Is there a way to pass data from VB.net to ASP.net?

Ricky I

I'm stumped. Tried asking google and look around here in TCP, but I still haven't got any answer. I'm totally new in ASP.net programming, but have some experience in VB.net. Here's my situation: I have a project that is required to access a smart card and read data inside it, then pass the data into the server for further processing. I presume ASP.net does not have smartcard abilities right? Therefore, I created a dll (in VB.net) to handle smartcard processing and pass out the resulting values to the main program. When I tried it in localhost, the thing works; but when I tried to run the program from another PC, it turns out that the dll looks for the smartcard reader at the server, where the dll resides. Now I'm trying a different method since that one fails miserably. I'm writing a VB.net program that is going to pass the acquired data from the smartcard at client PC to an ASP.net/ASP page. But I cannot find any article on the net about passing data from VB.net to ASP.net. Since the dll available is only for local .net, therefore accessing it through ASP.net results in weird performance where the accessed SC reader is the one at the server. Any idea guys? Or is there a better solution?

Mycroft Holmes

Ricky, I think your application design is at fault. Why do you need the smart card data in an ASP.net page. Your DLL will ALWAYS reside on the server unless it is DEPLOYED to the client (you know all those issues we have with installing activex/dll from the internet, this is the cause). Your DLL can only work with what it sees as the local machine (the server). If you use a winforms client (so the DLL is now on the client) then why send the data to the ASP page?. If you have to use ASP then you need to ask the user to download and install the DLL on the client machine.

Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH

Ricky I

Well, you see.. In my country (I don't know if it is implemented in your country), we got a smart card as National ID Card; we can access basic personal information in it; so I'm building an application that automatically inputs some of the public data inside the ID Card to the application (like Name and date of birth and so on). The reason why I need to pass the data to the ASP page is that I'm not the original developer; I'm "the new guy" that continues development of an already existing web app where the data input is manual.. and try to make it into automatic input. Is this not possible at all? :doh:

Mycroft Holmes

In that case you still need to get your DLL onto the client machine, probably via download. I'm assuming ASP cannot get at the reader as it dows not have access to the filesystem etc. Are the readers common, when the reader is installed presumably there is a SW package to manage the reader, can you use their DLL/process?. Can you get to the reader manuf to get your SW delivered with new readers? This is one avenue to get at the reader!

Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH

Ricky I

I wonder whether ASP.net can use a dll that resides in the client side? I will look into this then, thanks again. :)

Ray Cassick

I will assume that there would be tons of security issues with that away. How about taking a different approach and building a browser plug-in that accepts the input form your smart card and can 'enter' the data into the manual areas of the screen for the user. Kind of like the add-ins that keep track of user names and passwords entered manually.

FFRF[^]

Michael Bisbjerg

Have you tried services? Comes with .Net 3.0. Allows for a .Net app to adimister a service, that an app can connect to and exchange information in the form of strings.