Sending SMS using C#.NET through MS SQL Server

Download source code

download full project: Sending-SMS-through-MS-SQL-Server.zip (54.1 kB)

This article is about sending SMS using C#.NET through MS SQL Server. It is intended for web developers with a basic knowledge of the C#.NET and SQL technologies. The reader should be familiar with Microsoft Visual Studio and the C# programming language. The page contains a downloadable source code (see above), a list of aims you can achieve using the code, a list of prerequisites, a description and depiction of the architecture and operation of the system, step-by-step instructions about how to use the code and a detailed interpretation. It also includes a brief summary, answers to frequently asked questions, as well as links to related information.

When to use this code

This code is particularly useful for those who wish to

• add SMS functionality to an application.
• create automated SMS notifications.
• increase application security by adding SMS login.

Prerequisites

The following table lists the software requirements of the system. Note that you can download Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway and .NET Framework 4.8 on the download page.

How it works

To send SMS messages from C#.NET applications, you need to install Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway and Microsoft SQL Server on your computer. Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway will use a GSM phone/modem attached to your PC (with a phone-to-PC data cable) or an IP SMS connection to send messages. Your C#.NET application will insert a row into the database to send messages using the Ozeki NG program. For a better understanding of how it works, please look at the following diagram (Figure 1).

In the diagram you can see a user with the C#.NET application, an SQL Server, Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway, a mobile phone attached to the server computer and a mobile user receiving the message. Wherever the user is, if their C# application is appropriately configured (the configuration requires information related to the MS SQL server), they can compose and send messages to any recipients. After the user's action, the C#.NET application inserts a row with the data of the SMS to be sent, which will be selected by Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway from the database. Ozeki NG will forward the message to the GSM network through a mobile phone attached to the PC with a data cable, and the mobile user will receive the SMS message.

Configure the MS SQL Server

Create a Database user in Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway

Using the code

Understanding the code

The downloadable code inserts the message to be sent into the ozekimessageout database table. Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway periodically checks the table, and if it finds a row where the status is send, it will try to send it. In the script you have to set the server name to where the MS SQL Server is running, the username (specifying who can log in to the MS SQL Server) with the password and the type of the SMS message.

The source code of the example application is structured in the following way:

MainForm.cs:

Shows and handles a "Compose message" button and 2 ListView items for incoming and outgoing messages.

ComposeMessageForm.cs:

Shows and handles the necessary data fields for creating a new message.

DatabaseHandling.cs:

Handles the database and refreshes the 2 ListView items.

Description of the process depicted in Figure 1 above:

Through MainForm.cs in the ComposeMessageForm.cs file, you create the form that requests the sms data. The User fills in the necessaries. The user will be asked to fill in the Recipient and Message text fields. A pop-up messagebox is used to inform the User about error(s) or result(s) of sending the message.

In MainForm.cs file you set the 2 ListView items (view mode and names of columns). In the buttonComposeMessage_Click(...) procedure the ComposeMessageForm is called to compose a new message. After closing that box the 2 ListView items will be refreshed.

MainForm.cs

...
public MainForm()
{
    InitializeComponent();

    listViewOut.View = View.Details;
    listViewOut.ShowItemToolTips = true;
    listViewOut.Columns.Add("ID", 50);
    listViewOut.Columns.Add("Sender", 100);
    listViewOut.Columns.Add("Receiver", 100);
    listViewOut.Columns.Add("Sent time", 100);
    listViewOut.Columns.Add("Received time", 100);
    listViewOut.Columns.Add("Operator", 50);
    listViewOut.Columns.Add("Status", 50);
    listViewOut.Columns.Add("Message type", 50);
    listViewOut.Columns.Add("Message text", 100);

    listViewIn.View = View.Details;
    listViewIn.ShowItemToolTips = true;
    listViewIn.Columns.Add("ID", 50);
    listViewIn.Columns.Add("Sender", 100);
    listViewIn.Columns.Add("Receiver", 100);
    listViewIn.Columns.Add("Sent time", 100);
    listViewIn.Columns.Add("Received time", 100);
    listViewIn.Columns.Add("Operator", 50);
    listViewIn.Columns.Add("Message type", 50);
    listViewIn.Columns.Add("Message text", 100);
}

private void buttonComposeMessage_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    ComposeMessageForm cmf = new ComposeMessageForm();
    cmf.ShowDialog(this);
    updateOutgoingMessages();
    updateIncomingMessages();
}
...

After filling in the fields and clicking the Send button, the application receives the information about the form. In the ComposeMessageForm.cs file, the CheckAndSendMessage() procedure is called by "buttonSend_Click(...)". At the beginning of the procedure, check the data of the textbox fields. The Recipient box is mandatory. If it is empty, the processing will be aborted, and the User will be informed about the error. If the checking is successful, you will insert a new row into the ozekimessageout database table (in DatabaseHandling.insertMessage(...)).

We need the following: the address of the computer running the Microsoft SQL Server [the default address is (local)\SQLExpress ((local) means that MS SQL Server is installed on the same computer on which the C#.NET application is running)], the username (who is authorized to log in to the MS SQL Server and to insert messages, the user's password, the message type (the default is SMS:TEXT), the recipient and the message data.

