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Thread: Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

  1. #1

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    PowerPoster Ellis Dee's Avatar
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    Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

    I've learned several neat tricks for customizing the VB6 IDE on these boards, so I thought I'd put them all in one single thread for easy reference.


    The IDE is very slow under Vista

    You can set the AppCompat setting on VB6 to suppress Aero while it is running.

    Right-click VB6.exe in Explorer, go into Properties, pick the Compatability tab, check "Disable desktop composition."

    You'll quickly find you want to always run it "as admin" too.

    (Thanks to dilettante, who I quoted here verbatim.)



    Automatically start IDE with code windows maximized

    Most VB6 programmers habitually maximize the code window immediately after launching VB6. This can be done automatically with a simple registry hack. Add the following String Value to the registry:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Visual Basic/6.0/MDIMaximized = "1"

    (Thanks to zeezee for finding this tip from here.)



    Mouse wheel doesn't work in IDE

    VB6 predates the mouse wheel, so there is no native support for it. You can enable it using the steps outlined in this Knowledge Base article. (Thanks to Deepak Sakpal for finding this article.)



    Can't find Resource Editor

    Add-Ins will only appear for the XP user account under which VB6 was installed. See this Knowledge Base article for steps on how to enable the Add-Ins under different XP user accounts. (Thanks to MarkT for finding this article.)



    Change the default folder of the "Existing" Tab in the new project dialog box at the start of VB6

    Right click on Visual basic 6.0 shortcut (in the start menu in my case), select Properties, open the General tab and change the "Start in:" box to you prefer folder. (Thanks to Amr Al-Amir for asking and answering this question, which I quoted here verbatim.)
    Last edited by Ellis Dee; Jun 21st, 2008 at 05:43 PM.

  2. #2

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    Re: Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

    Anyone know of any more?

  3. #3
    Hyperactive Member Teseng's Avatar
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    Re: Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

    Thanks for the maximize code window hack

  4. #4
    PoorPoster iPrank's Avatar
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    Re: Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

    1. I find it easier to work with a smaller grid in the Form Designer. You can move controls more smoothly.
    In Tools>Options>General I set it to (24,24) and uncheck 'Show Grid' checkbox.

    2. In Tools>Options>Editor I use,
    a) 'Require variable declaration' - Checked - to autometically add Option Explicit.
    b) 'Auto syntax check' - Unchecked - to disable the annoying messagebox when you make a syntax error. VB will still color it red, so no problem to find the error.

    3. In Tools>Options>Editor Format, I set purple foreground for 'Normal Text'. This changes the color of strings inside double quote (").

    4. Making 3D borderless form - Set Caption="" (null string) and ControlBox=False at design time.
    Last edited by iPrank; Jun 6th, 2008 at 09:11 AM.
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  5. #5
    Hyperactive Member Teseng's Avatar
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    Re: Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

    If you want the VB6 IDE to look more modern, You can open your favorite text editor and fill it with this
    Code:
    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
    <assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
    <assemblyIdentity
       version="1.0.0.0"
       processorArchitecture="X86"
       name="Microsoft.VB6.XPStyles"
       type="win32"
    />
    <description>VBnet Manifest for VB6 IDE</description>
    <dependency>
       <dependentAssembly>
         <assemblyIdentity
           type="win32"
           name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"
           version="6.0.0.0"
           processorArchitecture="X86"
           publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"
           language="*"
         />
       </dependentAssembly>
    </dependency>
    </assembly>
    and save in your VB folder(the one containing VB6.exe) as "VB6.exe.manifest"

    Now the IDE will use the XP-style buttons, scrollbars, and tabs.

  6. #6

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    Re: Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

    I tried that, but I don't see any difference in the IDE. Is there a bug in the code or am I doing something wrong?
    Attached Images Attached Images  
    Last edited by Ellis Dee; Jun 11th, 2008 at 10:20 AM.

  7. #7
    Member BytePtr's Avatar
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    Re: Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

    It will not work in Windows Classic Theme. You must use Windows XP theme.
    But i never use it. Windows Classic is best. Small and neat
    Please rate my post if it has been helpful.
    Mark the thread as [Resolved] when your problem is solved!


  8. #8

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    PowerPoster Ellis Dee's Avatar
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    Re: Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

    Quote Originally Posted by BytePtr
    It will not work in Windows Classic Theme. You must use Windows XP theme.
    Ah, that explains it. Yep, I do see a difference under XP theme. But not for long, because after a few seconds looking at XP theme I gouged out my eyeballs with a letter opener.

    Nice tip for those who like XP theme, though.

  9. #9
    "Digital Revolution"
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    Re: Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

    I never had luck with Microsoft's mouse scroll thing. I use VBScroll. It works really good and also has horizontal scrolling. And it's free also.

    http://www.gasanov.net/VBScroll.asp

  10. #10
    PoorPoster iPrank's Avatar
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    Re: Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

    Note: If you use Teseng's XP theme trick, you'll not see custom colors in color-pallet of Properties window.
    Usefull VBF Threads/Posts I Found . My flickr page .
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  11. #11
    "Digital Revolution"
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    Re: Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

    And you'll also experience the bugs that most XP styled programs have such as option buttons/command buttons inside frames, etc. So you will have to use PictureBoxes as a container inside the frame to fix that problem...

  12. #12
    Hyperactive Member Teseng's Avatar
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    Re: Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

    Oops, didnt know about the color thing, sorry.
    Or know about the the option/command button in frames for that matter, I usualyl end up using picBoxes instead of frames anyways.

    I Despise the normal XP theme, I use Royale Noir scheme, along i with Vista Black theme on firefox. Easier on my eyes

  13. #13
    Lively Member
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    Re: Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

    Is there any way to edit and view code like VB .net, i.e. collapsing and expanding treeview
    I searced anf find a code viewer Addin (not editor) and cannot be docked in the IDE
    http://www.allworldsoft.com/software...-validator.htm

  14. #14
    PoorPoster iPrank's Avatar
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    Re: Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

    CodeSmart has all those features you need. But it costs $189 fo single user licence.
    Usefull VBF Threads/Posts I Found . My flickr page .
    "I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life." - Rita Rudner


  15. #15
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    Re: Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

    Another for the auto-maximized MDI windows tip. I had lost this years ago and I'm glad to have it back.

  16. #16
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    Re: Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

    hi all. anyone know how to disable the vb6 IDE Auto Capitalize variables?

    I'm using msxml and it is causing some errors with capitalizing letters that shouldn't be.

    any help is appreciated.

  17. #17
    Super Moderator si_the_geek's Avatar
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    Re: Customizing / troubleshooting the VB6 IDE

    Welcome to VBForums

    The variables names should convert to the case they were declared in (unless you used a reserved word like "Now" for the name).

    I don't see how MSXML is relevant, as the names of variables would have no effect on it.

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