Access and vb runtime

[Luke Bellamy]

Hi - I recently installed vb runtime sp6 on my development
machine without thinking too much. Now I actually use the
common dialog controls etc so when I started up my mde app
I compiled with sp5 previously it gave me an error trying to
open forms with some of these controls on it.
Note that I also use stand alone vb apps with sp5 which I
upgraded visual studio to sp6.

So I'm assuming I have 2 options:
1. Roll back to sp5 if possible, but if not reformat my machine.
2. Include sp6 in my distribution artefacts and upgrades for existing users.

Can option 1 be done nicely?
I'd prefer not to go with option 2 as you are required to be logged
in as admin to apply an upgrade (for vb runtime) and each client in
a network configuration needs to be updated.

Any comments appreciated.
Thanks,
Luke

 

[Larry Linson]

On the menu of the database window, Tools | References and add a reference
to the appropriate library. On the other hand, if you distribute your MDE to
users who do not have that library, but use/reference it, you are likely to
have problems (sometimes called, "DLL Hell").

A possible probelm is that the more recent version may have eliminated the
older version from your system, so that you cannot go back even if you want
to.

Which of the Common Controls do you use? And how do you use them? Perhaps
there is another way.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP

 

[Luke Bellamy]

I reference comdlg32.ocx, mscomctl.ocx, and comctl32.ocx.

So in my Access 2002 app I have the dialog controls to open, save
files and choose colours. As for the commons controls I use the
progress bar.
And to be honest I can remember why they are both selected (mscomctl.ocx
and comctl32.ocx)

I know you can use a Win API to open and close files but the others
may be a bit trickier.

Do you know if I had sp5 on my machine and distributed with vb runtime sp5,
and then another application install runtime sp6 would it still be backward
compatible?

Thanks for your help Larry.

 

[Luke Bellamy]

Larry - FYI I have implemented the API calls to open/save files (from
MVPS.org/access), select colours from
the colour dialog (from MVPS.org/access), and implemented the alternate to
the progress bar using rectangles
as posted on the microsoft web site.

That should ease my pain.

Thanks Larry,
Luke