Standalone EXE in VB6

"Wog*George" <wog-NotThisBit-george@amd-p.com>'s wild
thoughts were released on Wed, 20 Dec 2006 11:32:18 GMT
bearing the following fruit:

Quote: >I need to create an EXE that is truly "standalone". By that, I mean the >executable file is all that's required for the application to run. My app >has a button that fires up a common control (to select a file), and this >seems to be my stumbling block. When I try to run my program on another >machine, it complains that comdlg32.ocx is not registered properly. > >Short of creating my own form and writing my own code to browse for a file, >can VB6 create a fully self-contained EXE that uses a common control and can >simply be run without the need for the program to be installed? It was >suggested to me that VB6 was what I needed (was using VB5 prior to now), so >I bought an old copy of VB6 Enterprise especially for the occasion. Have I >been misled?

You've been mislead.

What do you have against creating a setup program though?





Jan Hyde (VB MVP)

--
Aorta: Something you should do. (Stan Kegel)

Wog George wrote:

Quote: I need to create an EXE that is truly "standalone". By that, I mean the executable file is all that's required for the application to run. My app has a button that fires up a common control (to select a file), and this seems to be my stumbling block. When I try to run my program on another machine, it complains that comdlg32.ocx is not registered properly. > Short of creating my own form and writing my own code to browse for a file, can VB6 create a fully self-contained EXE that uses a common control and can simply be run without the need for the program to be installed? It was suggested to me that VB6 was what I needed (was using VB5 prior to now), so I bought an old copy of VB6 Enterprise especially for the occasion. Have I been misled?

Common Controls is NOT the same as Common Dialogs.
The file browse dialog is one of the latter and a LOT easier to create
without the OCX than a common Control is.

There are plenty of examples that use the Common Dialog API directly:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...mmon+dialog+api

Please note that any EXE created in VB6 still has a dependency on the
VB6 runtimes, but they exist on pretty much every computer now anyway
(and are included by default on XP and above)

--
Dean Earley (dean.earley@icode.co.uk)
i-Catcher Development Team

iCode Systems

Wog George wrote:

Quote: I need to create an EXE that is truly "standalone". By that, I mean the executable file is all that's required for the application to run.

As a VB6 executable will at least need MSVBVM60.DLL, this is impossible.
BUT, if you put this DLL in the same directory as the executable (or in
another path that is searched for execution, like C:\windows\), it will
run. So you can write an installer in VB6 without having to install your
installer.
That is, if the programmer did not add any other dependencies. Trouble
is, that the IDE sometimes adds dependencies without warning you. Just
check the project properties and remove anything you will not need.

Quote: My app has a button that fires up a common control (to select a file), and this seems to be my stumbling block. When I try to run my program on another machine, it complains that comdlg32.ocx is not registered properly.

If you use an object for a file dialog, you do have a dependency. You
can avoid this by using an API call instead of a CommonDialog control
and save yourself a lot of troubles.

Quote: Short of creating my own form and writing my own code to browse for a file, can VB6 create a fully self-contained EXE that uses a common control and can simply be run without the need for the program to be installed? It was suggested to me that VB6 was what I needed (was using VB5 prior to now), so I bought an old copy of VB6 Enterprise especially for the occasion. Have I been misled?

Probably. There's little difference between VB5 and VB6 in this respect.

Best regards

"Jan Hyde" <StellaDrinker@REMOVE.ME.uboot.comwrote in message
news:rqbio2lmoenrrpe32ve0s3ei2s2fm5cogr@4ax.com...

