I have attached a working VB implementation that I coded myself.

App reads an input file (customer master), processes it and outputs to a data file which is used

as input to another software.

I need to do this in C# urgently.

Questions:
1. Is it possible?
2. How do I go about it in the most elegant and efficient way?
3. A working example would be appreciated!!!

I read many newsgroups and forums and microsoft website, and they talk about marshalling and

reflection and ad infinitum.. I can not make sense of it all...

Can you help me?

Sincerely,
Jack

===================

VERSION 5.00
Begin VB.Form frmMain
   BackColor = &H00FFC0C0&
   Caption = "MVRS Data File Translator"
   ClientHeight = 4530
   ClientLeft = 60
   ClientTop = 345
   ClientWidth = 8535
   LinkTopic = "Form1"
   ScaleHeight = 4530
   ScaleWidth = 8535
   StartUpPosition = 3 'Windows Default
   Begin VB.Frame Frame1
      BackColor = &H00FFC0C0&
      Caption = "Choose a task:"
      BeginProperty Font
         Name = "Times New Roman"
         Size = 12
         Charset = 0
         Weight = 400
         Underline = 0 'False
         Italic = 0 'False
         Strikethrough = 0 'False
      EndProperty
      Height = 3615
      Left = 120
      TabIndex = 2
      Top = 120
      Width = 8295
      Begin VB.OptionButton Option4
         BackColor = &H00FFC0C0&
         Caption = "="
         BeginProperty Font
            Name = "Times New Roman"
            Size = 12
            Charset = 0
            Weight = 400
            Underline = 0 'False
            Italic = 0 'False
            Strikethrough = 0 'False
         EndProperty
         Height = 405
         Left = 240
         TabIndex = 6
         Top = 2760
         Width = 7935
      End
      Begin VB.OptionButton Option3
         BackColor = &H00FFC0C0&
         Caption = "="
         BeginProperty Font
            Name = "Times New Roman"
            Size = 12
            Charset = 0
            Weight = 400
            Underline = 0 'False
            Italic = 0 'False
            Strikethrough = 0 'False
         EndProperty
         Height = 405
         Left = 240
         TabIndex = 5
         Top = 2040
         Width = 7935
      End
      Begin VB.OptionButton Option2
         BackColor = &H00FFC0C0&
         Caption = "="
         BeginProperty Font
            Name = "Times New Roman"
            Size = 12
            Charset = 0
            Weight = 400
            Underline = 0 'False
            Italic = 0 'False
            Strikethrough = 0 'False
         EndProperty
         Height = 405
         Left = 240
         TabIndex = 4
         Top = 1320
         Width = 7935
      End
      Begin VB.OptionButton Option1
         BackColor = &H00FFC0C0&
         Caption = "Parse AML and Generate Host Download File (SPECTRUM ---> MVRS)"
         BeginProperty Font
            Name = "Times New Roman"
            Size = 12
            Charset = 0
            Weight = 400
            Underline = 0 'False
            Italic = 0 'False
            Strikethrough = 0 'False
         EndProperty
         Height = 405
         Left = 240
         TabIndex = 3
         Top = 600
         Width = 7935
      End
   End
   Begin VB.CommandButton btnExit
      Caption = "Exit"
      BeginProperty Font
         Name = "Times New Roman"
         Size = 12
         Charset = 0
         Weight = 400
         Underline = 0 'False
         Italic = 0 'False
         Strikethrough = 0 'False
      EndProperty
      Height = 405
      Left = 6840
      TabIndex = 1
      Top = 3960
      Width = 1575
   End
   Begin VB.CommandButton btnBegin
      Caption = "Begin"
      BeginProperty Font
         Name = "Times New Roman"
         Size = 12
         Charset = 0
         Weight = 400
         Underline = 0 'False
         Italic = 0 'False
         Strikethrough = 0 'False
      EndProperty
      Height = 405
      Left = 4200
      TabIndex = 0
      Top = 3960
      Width = 2535
   End
End
Attribute VB_Name = "frmMain"
Attribute VB_GlobalNameSpace = False
Attribute VB_Creatable = False
Attribute VB_PredeclaredId = True
Attribute VB_Exposed = False
Option Explicit

