How to write and read multiple types of data using Data Writer and Data Reader

Question

I need to write a file length, file data and its type as a string value to the stream.

I’m using the following code with Data Writer.
writer = new DataWriter(socket.OutputStream);

// if we have a StorageFile named file  
using (var stream=await file.OpenStreamForReadAsync())  
using(var ms=new MemoryStream())  
{  
    await stream.CopyToAsync(ms);  
    var bytes = ms.ToArray();  
    writer.WriteUInt32(Convert.ToUInt32(bytes.Length));  
    writer.WriteString("Video");  
    writer.WriteBytes(ms.ToArray());  
    await writer.StoreAsync();  
}  
  

And I tried to read that value using Data Reader as following.

try  
{  
    while (true)  
    {  
	//Read first 4 bytes(length of the subsequent string).  
	uint sizeFieldCount = await reader.LoadAsync(sizeof(uint));  
  	if (sizeFieldCount != sizeof(uint))  
        {  
           // The underlying socket was closed before we were able to read the whole data.  
            return;  
        }  
  
	// Read the string.  
	uint fileLength = reader.ReadUInt32();  
	uint actualFileLength = await reader.LoadAsync(fileLength);  
	if (fileLength != actualFileLength)  
    	{  
	    // The underlying socket was closed before we were able to read the whole data.  
	    return;  
	}  
	String type = reader.ReadString(5);  
  
 	var bytes = new byte[actualFileLength];  
	reader.ReadBytes(bytes);  
                  
	 var file = await ApplicationData.Current.LocalFolder.CreateFileAsync(fileName, CreationCollisionOption.ReplaceExisting);  
         await FileIO.WriteBytesAsync(file, bytes);  
    }  
}  
catch (Exception exception)  
{  
       // If this is an unknown status it means that the error is fatal and retry will likely fail.  
  
}  
  

But the problem is that when I’m reading the data using Data Reader, I can't read file data. It throws System Exception.
Is there a way to write and read multiple types of data using Data Writer and Data Reader?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to our Microsoft Q&A platform!

First, the reason why you have the error is that the DataReader is not fully loaded.
Your data consists of uint, string and byte array.

uint fileLength = reader.ReadUInt32();  
uint actualFileLength = await reader.LoadAsync(fileLength);  

This above code indicates that you loaded the fileLength length data in the DataReader, but in fact, this part of the data contains a string value of length 5.
So when you read the string value, the remaining data is not enough to fill your byte array, as a result, you will get an error.
To meet your needs, you need to call LoadAsync method twice.
Like this:

uint sizeFieldCount = await reader.LoadAsync(sizeof(uint));  
if (sizeFieldCount != sizeof(uint))  
{   
    return;  
}  
uint fileLength = reader.ReadUInt32();  
// Read the string.  
await reader.LoadAsync(5);  
string type = reader.ReadString(5);  
// Read the bytes.  
uint actualFileLength = await reader.LoadAsync(fileLength);  
if (fileLength != actualFileLength)  
{  
    return;  
}  
var bytes = new byte[actualFileLength];  
reader.ReadBytes(bytes);  

Thanks