Quote: "Wog George" <wog-NotThisBit-george@amd-p.com>'s wild thoughts were released on Wed, 20 Dec 2006 11:32:18 GMT bearing the following fruit: > Quote: >>I need to create an EXE that is truly "standalone". By that, I mean the >>executable file is all that's required for the application to run. My app >>has a button that fires up a common control (to select a file), and this >>seems to be my stumbling block. When I try to run my program on another >>machine, it complains that comdlg32.ocx is not registered properly. >> >>Short of creating my own form and writing my own code to browse for a >>file, >>can VB6 create a fully self-contained EXE that uses a common control and >>can >>simply be run without the need for the program to be installed? It was >>suggested to me that VB6 was what I needed (was using VB5 prior to now), >>so >>I bought an old copy of VB6 Enterprise especially for the occasion. Have >>I >>been misled? > You've been mislead. > What do you have against creating a setup program though? > >

The program will be run on a couple of PC's in a corporate environment. The
users don't have administration rights to install the application, and the
project would be over by the time I went through the flaming hoops to get it
released through official channels. The idea was to just copy the file to
the users home directory or even run it from a flash drive.

All the program does is parse a huge text file and report the bits that we
are interested in. It started life as VBA in Word 2003, but it was somewhat
cumbersome and became more cumbersome as I added more features. I just
picked up the code, dumped it into VB5, and through a form over the top of
it. It seemed like a marvellous idea at the time, but now I can only run it
at home.

--
George
"In the outside world I am a simple geologist, but in here I am Falcor,
Defender of the Alliance." - Randy Marsh - 4 October 2006

"Dean Earley" <dean.earley@icode.co.ukwrote in message
news:45893f79$0$2447$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...

Quote: Wog George wrote: Quote: >I need to create an EXE that is truly "standalone". By that, I mean the >executable file is all that's required for the application to run. My >app has a button that fires up a common control (to select a file), and >this seems to be my stumbling block. When I try to run my program on >another machine, it complains that comdlg32.ocx is not registered >properly. >> >Short of creating my own form and writing my own code to browse for a >file, can VB6 create a fully self-contained EXE that uses a common >control and can simply be run without the need for the program to be >installed? It was suggested to me that VB6 was what I needed (was using >VB5 prior to now), so I bought an old copy of VB6 Enterprise especially >for the occasion. Have I been misled? > Common Controls is NOT the same as Common Dialogs. The file browse dialog is one of the latter and a LOT easier to create without the OCX than a common Control is. > There are plenty of examples that use the Common Dialog API directly: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...mmon+dialog+api > Please note that any EXE created in VB6 still has a dependency on the VB6 runtimes, but they exist on pretty much every computer now anyway (and are included by default on XP and above) > >

Thanks very much for that. I'll give that a go and see where I end up.

--
George
"If I don't see you in the future, I'll see you in the past" - Tommy Bolin -
Melbourne 1975

"Dikkie Dik" <nospam@nospam.orgwrote in message
news:45898733$0$21920$bf4948fe@news.tele2.nl...

Quote: Wog George wrote: Quote: >I need to create an EXE that is truly "standalone". By that, I mean the >executable file is all that's required for the application to run. > As a VB6 executable will at least need MSVBVM60.DLL, this is impossible. BUT, if you put this DLL in the same directory as the executable (or in another path that is searched for execution, like C:\windows\), it will run. So you can write an installer in VB6 without having to install your installer. That is, if the programmer did not add any other dependencies. Trouble is, that the IDE sometimes adds dependencies without warning you. Just check the project properties and remove anything you will not need. > Quote: > My app has a button that fires up a common control (to select a file), >and this seems to be my stumbling block. When I try to run my program on >another machine, it complains that comdlg32.ocx is not registered >properly. > If you use an object for a file dialog, you do have a dependency. You can avoid this by using an API call instead of a CommonDialog control and save yourself a lot of troubles. >

I wanted a dialog and did what looked like the right thing. It certainly
worked from a development perspective. The API path to happiness is the
next one that I'll travel.

