API call

[Ian]

I use an Active X control on an Access 97 database that displays pictures,
its called DbPix. My problem occurs when a user tries to open a form or
report that uses this control without first running the exe that installs
and registers this control. This creates a nasty error message, I would like
to display my own message instead asking them to run the exe. My question is
how can I check this control has been installed, I believe it is possible to
check the register using an API call but I cannot find much in the help file
as to how this is achieved.

I have considered having the Active X control auto install with my
application, however as this installs a program that I have no control over
and have no idea what potential there might be to damage any other programs,
I prefer to give the user the option of using this control or not.

Regards

[Jack MacDonald]

Look at the Application.References collection -- it contains
information about all the references used by your application,
including the broken reference to your ActiveX control.

Additional information:
http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/referencetroubles.htm
http://members.rogers.com/douglas.j....nceErrors.html
On Sun, 14 Nov 2004 13:33:44 GMT, "Ian" <ia********@ntlworld.com>
wrote:

I use an Active X control on an Access 97 database that displays pictures,
its called DbPix. My problem occurs when a user tries to open a form or
report that uses this control without first running the exe that installs
and registers this control. This creates a nasty error message, I would like
to display my own message instead asking them to run the exe. My question is
how can I check this control has been installed, I believe it is possible to
check the register using an API call but I cannot find much in the help file
as to how this is achieved.

I have considered having the Active X control auto install with my
application, however as this installs a program that I have no control over
and have no idea what potential there might be to damage any other programs,
I prefer to give the user the option of using this control or not.

Regards

**********************
ja**************@telusTELUS.net
remove uppercase letters for true email
http://www.geocities.com/jacksonmacd/ for info on MS Access security

[Exponent]

You could check the registry to see if the control is already installed, using functionality like the following:
http://www.mvps.org/access/api/api0015.htm

If required the installer could be included in the database and extracted and run when needed.

If your app needs this component, and you are going to install it on demand anyway, I don't see why you
don't install it with your app. Setting up an application and deliberately excluding it's dependencies
seems to be asking for trouble and adding unnecessary complications IMHO.

"Ian" <ia********@ntlworld.com> wrote:

I use an Active X control on an Access 97 database that displays pictures,
its called DbPix. My problem occurs when a user tries to open a form or
report that uses this control without first running the exe that installs
and registers this control. This creates a nasty error message, I would like
to display my own message instead asking them to run the exe. My question is
how can I check this control has been installed, I believe it is possible to
check the register using an API call but I cannot find much in the help file
as to how this is achieved.

I have considered having the Active X control auto install with my
application, however as this installs a program that I have no control over
and have no idea what potential there might be to damage any other programs,
I prefer to give the user the option of using this control or not.

Regards