toolbox

Read: How to Add Items to Toolbox in VB.NET
Now add Geckofx-Winforms.dll --> click OK!
Let's have a look at our Toolbox now..

OMG! Look! There's a new guest here!

The Geckofx Webbrowser component!

# Inviting A Guest

Invite her to your Project.Home..

Make sure to do some arrangements for her by serving her a Tea.URLBar = TextBox.Control and some Biscuits.Navigation = Button.Control.

Make her feel comfortable on the form.

# Offering her a job

Double-Click the Form1 --> Select All and paste the below code.

Imports Gecko Public Class Form1 Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load Gecko.GeckoPreferences.User("network.http.pipelining") = True GeckoWebBrowser1.Navigate("https://onefriendforyou.blogspot.com") End Sub Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click GeckoWebBrowser1.Navigate(TextBox1.Text) End Sub

Done! Hence this tutorial ends here! And I am tired now...

Life is short, don't waste it sitting in front of a computer, debugging crap for unknown people.

Life is short, Make your every breath count. <3 :-)

Last Updated On - 4th Jan 2019