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

Thanks karen. for reply. Is there a way to delete file permanently (without sending it to the Recycle Bin)?

Answer 3

Thanks again Karen. for follow up, appreciated.

I did the same as you described, however, in my case exe file wasn't deleted. I assume there might be something I am missing.
I have uploaded project file here: s!Amy6U9MHbS_NhArxuxuT8LOzvusu
Can you see what I am missing?

Answer 4

Thanks for sharing Karen.

I have commented out the text file creation as:
' File.WriteAllText("Test.txt", "Hello")
So far solution is still functional, do you see any advantages to have it anyways to retain the functionality?

The batch file executes and opens a command window, possible to have a hidden /minimized command window?