VB.NET: Using Netsh to import and export Wireless Settings

Article
1/17/2024

Introduction

Wireless settings can be exported and imported using netsh.

In this article, we will refer to the wlan (wireless local area network) part of the netsh command line program for the actions explained.

Besides importing and exporting profiles and their wireless information, other actions can be performed such as: deleting wireless profiles (also called networks), blocking certain networks from being showing up in the wireless connections list, etc.

One example is "netsh wlan delete" will delete a wireless network.

Next, let's see the form setup so everyone reading the article can understand how the project was designed before I step into the code.

References

Source code is located here: http://jeffsblogcodesamples.codeplex.com in the downloads section under Exporting and Importing Netsh Wireless Settings

This is an authorised copy of the forum post from codeproject here: http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/696520/Exporting-and-Importing-Wireless-Settings-Using-Ne.

Setup Of Project

For this project I have 2 forms in the setup of the project.

For importing, I have Form1 which imports the data using an open file dialog box which can accept multiple items.

For exporting profiles, the Profiles form exports specific profiles the user checks from the checked list box.

Figure 1 is the design of Form1 and Figure 2 shows the design of the Profiles form.

The profiles form is used to display all the wireless profiles installed on the computer. After a person checks off the profiles they want export into an xml file netsh saves that file to the XML settings export path chose back on Form1.

Figure 1 - Form 1 Design (could also call it Wifi Backup Form)

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/vb/696520/form1.jpg

Figure 2 - Profiles Form Design (or Profile selection form)

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/vb/696520/profile.jpg

The Code

First, I will go over the importation code which is very simple. The import SSID and Network Profile Information button (also called BtnImport) imports the wireless information from XML information files. Below in Figure 3, I show the BtnImport_click event code that does multiple or single profile importation in one click. In Figure 4, I show the BtnExport_Click event which opens the Profiles Form and allows the user to select the profiles to export. In Figure 5, I am loading the profiles in the Profiles_Load event which fills the checkedlistbox with items. In Figure 6, I show the code for BtnSelectProfiles_Click event (the only button in figure 2).

Figure 3 - BtnImport_Click event

Private Sub  BtnImport_Click(sender As Object, e As  EventArgs) Handles BtnImport.Click
 Dim result As System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult



 'only import xml files because that is all the command will accept.
 OpenFileDialog1.Filter = "Xml Files (*.xml)|*.xml;"
 OpenFileDialog1.Multiselect = True
 result = OpenFileDialog1.ShowDialog()
 If result = Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK Then
 If OpenFileDialog1.FileName <> "" Then
 
 Dim importprocess As Process = New Process
 'importprocess.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = True
 importprocess.StartInfo.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden
 'importprocess.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = False
 ' importprocess.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = True
 If OpenFileDialog1.FileNames.Length >= 2 Then
 For j As Integer  = 0 To  OpenFileDialog1.FileNames.Length - 1
 importprocess = Process.Start("c:\Windows\System32\netsh.exe", _
 "wlan add profile file=" + Chr(34) + _
 OpenFileDialog1.FileNames.GetValue(j) + Chr(34) + " user=current")
 Next j
 Else
 TxtOpenPath.Text = OpenFileDialog1.FileName
 importprocess = Process.Start("C:\Windows\System32\netsh.exe", _
 "wlan add profile file=" + Chr(34) + _
 OpenFileDialog1.FileName + Chr(34) + " user=current")
 System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(2000)
 End If
 End If
 End If
End Sub

Description:

The BtnImport_Click event imports wireless profile information from an XML file to your

computer to avoid having to perform a procedure like reentering a wireless password

or setting up settings to connect to a wireless network.

This includes but is not limited to: wireless passphrase, security type, encryption type, etc.

BtnExport_Click event

Private Sub BtnExport_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles BtnExport.Click Dim result As System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult  result = FolderBrowserDialog1.ShowDialog() If result = Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK Then If FolderBrowserDialog1.SelectedPath <> "" Then TxtSavePath.Text = FolderBrowserDialog1.SelectedPath TxtSavePath.Enabled = False Profiles.Show() End If End IfEnd Sub

  Description:

The BtnExport_Click event allows you to choose what folder the profile

information will be stored in and launches the profiles form which does

the job of exporting the information to xml files.

Profiles_Load Event

Private Sub  Profiles_Load(sender As Object, e As  EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
 ' Dim Profiles As List(Of String) = New List(Of String)
 Dim tempstr As String
 Dim tmpstr1 As String
 Dim tmpstr2 As String
 Dim i As Integer
 Dim wifistart As ProcessStartInfo = New ProcessStartInfo
 Dim wifiprofiles As Process = New Process
 Dim baddata As String
 Dim profilesread As StreamReader
 wifistart.CreateNoWindow = True
 wifistart.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden
 wifistart.FileName = "netsh"
 wifistart.Arguments = "wlan show profiles"
 wifistart.UseShellExecute = False
 wifistart.RedirectStandardOutput = True
 wifiprofiles = Process.Start(wifistart)
 
 Dim profilefile As StreamReader = wifiprofiles.StandardOutput
 If File.Exists(Application.StartupPath + "\Profiles.wpro") Then
 File.Delete(Application.StartupPath + "\Profiles.wpro")
 End If
 Dim profilewrite As StreamWriter = _
 New StreamWriter(Application.StartupPath + "\Profiles.wpro", False)
 Do Until  wifiprofiles.StandardOutput.EndOfStream
 profilewrite.WriteLine(profilefile.ReadLine)
 Loop
 profilewrite.Close()
 wifiprofiles.StandardOutput.Close()
 
 profilesread = New  StreamReader(Application.StartupPath + "\Profiles.wpro")
 Do While  Not profilesread.EndOfStream
 
 If i >= 9 Then
 tempstr = profilesread.ReadLine
 If tempstr.IndexOf("All User Profile") <> -1 Then
 tmpstr2 = tempstr.Remove(tempstr.IndexOf("All"), 22)
 ' MsgBox("All user profile replace:" + tmpstr2)
 lstNetworkProfiles.Items.Add(tmpstr2)
 End If
 If tempstr.IndexOf("Current User Profile") <> -1 Then
 tmpstr1 = tempstr.Remove(tempstr.IndexOf("Current"), 22)
 lstNetworkProfiles.Items.Add(tmpstr1)
 ' MsgBox("current user profile replace:" + tmpstr1)

Description:

The Profile_Load event saves all the profile names of profiles that could be exported to the file "Profiles.wpro". Then it adds them to a checked list box to be selected.

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