Self-destructive VB Application

Question

Hi,

Have VB application and here I have few buttons, one of them is "Exit" and I have following code:

Me.Close( )

Me.Close ( ) exists from this app, is it possible to delete this file as well / kind of self destructive?

Answer 1

The reason for failure is you have spaces in the path, try the following which I ran and works.

Imports System.IO

Namespace My
    Partial Friend Class MyApplication
        Public Property DeleteOnClose() As Boolean

        Private Sub MyApplication_Shutdown(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Shutdown
            If DeleteOnClose Then
                Dim batchCommands As String = String.Empty

                Dim exeFileName As String = Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().
                        CodeBase.Replace("file:///", String.Empty).
                        Replace("/", "\")

                If exeFileName.Contains(" ") Then
                    exeFileName = $"""{exeFileName}"""
                End If

                batchCommands &= "@ECHO OFF" & vbLf
                batchCommands &= "ping 127.0.0.1 > nul" & vbLf
                batchCommands &= "echo j | del /F "
                batchCommands &= exeFileName & vbLf
                batchCommands &= "echo j | del deleteMe.bat"

                File.WriteAllText("deleteMe.bat", batchCommands)
                Process.Start("deleteMe.bat")
            Else
                File.WriteAllText("Test.txt", "Hello")
            End If
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

Answer 2

You can use the old J. Richter method : A clever way to delete a program
(P/Invoke to convert C++ to VB)

Answer 3

A simple way to delete an app but keep in mind the user can resurrect the app from the Windows recycle bin. Depending on the project type will determine where to place the following code e.g. in the main form's closing event.

Public Sub DeleteMe()

    Dim batchCommands As String = String.Empty

    Dim exeFileName As String = Reflection.Assembly.
            GetExecutingAssembly().CodeBase.Replace("file:///", String.Empty).
            Replace("/", "\")

    batchCommands &= "@ECHO OFF" & vbLf
    batchCommands &= "ping 127.0.0.1 > nul" & vbLf
    batchCommands &= "echo j | del /F "
    batchCommands &= exeFileName & vbLf
    batchCommands &= "echo j | del deleteMe.bat"

    File.WriteAllText("deleteMe.bat", batchCommands)
    Process.Start("deleteMe.bat")

End Sub

Answer 4

You can place the code I provided in ApplicationEvents.vb. For a .NET Core WinForm project the file is shown in Solution Explorer. Shown below the code will execute when the app closes.

Imports System.IO  
  
Namespace My  
    Partial Friend Class MyApplication  
        Private Sub MyApplication_Shutdown(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Shutdown  
            Dim batchCommands As String = String.Empty  
  
            Dim exeFileName As String = Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().  
                    CodeBase.Replace("file:///", String.Empty).  
                    Replace("/", "\")  
  
            batchCommands &= "@ECHO OFF" & vbLf  
            batchCommands &= "ping 127.0.0.1 > nul" & vbLf  
            batchCommands &= "echo j | del /F "  
            batchCommands &= exeFileName & vbLf  
            batchCommands &= "echo j | del deleteMe.bat"  
  
            File.WriteAllText("deleteMe.bat", batchCommands)  
            Process.Start("deleteMe.bat")  
  
        End Sub  
    End Class  
End Namespace  

Same can be done with earlier .NET Framework, under project properties.

Answer 5

In regards to delete on button click.

Revised code

Imports System.IO

Namespace My
    Partial Friend Class MyApplication
        Public Property DeleteOnClose() As Boolean

        Private Sub MyApplication_Shutdown(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Shutdown
            If DeleteOnClose Then
                Dim batchCommands As String = String.Empty

                Dim exeFileName As String = Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().
                        CodeBase.Replace("file:///", String.Empty).
                        Replace("/", "\")

                batchCommands &= "@ECHO OFF" & vbLf
                batchCommands &= "ping 127.0.0.1 > nul" & vbLf
                batchCommands &= "echo j | del /F "
                batchCommands &= exeFileName & vbLf
                batchCommands &= "echo j | del deleteMe.bat"

                File.WriteAllText("deleteMe.bat", batchCommands)
                Process.Start("deleteMe.bat")
            Else
                File.WriteAllText("Test.txt", "Hello")
            End If
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

Button Click

Public Class Form1
    Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        My.Application.DeleteOnClose = True
    End Sub
End Class