ZipStream Control

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The ZipStream control is used to perform compression or decompression.

Syntax

ZipStream

Remarks

The ZipStream control provides a way to compress and decompress streamed data.

Data may be operated on in multiple ways as discussed below. The StreamFormat property specifies the algorithm to us. Possible values are:

• Deflate
• Zlib
• Gzip

CompressBlock and DecompressBlock

The CompressBlock and DecompressBlock methods operate on blocks (chunks) of data. The methods may be used to compress and decompress data as it becomes available.

Note that when using blocks of data the OutputData property is not applicable. Instead data is made available through the CompressedData and DecompressedData events.

If all data is available ahead of time CompressData and DecompressData may be called instead.

Compress Data

Set InputData to the current block to be compressed. Next call CompressBlock to compress the current block. Note that CompressBlock takes a LastBlock parameter. If the block of data is the final block to be compressed set this to True. For all other blocks set this to False.

During compression the CompressedData event will fire with the compressed data. Note that this event may not fire for every call to CompressBlock due to the way the compression algorithm operates. For example:

zipstream.InputDataB = MyDecompressedData; zipstream.CompressBlock(); Data is accumulated inside the CompressedData event: private static void Zipstream_OnCompressedData(object sender, ZipstreamCompressedDataEventArgs e) { DoSomethingWith(e.DataB); }

Note that OutputData is not applicable when compressing block data.

Decompress Data

Set InputData to the current block to be decompressed. Next call DecompressBlock to decompress the current block.

During decompression the DecompressedData event will fire with the decompressed data. Note that this event may not fire for every call to DecompressBlock due to the way the decompression algorithm operates. For example:

zipstream.InputDataB = MyCompressedData; zipstream.DecompressBlock(); Data is accumulated inside the DecompressedData event: private static void Zipstream_OnDecompressedData(object sender, ZipstreamDecompressedDataEventArgs e) { DoSomethingWith(e.DataB); }

Note that OutputData is not applicable when decompressing block data.

CompressData and DecompressData

The CompressData and DecompressData methods operate on the complete blob of data. The entire compressed or decompressed data must be set to InputData before calling either method.

To compress and decompress data in blocks (chunks) see CompressBlock and DecompressBlock.

Compress Data

Set InputData to the decompressed data. This should be the entire data to be compressed. Next call CompressData. After compression OutputData will hold the compressed data. For example:

zipstream.InputDataB = MyDecompressedData; zipstream.CompressData(); MyCompressedData = zipstream.OutputDataB;

In addition to OutputData, the compressed data may also be accumulated within the CompressedData event.

Decompress Data

Set InputData to the compressed data. This should be the entire data to be decompressed. Next call DecompressData. After decompression OutputData will hold the decompressed data. For example:

zipstream.InputDataB = MyCompressedData; zipstream.DecompressData(); MyDecompressedData = zipstream.OutputDataB;

In addition to OutputData, the compressed data may also be accumulated within the DecompressedData event.

Property List

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The following is the full list of the properties of the control with short descriptions. Click on the links for further details.

Method List

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The following is the full list of the methods of the control with short descriptions. Click on the links for further details.

Event List

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The following is the full list of the events fired by the control with short descriptions. Click on the links for further details.

Config Settings

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The following is a list of config settings for the control with short descriptions. Click on the links for further details.

CompressionLevel Property (ZipStream Control)

The compression level to use.

Syntax

zipstreamcontrol.CompressionLevel[=integer]

Default Value

4

Remarks

The compression level to use, from 1 to 6. Higher values will cause the component to compress better; lower values will cause the component to compress faster.

When GetCompressionStream is invoked the stream will be created with the specified compression level. After a stream has been created it is independent of the control, and changing CompressionLevel will have no effect on existing streams.

Data Type

Integer

InputData Property (ZipStream Control)

Specifies the data to compress or decompress.

Syntax

zipstreamcontrol.InputData[=string]

Default Value

""

Remarks

This property specifies the data to compress or decompress.

When decompressing this should be set to the compressed data before calling DecompressData or DecompressBlock.

When compressing this should be set to the decompressed data before calling CompressData or CompressBlock.

When performing operations on multiple chunks of data, note that this property is not automatically cleared after each operation.

To read or write binary data to the property, a Variant (Byte Array) version is provided in .InputDataB.

Data Type

Binary String

OutputData Property (ZipStream Control)

The output data after compression or decompression.

Syntax

zipstreamcontrol.OutputData

Default Value

""

Remarks

This property holds the compressed or decompressed data after CompressData or DecompressData is called.

This property is not applicable when calling CompressBlock or DecompressBlock.