Private Type mvFileHeaderTrailerRecord
  f01_RecordID As String * 3
  f02_TablesIndicator As String * 1
  f03_OpticalProbeRecordIndicator As String * 1
  f04_VersionNumberOfTable As String * 5
  f05_Reserved As String * 3
  f06_NumberOfCycles As String * 2
  f07_OffSiteRecordIndicator As String * 1
  f08_WandRecordIndicator As String * 1
  f09_ExtendedRouteHeaderTrailerFormatIndicator As String * 1
  f10_Pad As String * 108
  f11_CRLF As String * 2
End Type

Private Type mvCycleHeaderTrailerRecord
  f01_RecordID As String * 3
  f02_CycleIDNumber As String * 2
  f03_NumberOfRoutesInCycle As String * 4
  f04_CycleDate As String * 8
  f05_Pad As String * 109
  f06_CRLF As String * 2
End Type

Private Type mvStandardRouteHeaderTrailerRecord
  f01_RecordID As String * 3
  f02_RouteNumber As String * 8
  f03_SurveyIndicator As String * 1
  f04_RouteMessageIndicator As String * 1
  f05_TotalNumberOfKeys As String * 4
  f06_TotalNumberOfReadingRecords As String * 4
  f07_TotalNumberOfDemandMeters As String * 4
  f08_TotalNumberOfKeyedReadings As String * 4
  f09_TotalNumberOfOpticalProbeReadings As String * 4
  f10_TotalNumberOfOffSiteRadioReadings As String * 4
  f11_TotalNumberOfCustomerRecords As String * 4
  f12_TotalNumberOfMeterRecords As String * 4
  f13_TimeAllottedForRoute As String * 6
  f14_TotalNumberOfGasMeters As String * 4
  f15_TotalNumberOfWaterMeters As String * 4
  f16_TotalNumberOfElectricMeters As String * 4
  f17_TotalNumberOfLocationMeters As String * 4
  f18_TotalNumberOfExtraMeters As String * 4
  f19_Region As String * 2
  f20_Zone As String * 2
  f21_Office As String * 2
  f22_BillCycle As String * 2
  f23_DropCycle As String * 2
  f24_TotalNumberOfRemoteWandReads As String * 4
  f25_MobileAMR As String * 1
  f26_Pad As String * 40
  f27_CRLF As String * 2
End Type

Private Type mvCustomerRecord
  f01_RecordID As String * 3
  f02_RouteNumber As String * 8
  f03_NumberOfMeters As String * 3
  f04_AccountNumber As String * 20
  f05_Name As String * 20
  f06_Address1 As String * 20
  f07_Address2 As String * 20
  f08_Reserved As String * 2
  f09_GroupCode As String * 1
  f10_CustomerInformation As String * 20
  f11_CustomerExtraRecordIndicator As String * 1
  f12_SegmentCode As String * 4
  f13_UtilityID As String * 2
  f14_PassThroughData As String * 1
  f15_Pad As String * 1
  f16_CRLF As String * 2
End Type

