Compiling a Program for Distribution

[smjmitchell]

Hi All,

I have written a program in VB 6.0 that I would like to distribute to
many users (most likely via freeware / shareware). The program is a
relatively simple and does not call any external DLL's etc - it
compiles to a single EXE. The program runs fine on my computer under
Windows 2000 Professional and a few other machines that I have tried
including two running Windows XP.

Should the same code work on all versions of windows including
95/98/XP etc. Are there any issues that I should be aware of when
compiling the code for distribution of this type ? For instance are
there any particular compiler switches that I should use to ensure
trouble free operation on all machines.

The program draws some simple graphics in a picturebox – nothing
special – just line/circle methods. Are there likely to be any issues
with different graphics cards etc.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve

[J French]

On 27 Dec 2003 03:58:56 -0800, sm*********@yah oo.com (smjmitchell)
wrote:

Hi All,

I have written a program in VB 6.0 that I would like to distribute to
many users (most likely via freeware / shareware). The program is a
relatively simple and does not call any external DLL's etc - it
compiles to a single EXE. The program runs fine on my computer under
Windows 2000 Professional and a few other machines that I have tried
including two running Windows XP.

Should the same code work on all versions of windows including
95/98/XP etc. Are there any issues that I should be aware of when
compiling the code for distribution of this type ? For instance are
there any particular compiler switches that I should use to ensure
trouble free operation on all machines.
Best turn on all the Debug switches
- and leave them on
- code that works ... runs faster than stuff with mysterious errors

The program draws some simple graphics in a picturebox – nothing
special – just line/circle methods. Are there likely to be any issues
with different graphics cards etc.
Probably not, but make sure you work with Pixels rather than TWIPs
- I also I recommend using the APIs
- IME they are more precise

Any advice would be appreciated.

Open up your project's .VBP file and look at the dependancies
- if you do not use any OCXes then you should be able to simply
distribute your EXE and MSVBVM60.DLL

[CountScubula]

sm*********@yah oo.com (smjmitchell) wrote in message news:<de******* *************** ****@posting.go ogle.com>...

Hi All,

I have written a program in VB 6.0 that I would like to distribute to
many users (most likely via freeware / shareware). The program is a
relatively simple and does not call any external DLL's etc - it
compiles to a single EXE. The program runs fine on my computer under
Windows 2000 Professional and a few other machines that I have tried
including two running Windows XP.

Should the same code work on all versions of windows including
95/98/XP etc. Are there any issues that I should be aware of when
compiling the code for distribution of this type ? For instance are
there any particular compiler switches that I should use to ensure
trouble free operation on all machines.

The program draws some simple graphics in a picturebox ? nothing
special ? just line/circle methods. Are there likely to be any issues
with different graphics cards etc.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve

Use the latest packager from microsoft (its free), they dumped the
package and deployment wizard for the visual studio installer.

If you package with this, you should be fine, I noticed a few years
back, that the package and deployment wizzard would install a .dll or
..ocx if needed, but didn't restart the install if the computer was
restarted. wacky.

anyways, with vb6, and not using any .ocx that you downloaded tat have
weird installs, or calling any api's you should be fine. best to keep
an old win 98se box laying around for just such an occasion. :)

There was a program I write with vb6, i used a ton of api calls, and
it would wack out on 98, but worked find on anything later than that.

--Mike

[J French]

On 28 Dec 2003 03:39:16 -0800, sc*****@hotmail .com (CountScubula)
wrote:

<snip>

Use the latest packager from microsoft (its free), they dumped the
package and deployment wizard for the visual studio installer.
Or maybe InnoSetup ?

If you package with this, you should be fine, I noticed a few years
back, that the package and deployment wizzard would install a .dll or
.ocx if needed, but didn't restart the install if the computer was
restarted. wacky.

anyways, with vb6, and not using any .ocx that you downloaded tat have
weird installs, or calling any api's you should be fine. best to keep
an old win 98se box laying around for just such an occasion. :)
You should be Ok with the APIs
- it is just necessary to make sure that they are not 'later' ones

There was a program I write with vb6, i used a ton of api calls, and
it would wack out on 98, but worked find on anything later than that.

You probably used Win NT or Win2000 APIs
- which is not a good idea

There are a few 'differences' in some of the rudimentary APIs
- NT/2000 firmed up on some parameters
- the OpenFile Dialog springs to mind

However, in general using APIs is far preferable to using OCXes

Less to go wrong ...

[Tim in 't Veld]

I think this type of program isn't going to give any problem at all if
you just compile it normally- just test it on a few machines, if it
works it'll probably be ok for all machines.
On 27 Dec 2003 03:58:56 -0800, sm*********@yah oo.com (smjmitchell)
wrote:

Hi All,

I have written a program in VB 6.0 that I would like to distribute to
many users (most likely via freeware / shareware). The program is a
relatively simple and does not call any external DLL's etc - it
compiles to a single EXE. The program runs fine on my computer under
Windows 2000 Professional and a few other machines that I have tried
including two running Windows XP.

Should the same code work on all versions of windows including
95/98/XP etc. Are there any issues that I should be aware of when
compiling the code for distribution of this type ? For instance are
there any particular compiler switches that I should use to ensure
trouble free operation on all machines.

The program draws some simple graphics in a picturebox – nothing
special – just line/circle methods. Are there likely to be any issues
with different graphics cards etc.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve

[Tim in 't Veld]

If you compile the program and test it on a few machines it will work
on all windows versions, normally; if it's so easy as your program. No
problems at all I expect.
On 27 Dec 2003 03:58:56 -0800, sm*********@yah oo.com (smjmitchell)
wrote:

Hi All,

I have written a program in VB 6.0 that I would like to distribute to
many users (most likely via freeware / shareware). The program is a
relatively simple and does not call any external DLL's etc - it
compiles to a single EXE. The program runs fine on my computer under
Windows 2000 Professional and a few other machines that I have tried
including two running Windows XP.

Should the same code work on all versions of windows including
95/98/XP etc. Are there any issues that I should be aware of when
compiling the code for distribution of this type ? For instance are
there any particular compiler switches that I should use to ensure
trouble free operation on all machines.

The program draws some simple graphics in a picturebox – nothing
special – just line/circle methods. Are there likely to be any issues
with different graphics cards etc.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve