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[VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in a Standart EXE.
This one is obsolete. The stable solution without any dependencies you can get here.
Hello everyone. Now I have a little time, so I have not often been programming BASIC and less likely to appear on the forum. Today again I will be talking about multi-threading, this time in the Standart EXE. I must say that all of what I write is my personal study, and may in some way does not correspond to reality; also due to my lack of time I will complement this post with further progress in the study of this issue. So here we go.
As I said before, to multithreading worked need to initialize the runtime. Without initialization we can work very limited in the sense that the COM will not work, ie roughly all the power of BASIC is not available. You can work with the API, declared in tlb, some functions, also removing the check __vbaSetSystemError, you can use Declared-function. All previous publications showing work in separate DLL, and we could easily initialize runtime using VBDllGetClassObject function for this. Today we will try to initialize the runtime in the usual EXE, ie without using external dependencies. It's no secret that any application written in VB6 has a project header, which contains a lot of information about the project that the runtime uses to work:
Code:
Type VbHeader
szVbMagic As String * 4
wRuntimeBuild As Integer
szLangDll As String * 14
szSecLangDll As String * 14
wRuntimeRevision As Integer
dwLCID As Long
dwSecLCID As Long
lpSubMain As Long
lpProjectInfo As Long
fMdlIntCtls As Long
fMdlIntCtls2 As Long
dwThreadFlags As Long
dwThreadCount As Long
wFormCount As Integer
wExternalCount As Integer
dwThunkCount As Long
lpGuiTable As Long
lpExternalCompTable As Long
lpComRegisterData As Long
bszProjectDescription As Long
bszProjectExeName As Long
bszProjectHelpFile As Long
bszProjectName As Long
End Type
In this structure, a lot of fields to describe all I will not, I will note only that this structure refers to a variety of other structures. Some of them will be needed in the future, such as a field lpSubMain, which contains the address of the procedure Main, if it is defined, otherwise there is 0. The vast majority of EXE files begin with the following code:
Code:
PUSH xxxxxxxx
CALL MSVBVM60.ThunRTMain
Just xxxxxxxx points to structure VBHeader. This feature will allow to find the structure inside the EXE for initializing runtime. In a previous article, I described how to get from the ActiveX DLL that structure - for this it was necessary to read the data in one of the exported functions (eg DllGetClassObject). To get from EXE - we also make use of the same method. First you need to find an entry point (entry point), ie address that starts the EXE. This address can be obtained from the structure IMAGE_OPTIONAL_HEADER - field AddressOfEntryPoint. This structure (IMAGE_OPTIONAL_HEADER) is located in the PE header, and the PE header is located at offset specified in the field e_lfanew from structure IMAGE_DOS_HEADER, well, IMAGE_DOS_HEADER structure located in the address specified in App.hInstance (or GetModuleHandle). Pointer to VbHeader is located at offset AddressOfEntryPoint + 1, because push-opcode in this case equal 0x68h. So, gathering all together, we get the function to get the Header:
Code:
' // Get VBHeader structure
Private Function GetVBHeader() As Long
Dim ptr As Long
' Get e_lfanew
GetMem4 ByVal hModule + &H3C, ptr
' Get AddressOfEntryPoint
GetMem4 ByVal ptr + &H28 + hModule, ptr
' Get VBHeader
GetMem4 ByVal ptr + hModule + 1, GetVBHeader
End Function
Now, if you pass this structure VBDllGetClassObject function in a new thread, then, roughly speaking, this function will start our project for execution according to this structure. Of course in this sense is not enough - it is the same as re-start the application in the new thread. For example, if the function has been set Main, and then start again with the execution of it, and if the form has, then this form. Must somehow make the project was carried out on the other, do we need in the function. To do this, you can change the field "lpSubMain" in the structure vbHeader. I also did so at first, but it has given nothing. As it turned out, in runtime, there is one global object that stores a reference to projects and related objects, and if you pass the same header at VBDllGetClassObject, then the runtime checks are not loaded if such a project, and if loaded, simply launch a new copy without parse structure vbHeader, based on the previous analysis. So I decided to do so - you can copy the structure vbHeader to another