How can you download the vb6 runtime files ONLY if they are not installed?

Theres always a dilemma when distributing my software..

Should I include the runtimes (which adds a lot of bulk to the program) or just include the program and hope that the runtimes are already installed?

The best way is probably to just include the program, but check if the runtimes are already installed.

Is there a simple way to do this? Obviously the application to check cannot be coded in vb cause it will need the runtime to start :P

And since I dont know any other languages.. im in a bit of a pickle.

Are there free ways to be able to do this for me?

Hm, if you're really worried about the size of your package, you could make an installer that just requires the single msvbm60.dll. The person would just download this installer, and this program would check the system for which runtime files are needed and download them as necessary. Then maybe it could shell the installer and exit.

msvbm60.dll is on a lot of machines now, but you would still want to include it with your online installer. There are also a few other required files for a "barebones" VB EXE, like ole32.dll (I think that's the name) and a few others. You can see them by starting a new VB project and going to Project -> References. I don't think they are not necessary and you can remove them, but you would probably have to code a little differently without them.

The simplest way is to always include them. If they are already there and a equal or greater version they will not be installed anyway.

First priority should always be to get your app installed properly. Everything else is secondary such as size, color, texture, gender...

If it is not installed properly and giving the client headaches who cares what size it is!!!

any other ideas?

There are free ways but they do not create a complete installation the way it should be. You will need to do some trial and error...

The only solution is to do as I said, an online installer. For an example, go download the newest version of Yahoo! messenger. Their online installer was probably developed in C++ so the installer itself doesn't require any files.

Or as randem said. There are programs that will compile all files into one big EXE for you. I think the name of it is Alloy. It will probably work, but nothing is good as a full, proper installation.

Anyone know of a good online installer?

That would be perfect.. files will only be downlaoded if needed.

There is basically no such thing as an online installer. What they do is to download a program to run on your computer and it checks to see what is needed and it downloads and executes the rest.

It's more complicated than just downloading a complete installation and having the installer and supporting program check and install that which is needed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by randem

There is basically no such thing as an online installer. What they do is to download a program to run on your computer and it checks to see what is needed and it downloads and executes the rest.

It's more complicated than just downloading a complete installation and having the installer and supporting program check and install that which is needed.

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Thats just what I need though :)

I figure that by now 70% of users have the vb6 runtimes..
Instead of distributing 1.5mb setup files for everyone to download (compared to 100k for my actual application) I can just have a 150k setup file that contains my application and downloads the other 1.4mb of vb runtime files only if needed

the only file that vb6 needs that doesn't come with every version of windows is msvbvm60.dll. Activex controls are another issue but you can reduce your dependence on them with api calls. A good example is the common dialog control It is a couple of megabytes and is totally unnecessary as it is merely a wrapper for a .dll that is already in windows. You can get code from here or elsewhere to get the same functionality.
But if you are posting your code on line you could probably leave the .dll file out and have 2 different installs: a "lite" install that includes nothing, and a "full" install that has it.

NEVER count on the users computer to be up-to-date. It takes more effort to attempt to write a program to find out if the files need to be installed and then download them than it takes to let the installer do the job it was designed for (checking if the file should be installed and installing them).

There are different versions of vb runtime files and it ois best to include the universal one and be done with it.

the vb6.0 runtime comes on every computer install since windows 98. The only one it is not on is windows 95.

And they are all different, hense the universal runtimes that will run on all versions.

BTW: They do not come on every windows installation...

Moved.

anyone know of a good online installer?