Private Type mvMeterRecord
  f01_RecordID As String * 3
  f02_RouteNumber As String * 8
  f03_NumberOfReadings As String * 3
  f04_Reserved As String * 2
  f05_GroupCode As String * 1
  f06_Reserved As String * 8
  f07_SurveyCode1DisplayIndicator As String * 1
  f08_Reserved As String * 2
  f09_SurveyCode2DisplayIndicator As String * 1
  f10_BillCode As String * 1
  f11_MeterStatus As String * 1
  f12_OpticalProbeRecorderID As String * 14
  f13_MeterNumber As String * 12
  f14_Reserved As String * 2
  f15_MeterType As String * 2
  f16_MeterReadSequence As String * 8
  f17_MeterInformation As String * 20
  f18_Reserved As String * 1
  f19_MeterLocation As String * 2
  f20_Reserved As String * 1
  f21_ReadInstruction1 As String * 2
  f22_Reserved As String * 1
  f23_ReadInstruction2 As String * 2
  f24_SpecialMessageDisplayIndicator As String * 1
  f25_Reserved As String * 1
  f26_SpecialMessageIndicator As String * 1
  f27_MeterCategory As String * 1
  f28_LocationExtraMeter As String * 1
  f29_TimeCode As String * 3
  f30_MeterAudit1 As String * 2
  f31_MeterAudit2 As String * 2
  f32_MeterAudit3 As String * 1
  f33_MeterAudit4 As String * 1
  f34_Pad As String * 14
  f35_CRLF As String * 2
End Type

Private Type mvReadingRecord
  f01_RecordID As String * 3
  f02_RouteNumber As String * 8
  f03_TextPrompt As String * 4
  f04_PromptCode As String * 1
  f05_ReadDirection As String * 1
  f06_CompareCode As String * 3
  f07_ValidationCode As String * 3
  f08_Reserved As String * 1
  f09_ChannelNumber As String * 2
  f10_NumberOfDials As String * 2
  f11_NumberOfDecimals As String * 2
  f12_ReadMethod As String * 1
  f13_PreviousReading As String * 10
  f14_High1 As String * 10
  f15_Low1 As String * 10
  f16_MeterConstant As String * 6
  f17_ConstantFlag As String * 1
  f18_HHFPosition As String * 1
  f19_PositiveDialCreep As String * 5
  f20_NumberOfConsecutiveEstimates As String * 1
  f21_Reserved As String * 1
  f22_ReadType As String * 2
  f23_MaximumPercent As String * 6
  f24_MinimumPercent As String * 6
  f25_NegativeDialCreep As String * 5
  f26_Pad As String * 31
  f27_CRLF As String * 2
End Type

Private Sub AccountMasterToMVRS()
 '
 '
 Dim fhr As mvFileHeaderTrailerRecord
 Dim ftr As mvFileHeaderTrailerRecord
 '
 Dim cyhr As mvCycleHeaderTrailerRecord
 Dim cytr As mvCycleHeaderTrailerRecord
 '
 Dim rhr As mvStandardRouteHeaderTrailerRecord
 Dim rtr As mvStandardRouteHeaderTrailerRecord
 '
 Dim cr As mvCustomerRecord
 '
 Dim mr As mvMeterRecord
 '
 Dim rr As mvReadingRecord
 '


 '
 ' File header data
 '
 fhr.f01_RecordID = "FHD"
 fhr.f02_TablesIndicator = "N"
 fhr.f03_OpticalProbeRecordIndicator = "N"
 fhr.f04_VersionNumberOfTable = "00000"
 fhr.f05_Reserved = "RRR"
 fhr.f06_NumberOfCycles = Format(1, "00")
 fhr.f07_OffSiteRecordIndicator = "N"
 fhr.f08_WandRecordIndicator = "N"
 fhr.f09_ExtendedRouteHeaderTrailerFormatIndicator = "N"
 fhr.f10_Pad = String(128, "P")
 fhr.f11_CRLF = Chr(10) + Chr(13)

 '
 ' File trailer data
 '
 ftr = fhr
 ftr.f01_RecordID = "FTR"

 '
 ' Cycle header data
 '
 cyhr.f01_RecordID = "CHD"
 cyhr.f02_CycleIDNumber = Format(1, "00")
 cyhr.f03_NumberOfRoutesInCycle = Format(1, "0000")
 cyhr.f04_CycleDate = Format("1/1/1999", "MMDDYYYY")
 cyhr.f05_Pad = String(109, "P")
 cyhr.f06_CRLF = Chr(10) + Chr(13)