location and use it. Immediately, I note that in this structure the last 4 fields - is offset with respect to the structure, so when copying the structure they need to be adjusted. If we now try to pass this structure to VBDllGetClassObject, then everything will be fine if installed as a startup Sub Main, if the form, it will be launched and the shape and after the Main. To exclude such behavior need to fix some data referenced by the title. I do not know exactly what kind of data, as did not understand this, but "dig deeper" inside the runtime I found their place position. Field "lpGuiTable" in the structure "vbHeader" refers to a list of structures tGuiTable, which describe froms in the project. Structures are sequentially the number of structures has a field "wFormCount" in the structure "vbHeader". In the network, I have not found the normal description of the structure tGuiTable, that's what is:
Code:
Type tGuiTable
lStructSize As Long
uuidObjectGUI As uuid
Unknown1 As Long
Unknown2 As Long
Unknown3 As Long
Unknown4 As Long
lObjectID As Long
Unknown5 As Long
fOLEMisc As Long
uuidObject As uuid
Unknown6 As Long
Unknown7 As Long
aFormPointer As Long
Unknown8 As Long
End Type
As it turned out there inside the runtime code that checks the field "Unknown5" in each structure:
http://s7.hostingkartinok.com/upload...0c42c3e3de.png
I've added comments; They show that "Unknown5" contains flags and if you have installed the 5th bit, the recording is a reference to some object defined register EAX, in the field at offset 0x30 within the object specified register EDX. What kind of objects - I do not know, maybe later will deal with this, we have the important fact of the recording of a value in the field at offset 0x30. Now, if you start to explore more code you can stumble on such a fragment:
http://s7.hostingkartinok.com/upload...dd45aaacd4.png
I will say that the object pointed to by ESI, the same object in the previous procedure under consideration (register EDX). It can be seen that the value of this field is tested for 0 and -1, and if there is any of the numbers that starts the procedure Main (unless specified); otherwise runs the first form. So, now that is guaranteed to run only Sub Main, we change the flag lpGuiTable.Unknown5, resetting the fifth bit. To install a new Sub Main and modification flag I created a separate procedure:
Code:
' // Modify VBHeader to replace Sub Main
Private Sub ModifyVBHeader(ByVal newAddress As Long)
Dim ptr As Long
Dim old As Long
Dim flag As Long
Dim count As Long
Dim size As Long
ptr = lpVBHeader + &H2C
' Are allowed to write in the page
VirtualProtect ByVal ptr, 4, PAGE_READWRITE, old
' Set a new address of Sub Main
GetMem4 newAddress, ByVal ptr
VirtualProtect ByVal ptr, 4, old, 0
' Remove startup form
GetMem4 ByVal lpVBHeader + &H4C, ptr
' Get forms count
GetMem4 ByVal lpVBHeader + &H44, count
Do While count > 0
' Get structure size
GetMem4 ByVal ptr, size
' Get flag (unknown5) from current form
GetMem4 ByVal ptr + &H28, flag
' When set, bit 5,
If flag And &H10 Then
' Unset bit 5
flag = flag And &HFFFFFFEF
' Are allowed to write in the page
VirtualProtect ByVal ptr, 4, PAGE_READWRITE, old
' Write changet flag
GetMem4 flag, ByVal ptr + &H28
' Restoring the memory attributes
VirtualProtect ByVal ptr, 4, old, 0
End If
count = count - 1
ptr = ptr + size
Loop
End Sub
Now, if you try to run this procedure before sending the header at VBDllGetClassObject, it will run the procedure defined by us. However multithreading have will work, but it is not convenient because there is no mechanism to pass a parameter to the thread as it is implemented in the CreateThread. In order to make a complete analog CreateThread I decided to create a similar function that will perform all initialization and then execute the call is transferred to the thread function with parameter. In order to be able to pass a parameter to the Sub Main, I used a thread local storage (TLS). We distinguish index for TLS. After allocation of the index, we can set the value of this index, specific for each thread. In general, the idea is, create a new thread where the starting function is a special feature ThreadProc, a parameter which transmits the structure of two fields - addresses the user function and address parameter. In this procedure, we will initialize the runtime for the new thread and stored in TLS parameter passed. As the procedure Main create a binary code that will get data from TLS, forming a stack and jump to a user function. The result had such a module:
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
modMultiThreading.bas:
Code:
' modMultiThreading.bas - The module provides support for multi-threading.
