[RESOLVED] VB 6 Program does not work on an empty computer

[pandatao]

Dear Forum,

Two days ago I converted a VB 4 program to VB 6 program in the VB 6 IDE. This program works well on the computer, where I have installed the VB 6 IDE. When I leave the program on a network driver and try to call it from a computer without the VB6 IDE, the following error window will prompt out: "Run-time" error '523': The data binding DLL, 'VB5DB.DLL', could not be loaded."
It seems that the empty computer is lack of some DLLs, which are already included in the VB 6 IDE.
Does anyone has an idea how to integrate the DLLs in that program? Or before man calls the program, he should first install some support VB 6 support packages on an empty computer?

Thanks in advance,

[leinad31]

Create an installer... there are already several threads regarding this. Try to do a search.

[Hack]

You can't just copy a VB (any version) exe from one computer to another. It must be formally installed.

The Package and Deployment Wizard is probably the easiest way to create the required setup and installation package.

[dee-u]

You can't just copy a VB (any version) exe from one computer to another. It must be formally installed.

The Package and Deployment Wizard is probably the easiest way to create the required setup and installation package.

As long as the Framework exists on the target machine then VB.Net apps can be just copy-pasted.

[BHCluster]

I think you should download Visual Basic run-times from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en[/URL]

This is a small MS made exe file with loads of .dll files necessary for running of VB 6 Programs.

[RobDog888]

Thread Moved

You need to create an installation package so it installs the necessary dependancy files so your program will run.

[pandatao]

Dear all, it will be difficult for me to create an installer, because the exe file should be run from the network driver by several users. I have a central Access 97 database (file) on the network driver, which will be accessed by that VB 6 program. With an installer the exe file will be installed on each computer, which is not desired. I tried the VB6 Runtime, and it did not work. Finally I copied the "VB5DB.DLL" to "C:\WINDOWS\system32\". Untill now the program works, but I am not sure if this is enough?

[si_the_geek]

I have spent years doing something similar - but have always installed the program.

While installing the VB Runtimes and a certain file may be enough in that particular test (so far!), it might not be the same for other computers - as there may be other files your program needs which happen to be installed on that computer already.

Creating an installation package ensures that all of the required files are installed, and that it is done properly (in many cases simply copying the file is not enough).


However, you do not actually need to include your executable file in the installation package, only the DLL's etc it needs. You can then put the executable file (and the database file) on the network drive, and just give the users a shortcut to it.

If you do it that way, it is a good idea to add any extra DLL's that you are likely to need in the future (for example, in my package I added the Common Dialog, even tho the first program didn't use it), so that you don't need to re-install on each computer later.

[pandatao]

Thanks a lot si_the_geek! Just as you suggested, I created an install package without the exe file, then the exe program on the network driver works fine!

Many thanks to others (leinad31, Hack, dee-u, BHCluster and RobDog888) too!