Google Hacks, 2nd Edition

Program Google in VB.NET

Create GUI and console Google search applications with Visual Basic and the .NET framework.

Along with the functionally identical C# version [Hack #99] , the Google Web APIs Developer’s Kit (dotnet/Visual Basic folder) includes a sample Google search in Visual Basic. While you can probably glean just about all you need from the Google Demo Form.vb code, this hack provides basic code for a simple console Google search application without the possible opacity of a full-blown Visual Studio .NET project.

Tip

Compiling and running this hack requires that you have the .NET Framework (http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/downloads/updates/default.aspx) installed.

The Code

Save the following code to a text file called googly.vb:

' googly.vb
' A Google Web API VB.NET console application.
' Usage: googly.exe <query>
' Copyright (c) 2002, Chris Sells.
' No warranties extended. Use at your own risk.
Imports System
Module Googly
  Sub Main(ByVal args As String( ))
    ' Your Google API developer's key.
    Dim googleKey As String = "insert key here" ' Take the query from the command line. If args.Length <> 1 Then Console.WriteLine("Usage: google.exe <query>") Return End If Dim query As String = args(0) ' Create a Google SOAP client proxy, generated by: ' c:\> wsdl.exe /l:vb http://api.google.com/GoogleSearch.wsdl Dim googleSearch As GoogleSearchService = New GoogleSearchService( ) ' Query Google. Dim results As GoogleSearchResult = googleSearch. doGoogleSearch(googleKey, query, ...