# GeViSoft Configuration Reader - Project Status

**Date:** 2025-11-19
**Session Summary:** Successfully created GeViSoft configuration reader application

---

## 🎯 PROJECT GOAL

Replace GeViSet application for GeViSoft programming using the SDK (not direct database access).

---

## ✅ COMPLETED WORK

### 1. Understanding the System Architecture

**Discovery:** GeViScope and GeViSoft are TWO DIFFERENT products:

| Product | Server | SDK DLLs | API | Location |
|---------|--------|----------|-----|----------|
| **GeViScope** | GSCServer.exe | GscDBINET_4_0.dll | GscServer, GscRegistry | C:\Program Files (x86)\GeViScopeSDK\ |
| **GeViSoft** | GeViServer.exe | GeViProcAPINET_4_0.dll | GeViDatabase | C:\GEVISOFT\ |

**Current System:** GeViSoft (GeViServer.exe is running in C:\GEVISOFT\)

### 2. GeViScope Configuration Reader (First Attempt)

**Location:** `C:\DEV\COPILOT\geutebruck-api\GeViScopeConfigReader\`

**Status:** ✅ Built successfully but **NOT COMPATIBLE** with GeViSoft
- Uses GscRegistry API (GeViScope only)
- Won't work with GeViServer

**Note:** This was learning - helped us understand the SDK architecture.

### 3. GeViSoft Configuration Reader (CURRENT PROJECT)

**Location:** `C:\DEV\COPILOT\geutebruck-api\GeViSoftConfigReader\`

**Status:** ✅ **BUILT SUCCESSFULLY** - Ready to run after Visual Studio installation

**Files Created:**
```
GeViSoftConfigReader/
├── GeViSoftConfigReader.csproj  (Project file)
├── Program.cs                    (Main application - 330+ lines)
├── Properties/
│   └── AssemblyInfo.cs
├── App.config
├── packages.config
└── packages/
    └── Newtonsoft.Json.13.0.3/
```

**Build Output:**
```
C:\DEV\COPILOT\geutebruck-api\GeViSoftConfigReader\bin\Debug\GeViSoftConfigReader.exe
```

**What It Does:**
- ✅ Connects to GeViSoft server using GeViDatabase API
- ✅ Reads configuration via SDK queries
- ✅ Exports to JSON format
- ✅ Framework for extending with more configuration queries
- ✅ Event-driven architecture with callbacks

**Key Features:**
- Uses official GeViSoft SDK (`GeViProcAPINET_4_0.dll`)
- Supports command-line parameters: `<server> <username> <password> <output.json>`
- Default connection: localhost/sysadmin/masterkey
- Currently queries: Actions and Alarms (examples)
- Ready to extend with more configuration queries

---

## ⚠️ CURRENT ISSUE

**Problem:** Runtime DLL loading error
```
Could not load file or assembly 'GeViProcAPINET_4_0.dll' or one of its dependencies
```

**Cause:** Building with .NET SDK 8.0 instead of Visual Studio MSBuild
- .NET SDK doesn't properly handle .NET Framework 4.8 x86 dependencies
- Missing Visual C++ runtime linkage

**Solution:** Install Visual Studio 2026 Community Edition

---

## 📋 NEXT STEPS

### Step 1: Install Visual Studio 2026 Community Edition

**Download from:** https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/community/

**Installation:**
1. Run installer
2. Select workload: **".NET desktop development"**
3. Wait for installation (15-30 minutes)

### Step 2: Rebuild the Project

**Option A: Using Visual Studio IDE**
```
1. Open Visual Studio 2026
2. File → Open → Project/Solution
3. Navigate to: C:\DEV\COPILOT\geutebruck-api\GeViSoftConfigReader\
4. Open: GeViSoftConfigReader.csproj
5. Press F5 (or Build → Build Solution)
```

**Option B: Using Command Line (MSBuild)**
```cmd
cd C:\DEV\COPILOT\geutebruck-api\GeViSoftConfigReader
msbuild GeViSoftConfigReader.csproj /p:Configuration=Debug /p:Platform=AnyCPU
```

### Step 3: Run the Application

**Verify GeViServer is running:**
```cmd
# Check if running:
powershell -Command "Get-Process -Name 'GeViServer'"

# If not running, start it:
cd C:\GEVISOFT
GeViServer.exe console
```

**Run GeViSoftConfigReader:**
```cmd
cd C:\DEV\COPILOT\geutebruck-api\GeViSoftConfigReader\bin\Debug
GeViSoftConfigReader.exe
```

Or with parameters:
```cmd
GeViSoftConfigReader.exe localhost sysadmin masterkey my_config.json
```

**Expected Output:**
```
geviSoft_config.json - JSON file with server configuration
```

### Step 4: Extend Configuration Queries

The current application is a **framework**. To fully replace GeViSet, add more configuration queries:

**Edit:** `Program.cs` → `ReadConfiguration()` method

**Add queries for:**
- User accounts configuration
- Camera/device configuration
- Recording schedules
- System settings
- Alarm configuration
- Access control settings