' © Кривоус Анатолий Анатольевич (The trick), 2015
Option Explicit
Private Type uuid
data1 As Long
data2 As Integer
data3 As Integer
data4(7) As Byte
End Type
Private Type threadData
lpParameter As Long
lpAddress As Long
End Type
Private tlsIndex As Long ' Index of the item in the TLS. There will be data specific to the thread.
Private lpVBHeader As Long ' Pointer to VBHeader structure.
Private hModule As Long ' Base address.
Private lpAsm As Long ' Pointer to a binary code.
' // Create a new thread
Public Function vbCreateThread(ByVal lpThreadAttributes As Long, _
ByVal dwStackSize As Long, _
ByVal lpStartAddress As Long, _
ByVal lpParameter As Long, _
ByVal dwCreationFlags As Long, _
lpThreadId As Long) As Long
Dim InIDE As Boolean
Debug.Assert MakeTrue(InIDE)
If InIDE Then
Dim ret As Long
ret = MsgBox("Multithreading not working in IDE." & vbNewLine & "Run it in the same thread?", vbQuestion Or vbYesNo)
If ret = vbYes Then
' Run function in main thread
ret = DispCallFunc(ByVal 0&, lpStartAddress, CC_STDCALL, vbEmpty, 1, vbLong, VarPtr(CVar(lpParameter)), CVar(0))
If ret Then
Err.Raise ret
End If
End If
Exit Function
End If
' Alloc new index from thread local storage
If tlsIndex = 0 Then
tlsIndex = TlsAlloc()
If tlsIndex = 0 Then Exit Function
End If
' Get module handle
If hModule = 0 Then
hModule = GetModuleHandle(ByVal 0&)
End If
' Create assembler code
If lpAsm = 0 Then
lpAsm = CreateAsm()
If lpAsm = 0 Then Exit Function
End If
' Get pointer to VBHeader and modify
If lpVBHeader = 0 Then
lpVBHeader = GetVBHeader()
If lpVBHeader = 0 Then Exit Function
ModifyVBHeader lpAsm
End If
Dim lpThreadData As Long
Dim tmpData As threadData
' Alloc thread-specific memory for threadData structure
lpThreadData = HeapAlloc(GetProcessHeap(), 0, Len(tmpData))
If lpThreadData = 0 Then Exit Function
' Set parameters
tmpData.lpAddress = lpStartAddress
tmpData.lpParameter = lpParameter
' Copy parameters to thread-specific memory
GetMem8 tmpData, ByVal lpThreadData
' Create thread
vbCreateThread = CreateThread(ByVal lpThreadAttributes, _
dwStackSize, _
AddressOf ThreadProc, _
ByVal lpThreadData, _
dwCreationFlags, _
lpThreadId)
End Function
' // Initialize runtime for new thread and run procedure
Private Function ThreadProc(lpParameter As threadData) As Long
Dim iid As uuid
Dim clsid As uuid
Dim lpNewHdr As Long
Dim hHeap As Long
' Initialize COM
vbCoInitialize ByVal 0&
' IID_IUnknown
iid.data4(0) = &HC0: iid.data4(7) = &H46
' Store parameter to thread local storage
TlsSetValue tlsIndex, lpParameter
' Create the copy of VBHeader
hHeap = GetProcessHeap()
lpNewHdr = HeapAlloc(hHeap, 0, &H6A)
CopyMemory ByVal lpNewHdr, ByVal lpVBHeader, &H6A
' Adjust offsets
Dim names() As Long
Dim diff As Long
Dim Index As Long
ReDim names(3)
diff = lpNewHdr - lpVBHeader
CopyMemory names(0), ByVal lpVBHeader + &H58, &H10
For Index = 0 To 3
names(Index) = names(Index) - diff
Next
CopyMemory ByVal lpNewHdr + &H58, names(0), &H10
' This line calls the binary code that runs the asm function.