Quote: Quote: >Short of creating my own form and writing my own code to browse for a >file, can VB6 create a fully self-contained EXE that uses a common >control and can simply be run without the need for the program to be >installed? It was suggested to me that VB6 was what I needed (was using >VB5 prior to now), so I bought an old copy of VB6 Enterprise especially >for the occasion. Have I been misled? > Probably. There's little difference between VB5 and VB6 in this respect. >

VB6 was probably not a complete waste anyway, because it can do a few more
things or do things in better or nicer ways than VB5. It just seems a bit
odd that I bought the Enterprise Edition to create a 94kB file, but that's
the version that became available at the same time that I went looking.

Thanks for the reply, and merry Christmas to all who stumble across this
thread.

--
George
"You can just hang outside in the sun all day tossing a ball around, or you
can sit at your computer and do something that matters." - Eric Cartman - 4
October 2006

Quote: Best regards

"Wog George" <wog-NotThisBit-george@amd-p.comwrote in message
news:99qih.11276$HU.70@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

Quote: > > I just picked up the code, dumped it into VB5, and through a form over the top of it. > >

Maybe even threw a form over it too...

--
George
"Strike me down while you can, but it won't make your dried up ovaries any
more fertile." - Eric Cartman - 3 May 2006

On Wed, 20 Dec 2006 11:32:18 GMT, "Wog*George"
<wog-NotThisBit-george@amd-p.comwrote:

Quote: >I need to create an EXE that is truly "standalone". By that, I mean the >executable file is all that's required for the application to run. My app >has a button that fires up a common control (to select a file), and this >seems to be my stumbling block. When I try to run my program on another >machine, it complains that comdlg32.ocx is not registered properly.

Quote: >Short of creating my own form and writing my own code to browse for a file, >can VB6 create a fully self-contained EXE that uses a common control and can >simply be run without the need for the program to be installed? It was >suggested to me that VB6 was what I needed (was using VB5 prior to now), so >I bought an old copy of VB6 Enterprise especially for the occasion. Have I >been misled?

You have been misled.

VB5 is fine for what you are doing
- VB6 is VB5 with a few more bells and whistles

As others have pointed out, you can use the API
- I ran into exactly the same problem, as I refuse to use OCXes

Get the downloadable API Guide (packed with examples) from
http://www.mentalis.org/agnet/

You'll probably find an OpenFile API implementation on Rany's site
http://vbnet.mvps.org/

"Dean Earley" <dean.earley@icode.co.ukwrote in message
news:45893f79$0$2447$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...

Quote: Wog George wrote: Quote: >I need to create an EXE that is truly "standalone". By that, I mean the >executable file is all that's required for the application to run. My >app has a button that fires up a common control (to select a file), and >this seems to be my stumbling block. When I try to run my program on >another machine, it complains that comdlg32.ocx is not registered >properly. >> >Short of creating my own form and writing my own code to browse for a >file, can VB6 create a fully self-contained EXE that uses a common >control and can simply be run without the need for the program to be >installed? It was suggested to me that VB6 was what I needed (was using >VB5 prior to now), so I bought an old copy of VB6 Enterprise especially >for the occasion. Have I been misled? > Common Controls is NOT the same as Common Dialogs. The file browse dialog is one of the latter and a LOT easier to create without the OCX than a common Control is. > There are plenty of examples that use the Common Dialog API directly: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...mmon+dialog+api > Please note that any EXE created in VB6 still has a dependency on the VB6 runtimes, but they exist on pretty much every computer now anyway (and are included by default on XP and above) > >

This is a follow up after my earlier reply. I followed your google search
link, and ended up copying a sample of code from Microsoft and it worked in
my app with very little modification. The control has been deleted, and the
new version of the app is tested, compiled and ready for me to try tomorrow
morning when I get to work.

Thanks again for your help.

--
George
"I just wonder if I could get a baby real quick?" - Hat McCullough - 10 July
2002

"J French" <erewhon@nowhere.ukwrote in message
news:458a42c1.1943680@news.btclick.com...