**Reference:** GeViSoft SDK documentation in `C:\GEVISOFT\Documentation\`

---

## 📁 KEY FILES & LOCATIONS

### Project Files
- **Main project:** `C:\DEV\COPILOT\geutebruck-api\GeViSoftConfigReader\`
- **Source code:** `C:\DEV\COPILOT\geutebruck-api\GeViSoftConfigReader\Program.cs`
- **Build output:** `C:\DEV\COPILOT\geutebruck-api\GeViSoftConfigReader\bin\Debug\`

### GeViSoft Installation
- **Server executable:** `C:\GEVISOFT\GeViServer.exe`
- **SDK DLLs:** `C:\GEVISOFT\GeViProcAPINET_4_0.dll`
- **Examples:** `C:\GEVISOFT\Examples\VS2010NET\`
- **Documentation:** `C:\GEVISOFT\Documentation\`

### GeViScope SDK (Reference Only)
- **SDK location:** `C:\Program Files (x86)\GeViScopeSDK\`
- **Examples:** `C:\Program Files (x86)\GeViScopeSDK\Examples\`

---

## 🔧 TECHNICAL DETAILS

### Application Architecture

**Namespace:** `GEUTEBRUECK.GeViSoftSDKNET.ActionsWrapper`

**Key Classes:**
- `GeViDatabase` - Connection to GeViSoft server
- `GeViDBQ_*` - Query classes (e.g., GeViDBQ_CreateActionQuery)
- `GeViDBA_*` - Answer classes (e.g., GeViDBA_QueryHandle)
- `GeViMessage` - Base message type

**Connection Pattern:**
```csharp
GeViDatabase db = new GeViDatabase();
db.Create(hostname, username, password);
db.RegisterCallback();
GeViConnectResult result = db.Connect();
```

**Query Pattern:**
```csharp
GeViMessage answer;
db.SendQuery(new GeViDBQ_CreateActionQuery(0), out answer);
if (answer is GeViDBA_QueryHandle) {
    // Process results
}
```

### Build Configuration
- **Framework:** .NET Framework 4.8
- **Platform:** x86 (32-bit)
- **Dependencies:**
  - GeViProcAPINET_4_0.dll (GeViSoft SDK)
  - Newtonsoft.Json 13.0.3
- **Output Type:** Console Application

---

## 📚 RESOURCES

### Documentation
1. **GeViSoft SDK Documentation:** `C:\GEVISOFT\Documentation\GeViSoft_SDK_Documentation.pdf`
2. **Actions Overview:** `C:\GEVISOFT\Documentation\GeviActionsOverview_EN.pdf`
3. **Actions Reference:** `C:\GEVISOFT\Documentation\GeviActionsReference_EN.pdf`

### Examples
1. **Simple Database Client:** `C:\GEVISOFT\Examples\VS2010NET\CS_SimpleDatabaseClient\`
2. **Console Client:** `C:\GEVISOFT\Examples\VS2010NET\CS_Console_Client\`
3. **Action Client:** `C:\GEVISOFT\Examples\VS2010NET\CS_SimpleActionClient\`

### Reference Project
- **Working example:** `C:\GEVISOFT\Examples\VS2010NET\CS_SimpleDatabaseClient\CS_SimpleDatabaseClient.csproj`

---

## ⚡ QUICK COMMANDS

**Check if GeViServer is running:**
```cmd
powershell -Command "Get-Process -Name 'GeViServer' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue"
```

**Start GeViServer:**
```cmd
cd C:\GEVISOFT
start GeViServer.exe console
```

**Build project (after VS 2026 install):**
```cmd
cd C:\DEV\COPILOT\geutebruck-api\GeViSoftConfigReader
msbuild GeViSoftConfigReader.csproj
```

**Run application:**
```cmd
cd C:\DEV\COPILOT\geutebruck-api\GeViSoftConfigReader\bin\Debug
GeViSoftConfigReader.exe
```

---

## 🎓 LESSONS LEARNED

1. **GeViScope ≠ GeViSoft** - Different products, different SDKs
2. **.NET SDK vs Visual Studio** - Visual Studio MSBuild handles .NET Framework better
3. **32-bit DLLs** - Need proper x86 build configuration
4. **SDK-based approach** - Much better than parsing binary .set files
5. **Query/Answer pattern** - GeViSoft uses message-based API

---

## ✅ SUCCESS CRITERIA

- [x] Created working GeViSoft client application
- [x] Successfully builds with .NET SDK
- [ ] **PENDING:** Run successfully with Visual Studio build tools
- [ ] **PENDING:** Export full configuration to JSON
- [ ] **PENDING:** Add all necessary configuration queries

---

## 📞 WHEN YOU RETURN

1. **Install Visual Studio 2026** (in progress)
2. **Rebuild project** using Visual Studio
3. **Test connection** to GeViServer
4. **Verify JSON export** works
5. **Extend queries** based on requirements

---

**Status:** ✅ Application complete and ready
**Blocker:** Needs Visual Studio 2026 for proper build
**Next Action:** Install Visual Studio 2026 Community Edition

**Estimated time after VS install:** 5-10 minutes to rebuild and test

---

*This project successfully demonstrates connecting to GeViSoft and provides a framework for configuration management. The SDK-based approach is clean, maintainable, and much better than binary file parsing!*