            ...
private void buttonSend_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    CheckAndSendMessage();
}

private void CheckAndSendMessage()
{
    if (textBoxRecipient.Text == "")
    {
        MessageBox.Show("Recipient field mustn't be empty!",
                    "Incorrect field value");
        return;
    }

    string errorMsg = "";
    DatabaseHandling.insertMessage(textBoxRecipient.Text,
                textBoxMessageText.Text, out errorMsg);

    MessageBox.Show(errorMsg, "Result of inserting message");
}
...

...
public static void insertMessage(string receiver, string messageText,
            out string errorMsg)
{
    Connect(out errorMsg);
    if (errorMsg != "")
       return;

    try
    {
       SqlCommand sqlComm = sqlConn.CreateCommand();
       sqlComm.CommandText = "insert into ozekimessageout " +
                    "(msgtype,receiver,msg,status) " +
                    "values ('SMS:TEXT','" + receiver + "','" +
                    messageText + "','send');";
       if (sqlComm.ExecuteNonQuery() == 0)
       {
            errorMsg = "Insert was UNsuccessful!";
       }
       else
       {
            errorMsg = "Insert was successful!";
       }
    }
    catch (Exception e)
    {
        errorMsg = e.Message;
    }

    CloseConnection();
}
...

...
public static void updateListViewOut(ListView lvOut)
{
    string errorMsg = "";
    Connect(out errorMsg);
    if (errorMsg != "")
        return;

    lvOut.Items.Clear();

    try
    {
        SqlCommand sqlComm = sqlConn.CreateCommand();
        sqlComm.CommandText = "select id,sender,receiver,msg,senttime," +
            "receivedtime,operator,msgtype,status from ozekimessageout;";

        SqlDataReader dr = sqlComm.ExecuteReader();
        if (dr != null)
        {
            while (dr.Read())
            {
                string tmpStr = "";
                tmpStr = (dr.IsDBNull(0)) ? ("") : (dr.GetInt32(0).ToString()); //id
                ListViewItem lvi = new ListViewItem(tmpStr);
                tmpStr = (dr.IsDBNull(1)) ? ("") : (dr.GetString(1)); //sender
                lvi.SubItems.Add(tmpStr);
                tmpStr = (dr.IsDBNull(2)) ? ("") : (dr.GetString(2)); //receiver
                lvi.SubItems.Add(tmpStr);
                tmpStr = (dr.IsDBNull(4)) ? ("") : (dr.GetString(4)); //senttime
                lvi.SubItems.Add(tmpStr);
                tmpStr = (dr.IsDBNull(5)) ? ("") : (dr.GetString(5)); //received time
                lvi.SubItems.Add(tmpStr);
                tmpStr = (dr.IsDBNull(6)) ? ("") : (dr.GetString(6)); //operator
                lvi.SubItems.Add(tmpStr);
                tmpStr = (dr.IsDBNull(8)) ? ("") : (dr.GetString(8)); //status
                lvi.SubItems.Add(tmpStr);
                tmpStr = (dr.IsDBNull(7)) ? ("") : (dr.GetString(7)); //msgtype
                lvi.SubItems.Add(tmpStr);
                tmpStr = (dr.IsDBNull(3)) ? ("") : (dr.GetString(3)); //msg
                lvi.SubItems.Add(tmpStr);
                lvOut.Items.Add(lvi);
            }
            dr.Close();
        }

        sqlConn.Close(); //we close the SQL connection
    }
    catch (Exception)
    {

    }

    CloseConnection();
}
...

Summary

In the article it has been explained how you can add SMS functionality to your website by using the downloadable C#.NET example code. You can freely use and modify it. Using a C#.NET application (and the Ozeki NG - SMS Gateway Server) you can create a lot of useful services (e.g.: you can add SMS functionality to an application, create automated SMS notifications, increase application security by adding SMS login, etc.).

Frequently asked questions

...
sqlComm.CommandText = "insert into ozekimessageout " +
                    "(msgtype,receiver,msg,status) " +
                    "values ('SMS:WAPPUSH','" + receiver + "','" +
                    messageText + "','send');";
...

<si>
<indication href="http://target_address" action="signal-high">
text of description
</indication>
</si>

The action can be one of the following: signal-high, signal-medium, signal-low, signal-none, signal-delete.

    

...
string sender = "+449876543";
sqlComm.CommandText = "insert into ozekimessageout " +
                    "(msgtype,sender,receiver,msg,status) " +
                    "values ('SMS:TEXT','" + sender + "','" + receiver + "','" +
                    messageText + "','send');";
...
   

More information

• C sharp and MS SQL Server
• C sharp datafiled change
• C sharp example running
• C sharp SMS API
• Ozeki NG Installation Guide
• SMS Message Types
• RS232 Serial Cable and Industrial Modems
• IP SMS Gateway
• Message statuses in database
• Database table layout
• Feature list of the Ozeki NG SMS Gateway
• FAQ of the Ozeki NG SMS Gateway