Quote: On Wed, 20 Dec 2006 11:32:18 GMT, "Wog George" <wog-NotThisBit-george@amd-p.comwrote: > Quote: >>I need to create an EXE that is truly "standalone". By that, I mean the >>executable file is all that's required for the application to run. My app >>has a button that fires up a common control (to select a file), and this >>seems to be my stumbling block. When I try to run my program on another >>machine, it complains that comdlg32.ocx is not registered properly. > Quote: >>Short of creating my own form and writing my own code to browse for a >>file, >>can VB6 create a fully self-contained EXE that uses a common control and >>can >>simply be run without the need for the program to be installed? It was >>suggested to me that VB6 was what I needed (was using VB5 prior to now), >>so >>I bought an old copy of VB6 Enterprise especially for the occasion. Have >>I >>been misled? > You have been misled. > VB5 is fine for what you are doing - VB6 is VB5 with a few more bells and whistles > As others have pointed out, you can use the API - I ran into exactly the same problem, as I refuse to use OCXes >

My problem is now fixed using the API, as suggested.

Quote: Get the downloadable API Guide (packed with examples) from http://www.mentalis.org/agnet/ >

Thanks for the link. I'm sure there'll be lots of fun and headaches in that
lot.

Quote: You'll probably find an OpenFile API implementation on Rany's site http://vbnet.mvps.org/ > >

The more, the merrier.

Thanks

--
George
"I got such a raging clue that I almost shot clue goo all over Joe." - Frank
Hardly - 11 October 2006

Quote: >

On Thu, 21 Dec 2006 08:37:46 GMT, "Wog*George"
<wog-NotThisBit-george@amd-p.comwrote:

<snip>

Quote: Quote: >Get the downloadable API Guide (packed with examples) from >http://www.mentalis.org/agnet/ >>

Quote: >Thanks for the link. I'm sure there'll be lots of fun and headaches in that >lot.

The API Guide is amazingly good
- the examples are simple and work

You'll have a great deal of painless fun with it

yes there is actually, when you use the package and deployment wizard you
can add files like comdlg32.ocx to the package so that when the application
is installed all relevant ocx and dll files are installed on the client
machine as well. alternately, if the destination machine also has the VB6
runtime libraries on it, then you can just port the EXE and it will work
fine because all the OCX and DLL files would already be on the machine.

"Wog George" <wog-NotThisBit-george@amd-p.comwrote in message
news:6b9ih.10947$HU.2692@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

Quote: >I need to create an EXE that is truly "standalone". By that, I mean the >executable file is all that's required for the application to run. My app >has a button that fires up a common control (to select a file), and this >seems to be my stumbling block. When I try to run my program on another >machine, it complains that comdlg32.ocx is not registered properly. > Short of creating my own form and writing my own code to browse for a file, can VB6 create a fully self-contained EXE that uses a common control and can simply be run without the need for the program to be installed? It was suggested to me that VB6 was what I needed (was using VB5 prior to now), so I bought an old copy of VB6 Enterprise especially for the occasion. Have I been misled? > -- George "You can just hang outside in the sun all day tossing a ball around, or you can sit at your computer and do something that matters." - Eric Cartman - 4 October 2006 > >

news:6b9ih.10947$HU.2692@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

Quote: Quote: >I need to create an EXE that is truly "standalone". By that, I >mean the executable file is all that's required for the application > to run. My app has a button that fires up a common control (to >select a file), and this seems to be my stumbling block. When I >try to run my program on another machine, it complains that >comdlg32.ocx is not registered properly. > yes there is actually, when you use the package and deployment wizard you can add files like comdlg32.ocx to the package so that when the application is installed all relevant ocx and dll files are installed on the client machine as well. alternately, if the destination machine also has the VB6 runtime libraries on it, then you can just port the EXE and it will work fine because all the OCX and DLL files would already be on the machine.

That OCX file mentioned is not a standard VB runtime and is NOT
guaranteed to be installed in any circumstance.

--
Dean Earley (dean.earley@icode.co.uk)
i-Catcher Development Team

iCode Systems