To read or write binary data to the property, a Variant (Byte Array) version is provided in .OutputDataB.

This property is read-only and not available at design time.

Data Type

Binary String

StreamFormat Property (ZipStream Control)

The stream format to use.

Syntax

zipstreamcontrol.StreamFormat[=integer]

Possible Values

sfDeflate(0), 
sfZlib(1), 
sfGzip(2)

Default Value

0

Remarks

The stream format to use, by default Deflate.

All three stream formats use the Deflate algorithm specified in RFC 1951, which is the same algorithm used by Zip. The Zlib stream format adds a two-byte header and an Adler-32 checksum; the Gzip format adds a longer header and a CRC checksum, and is identical to the Gzip file format.

Caution: The terms zlib and deflate are sometimes used interchangeably (which is technically incorrect).

Data Type

Integer

CompressBlock Method (ZipStream Control)

Compresses a block of data.

Syntax

zipstreamcontrol.CompressBlock LastBlock

Remarks

This method compresses the block of data specified by InputData.

The CompressBlock and DecompressBlock methods operate on blocks (chunks) of data. The methods may be used to compress and decompress data as it becomes available.

Note that when using blocks of data the OutputData property is not applicable. Instead data is made available through the CompressedData and DecompressedData events.

If all data is available ahead of time CompressData and DecompressData may be called instead.

Compress Data

Set InputData to the current block to be compressed. Next call CompressBlock to compress the current block. Note that CompressBlock takes a LastBlock parameter. If the block of data is the final block to be compressed set this to True. For all other blocks set this to False.

During compression the CompressedData event will fire with the compressed data. Note that this event may not fire for every call to CompressBlock due to the way the compression algorithm operates. For example:

zipstream.InputDataB = MyDecompressedData; zipstream.CompressBlock(); Data is accumulated inside the CompressedData event: private static void Zipstream_OnCompressedData(object sender, ZipstreamCompressedDataEventArgs e) { DoSomethingWith(e.DataB); }

Note that OutputData is not applicable when compressing block data.

Decompress Data

Set InputData to the current block to be decompressed. Next call DecompressBlock to decompress the current block.

During decompression the DecompressedData event will fire with the decompressed data. Note that this event may not fire for every call to DecompressBlock due to the way the decompression algorithm operates. For example:

zipstream.InputDataB = MyCompressedData; zipstream.DecompressBlock(); Data is accumulated inside the DecompressedData event: private static void Zipstream_OnDecompressedData(object sender, ZipstreamDecompressedDataEventArgs e) { DoSomethingWith(e.DataB); }

Note that OutputData is not applicable when decompressing block data.

CompressData Method (ZipStream Control)

Compresses the specified data.

Syntax

zipstreamcontrol.CompressData 

Remarks

This method compresses the data specified by InputData. After calling this method OutputData holds the compressed data.

The CompressData and DecompressData methods operate on the complete blob of data. The entire compressed or decompressed data must be set to InputData before calling either method.

To compress and decompress data in blocks (chunks) see CompressBlock and DecompressBlock.

Compress Data

Set InputData to the decompressed data. This should be the entire data to be compressed. Next call CompressData. After compression OutputData will hold the compressed data. For example:

zipstream.InputDataB = MyDecompressedData; zipstream.CompressData(); MyCompressedData = zipstream.OutputDataB;

In addition to OutputData, the compressed data may also be accumulated within the CompressedData event.

Decompress Data

Set InputData to the compressed data. This should be the entire data to be decompressed. Next call DecompressData. After decompression OutputData will hold the decompressed data. For example:

zipstream.InputDataB = MyCompressedData; zipstream.DecompressData(); MyDecompressedData = zipstream.OutputDataB;

In addition to OutputData, the compressed data may also be accumulated within the DecompressedData event.

Config Method (ZipStream Control)

Sets or retrieves a configuration setting.

Syntax

zipstreamcontrol.Config ConfigurationString

Remarks

Config is a generic method available in every control. It is used to set and retrieve configuration settings for the control.

These settings are similar in functionality to properties, but they are rarely used. In order to avoid "polluting" the property namespace of the control, access to these internal properties is provided through the Config method.

To set a configuration setting named PROPERTY, you must call Config("PROPERTY=VALUE"), where VALUE is the value of the setting expressed as a string. For boolean values, use the strings "True", "False", "0", "1", "Yes", or "No" (case does not matter).

To read (query) the value of a configuration setting, you must call Config("PROPERTY"). The value will be returned as a string.

DecompressBlock Method (ZipStream Control)

Decompresses a block of data.