 '
 ' Cycle trailer data
 '
 cytr = cyhr
 cytr.f01_RecordID = "CTR"

 '
 ' Route header data
 '
 rhr.f01_RecordID = "RHD"
 rhr.f02_RouteNumber = "01000001"
 rhr.f03_SurveyIndicator = "N"
 rhr.f04_RouteMessageIndicator = "N"
 rhr.f05_TotalNumberOfKeys = "0000"
 rhr.f06_TotalNumberOfReadingRecords = Format(29, "0000")
 rhr.f07_TotalNumberOfDemandMeters = Format(2, "0000")
 rhr.f08_TotalNumberOfKeyedReadings = Format(2, "0000")
 rhr.f09_TotalNumberOfOpticalProbeReadings = Format(0, "0000")
 rhr.f10_TotalNumberOfOffSiteRadioReadings = Format(0, "0000")
 rhr.f11_TotalNumberOfCustomerRecords = Format(29, "0000")
 rhr.f12_TotalNumberOfMeterRecords = Format(29, "0000")
 rhr.f13_TimeAllottedForRoute = "043015"
 rhr.f14_TotalNumberOfGasMeters = Format(0, "0000")
 rhr.f15_TotalNumberOfWaterMeters = Format(0, "0000")
 rhr.f16_TotalNumberOfElectricMeters = Format(0, "0000")
 rhr.f17_TotalNumberOfLocationMeters = Format(0, "0000")
 rhr.f18_TotalNumberOfExtraMeters = Format(0, "0000")
 rhr.f19_Region = Format(1, "00")
 rhr.f20_Zone = Format(1, "00")
 rhr.f21_Office = Format(1, "00")
 rhr.f22_BillCycle = Format(1, "00")
 rhr.f23_DropCycle = Format(1, "00")
 rhr.f24_TotalNumberOfRemoteWandReads = Format(0, "0000")
 rhr.f25_MobileAMR = ""
 rhr.f26_Pad = String(40, "P")
 rhr.f27_CRLF = Chr(10) + Chr(13)

 '
 ' Route trailer data
 '
 rtr = rhr
 rtr.f01_RecordID = "RTR"

 '
 ' Customer record data
 '
 cr.f01_RecordID = "CUS"
 cr.f02_RouteNumber = "01000001"
 cr.f03_NumberOfMeters = "001"
 LSet cr.f04_AccountNumber = "1243567890-01"
 LSet cr.f05_Name = "CUSTOMER NAME"
 LSet cr.f06_Address1 = "StrNo.StrName."
 LSet cr.f07_Address2 = "Address 2"
 cr.f08_Reserved = "RR"
 cr.f09_GroupCode = "0"
 cr.f10_CustomerInformation = ""
 cr.f11_CustomerExtraRecordIndicator = "N"
 cr.f12_SegmentCode = "0001"
 cr.f13_UtilityID = "01"
 cr.f14_PassThroughData = "0"
 cr.f15_Pad = String(1, "P")
 cr.f16_CRLF = Chr(10) + Chr(13)

