Check if VB Application is running on network

[anuragshrivastava64]

Hi All,

I am making a project using VB 6.0.
How can i stop multiple instances of my program being run in different systems.

I used App.PrevInst but it works only on the same system.
On any other system it is not of use

[CyberSoftHari]

This will work only in local system. Can you explain why you need to check for multiple systems?
Note: multiple instances need to check only local system and there is no use of network systems multiple instances. I assume you are looking for forum authentication in network!

[anuragshrivastava64]

No actually we are makin an application in two modes Advanced and Standard.
In advanced version it can be used across network i.e Multi User.

But in standard version it has to be single user only.

The exe will be on server only. Other users will log on to server and use that exe

[debasisdas]

better to restrict the number of con-current login to the server.

[CyberSoftHari]

...In advanced version it can be used across network i.e Multi User....

The word itself mean multi user (i.e) alow multiple instances for all user (in other mechines).

The exe will be on server only. Other users will log on to server and use that exe

I doubt, is there any other installation on other machines?

[CyberSoftHari]

better to restrict the number of con-current login to the server.

That is good, But outside that application one user can access that server machine!

[jg007]

what about opening a file on a shared network when it is opened and then having you app check to see if that file is locked ( sorry not sure of code for that ) and not allowing another instance if it is

[tristanlbailey]

That's a good idea. I've actually been working on the code for that:

Declarations:

Public Declare Function CloseHandle Lib "kernel32" (ByVal hObject As Long) As Long
Public Declare Function CreateFileA Lib "kernel32" (ByVal lpFileName As String, ByVal dwDesiredAccess As Long, ByVal dwShareMode As Long, ByVal lpSecurityAttributes As Long, ByVal dwCreationDisposition As Long, ByVal dwFlagsAndAttributes As Long, ByVal hTemplateFile As Long) As Long
Public Declare Function DeleteFileA Lib "kernel32" (ByVal lpFileName As String) As Long
 
Public Const FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL As Long = 128
Public Const FILE_FLAG_DELETE_ON_CLOSE = &H4000000
Public Const GENERIC_READ As Long = &H80000000
Public Const CREATE_NEW As Long = 1
 
Public hFile As Long, I As Long
 

General Code: (Module)

Sub Main()
 
    hFile = CreateFileA(App.Path & "\" & "MYINST.INI", GENERIC_READ, 0, 0, CREATE_NEW, FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL Or FILE_FLAG_DELETE_ON_CLOSE, 0)
    If hFile <> -1 Then
        Form1.Show
    Else
        End
    End If
 
End Sub
 

General Code: (Form)

Sub Form_Unload()
 
    CloseHandle hFile
 
End Sub
 

When the program runs the first time, it will create a configuration file in the same directory. The file is created with the FILE_FLAG_DELETE_ON_CLOSE value, which causes the file to be deleted when it is closed.

If another instance of the same program is created, it will see if that configuration file exists; if it does, it immediately closes. If not, it will re-create the file, and continue to run.