Syntax

zipstreamcontrol.DecompressBlock 

Remarks

This method decompresses the block of data specified by InputData.

The CompressBlock and DecompressBlock methods operate on blocks (chunks) of data. The methods may be used to compress and decompress data as it becomes available.

Note that when using blocks of data the OutputData property is not applicable. Instead data is made available through the CompressedData and DecompressedData events.

If all data is available ahead of time CompressData and DecompressData may be called instead.

Compress Data

Set InputData to the current block to be compressed. Next call CompressBlock to compress the current block. Note that CompressBlock takes a LastBlock parameter. If the block of data is the final block to be compressed set this to True. For all other blocks set this to False.

During compression the CompressedData event will fire with the compressed data. Note that this event may not fire for every call to CompressBlock due to the way the compression algorithm operates. For example:

zipstream.InputDataB = MyDecompressedData; zipstream.CompressBlock(); Data is accumulated inside the CompressedData event: private static void Zipstream_OnCompressedData(object sender, ZipstreamCompressedDataEventArgs e) { DoSomethingWith(e.DataB); }

Note that OutputData is not applicable when compressing block data.

Decompress Data

Set InputData to the current block to be decompressed. Next call DecompressBlock to decompress the current block.

During decompression the DecompressedData event will fire with the decompressed data. Note that this event may not fire for every call to DecompressBlock due to the way the decompression algorithm operates. For example:

zipstream.InputDataB = MyCompressedData; zipstream.DecompressBlock(); Data is accumulated inside the DecompressedData event: private static void Zipstream_OnDecompressedData(object sender, ZipstreamDecompressedDataEventArgs e) { DoSomethingWith(e.DataB); }

Note that OutputData is not applicable when decompressing block data.

DecompressData Method (ZipStream Control)

Decompresses the specified data.

Syntax

zipstreamcontrol.DecompressData 

Remarks

This method decompresses the data specified by InputData. After calling this method OutputData holds the decompressed data.

The CompressData and DecompressData methods operate on the complete blob of data. The entire compressed or decompressed data must be set to InputData before calling either method.

To compress and decompress data in blocks (chunks) see CompressBlock and DecompressBlock.

Compress Data

Set InputData to the decompressed data. This should be the entire data to be compressed. Next call CompressData. After compression OutputData will hold the compressed data. For example:

zipstream.InputDataB = MyDecompressedData; zipstream.CompressData(); MyCompressedData = zipstream.OutputDataB;

In addition to OutputData, the compressed data may also be accumulated within the CompressedData event.

Decompress Data

Set InputData to the compressed data. This should be the entire data to be decompressed. Next call DecompressData. After decompression OutputData will hold the decompressed data. For example:

zipstream.InputDataB = MyCompressedData; zipstream.DecompressData(); MyDecompressedData = zipstream.OutputDataB;

In addition to OutputData, the compressed data may also be accumulated within the DecompressedData event.

Reset Method (ZipStream Control)

Resets the control.

Syntax

zipstreamcontrol.Reset 

Remarks

Reset resets the state of the control. All properties will be set to their default values, and any files open will be closed.

CompressedData Event (ZipStream Control)

This event fires with compressed data.

Syntax

Sub zipstreamcontrol_CompressedData(Data As String)

Remarks

The CompressedData event fires as compressed data is available when CompressData or CompressBlock is called. This may fire one or more times when data is compressed.

Data holds the current block of compressed data.

DecompressedData Event (ZipStream Control)

This event fires with decompressed data.

Syntax

Sub zipstreamcontrol_DecompressedData(Data As String)

Remarks

The DecompressedData event fires as compressed data is available when DecompressData or DecompressBlock is called. This may fire one or more times as data is decompressed.

Data holds the current block of decompressed data.

Error Event (ZipStream Control)

Information about errors during data delivery.

Syntax

Sub zipstreamcontrol_Error(ErrorCode As Integer, Description As String)

Remarks

The Error event is fired in case of exceptional conditions during message processing. Normally the control fails with an error.

ErrorCode contains an error code and Description contains a textual description of the error. For a list of valid error codes and their descriptions, please refer to the Error Codes section.

Config Settings (ZipStream Control)

The control accepts one or more of the following configuration settings. Configuration settings are similar in functionality to properties, but they are rarely used. In order to avoid "polluting" the property namespace of the control, access to these internal properties is provided through the Config method.

No configuration settings defined.

Base Config Settings

Trappable Errors (ZipStream Control)

Note that the streams returned by GetCompressionStream and GetDecompressionStream will throw standard IOExceptions in case of error.

ZipStream Errors