 '
 ' Meter record data
 '
 mr.f01_RecordID = "MTR"
 mr.f02_RouteNumber = "01000001"
 mr.f03_NumberOfReadings = "001"
 mr.f04_Reserved = "RR"
 mr.f05_GroupCode = "0"
 mr.f06_Reserved = String(8, "R")
 mr.f07_SurveyCode1DisplayIndicator = "0"
 mr.f08_Reserved = "RR"
 mr.f09_SurveyCode2DisplayIndicator = "0"
 mr.f10_BillCode = "R"
 mr.f11_MeterStatus = "A"
 mr.f12_OpticalProbeRecorderID = ""
 mr.f13_MeterNumber = String(12, "0")
 mr.f14_Reserved = "RR"
 mr.f15_MeterType = "00"
 mr.f16_MeterReadSequence = "10"
 mr.f17_MeterInformation = ""
 mr.f18_Reserved = "R"
 mr.f19_MeterLocation = "00"
 mr.f20_Reserved = "R"
 mr.f21_ReadInstruction1 = "00"
 mr.f22_Reserved = "R"
 mr.f23_ReadInstruction2 = "00"
 mr.f24_SpecialMessageDisplayIndicator = "3"
 mr.f25_Reserved = "R"
 mr.f26_SpecialMessageIndicator = "N"
 mr.f27_MeterCategory = "E"
 mr.f28_LocationExtraMeter = "L"
 mr.f29_TimeCode = "00"
 mr.f30_MeterAudit1 = "YY"
 mr.f31_MeterAudit2 = "YY"
 mr.f32_MeterAudit3 = "Y"
 mr.f33_MeterAudit4 = "Y"
 mr.f34_Pad = String(14, "P")
 mr.f35_CRLF = Chr(10) + Chr(13)

 '
 ' Reading record data
 '
 rr.f01_RecordID = "RDG"
 rr.f02_RouteNumber = "01000001"
 rr.f03_TextPrompt = "KWH "
 rr.f04_PromptCode = "Y"
 rr.f05_ReadDirection = "L"
 rr.f06_CompareCode = "CCC"
 rr.f07_ValidationCode = "099"
 rr.f08_Reserved = "R"
 rr.f09_ChannelNumber = "00"
 rr.f10_NumberOfDials = "05"
 rr.f11_NumberOfDecimals = "00"
 rr.f12_ReadMethod = "K"
 rr.f13_PreviousReading = String(10, "0")
 rr.f14_High1 = String(10, "0")
 rr.f15_Low1 = String(10, "0")
 rr.f16_MeterConstant = "000001"
 rr.f17_ConstantFlag = "0"
 rr.f18_HHFPosition = "1"
 rr.f19_PositiveDialCreep = "00000"
 rr.f20_NumberOfConsecutiveEstimates = "9"
 rr.f21_Reserved = "R"
 rr.f22_ReadType = "00"
 rr.f23_MaximumPercent = "32767"
 rr.f24_MinimumPercent = "32767"
 rr.f25_NegativeDialCreep = "00000"
 rr.f26_Pad = String(31, "P")
 rr.f27_CRLF = Chr(10) + Chr(13)


 '
 ' Create & write data to output file
 '
 Open "HostDownload.DAT" For Binary As #1

 Put #1, , fhr
 Put #1, , cyhr
 Put #1, , rhr
 '
 '

 Dim s As String
 Open "allaml.txt" For Input As #2

 While Not EOF(2)
   Line Input #2, s
   cr.f04_AccountNumber = Split(s, "|")(5)
   cr.f05_Name = Split(s, "|")(7)
   cr.f06_Address1 = Split(s, "|")(10)
   cr.f07_Address2 = Split(s, "|")(11)
   Put #1, , cr
   '
   Put #1, , mr
   '
   rr.f10_NumberOfDials = Split(s, "|")(21)
   rr.f13_PreviousReading = Split(s, "|")(22)
   Put #1, , rr
 Wend
 '
 '
 Put #1, , rtr
 Put #1, , cytr
 Put #1, , ftr

End Sub

Private Sub btnBegin_Click()
 If Option1.Value = True Then
    AccountMasterToMVRS
    MsgBox "Host Download File Generation Complete."
 ElseIf Option2.Value = True Then
    ParseAML
    MsgBox "AML File Parsing Complete."
 ElseIf Option3.Value = True Then
 ElseIf Option4.Value = True Then

 End If

End Sub

Private Sub btnExit_Click()
 End
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Load()
 Option1.Value = True
End Sub

Private Sub ParseAML()
 Dim s As String

  Open "allaml.txt" For Input As #3

 While Not EOF(2)
    Line Input #2, s
    MsgBox Split(s, "|")(5)
 Wend

End Sub