VBDllGetClassObject VarPtr(hModule), 0, lpNewHdr, clsid, iid, 0
' Free memeory
HeapFree hHeap, 0, ByVal lpNewHdr
HeapFree hHeap, 0, lpParameter
End Function
' // Get VBHeader structure
Private Function GetVBHeader() As Long
Dim ptr As Long
' Get e_lfanew
GetMem4 ByVal hModule + &H3C, ptr
' Get AddressOfEntryPoint
GetMem4 ByVal ptr + &H28 + hModule, ptr
' Get VBHeader
GetMem4 ByVal ptr + hModule + 1, GetVBHeader
End Function
' // Modify VBHeader to replace Sub Main
Private Sub ModifyVBHeader(ByVal newAddress As Long)
Dim ptr As Long
Dim old As Long
Dim flag As Long
Dim count As Long
Dim size As Long
ptr = lpVBHeader + &H2C
' Are allowed to write in the page
VirtualProtect ByVal ptr, 4, PAGE_READWRITE, old
' Set a new address of Sub Main
GetMem4 newAddress, ByVal ptr
VirtualProtect ByVal ptr, 4, old, 0
' Remove startup form
GetMem4 ByVal lpVBHeader + &H4C, ptr
' Get forms count
GetMem2 ByVal lpVBHeader + &H44, count
Do While count > 0
' Get structure size
GetMem4 ByVal ptr, size
' Get flag (unknown5) from current form
GetMem4 ByVal ptr + &H28, flag
' When set, bit 5,
If flag And &H10 Then
' Unset bit 5
flag = flag And &HFFFFFFEF
' Are allowed to write in the page
VirtualProtect ByVal ptr, 4, PAGE_READWRITE, old
' Write changet flag
GetMem4 flag, ByVal ptr + &H28
' Restoring the memory attributes
VirtualProtect ByVal ptr, 4, old, 0
End If
count = count - 1
ptr = ptr + size
Loop
End Sub
' // Create binary code.
Private Function CreateAsm() As Long
Dim hMod As Long
Dim lpProc As Long
Dim ptr As Long
hMod = GetModuleHandle(ByVal StrPtr("kernel32"))
lpProc = GetProcAddress(hMod, "TlsGetValue")
If lpProc = 0 Then Exit Function
ptr = VirtualAlloc(ByVal 0&, &HF, MEM_RESERVE Or MEM_COMMIT, PAGE_EXECUTE_READWRITE)
If ptr = 0 Then Exit Function
' push tlsIndex
' call TLSGetValue
' pop ecx
' push DWORD [eax]
' push ecx
' jmp DWORD [eax + 4]
GetMem4 &H68, ByVal ptr + &H0: GetMem4 &HE800, ByVal ptr + &H4
GetMem4 &HFF590000, ByVal ptr + &H8: GetMem4 &H60FF5130, ByVal ptr + &HC
GetMem4 &H4, ByVal ptr + &H10: GetMem4 tlsIndex, ByVal ptr + 1
GetMem4 lpProc - ptr - 10, ByVal ptr + 6
CreateAsm = ptr
End Function
Private Function MakeTrue(value As Boolean) As Boolean
MakeTrue = True: value = True
End Function
All API declaration I made in a separate type library - EXEInitialize.tlb. Yet found one drawback - not working private control if'll take care of the reason - fixed. Works only in the compiled version. The archive contains a few tests.
1st: to create a form in a new thread, lockable entry through the long cycle.
2nd: event processing from the object whose method is called by another thread. I should say so, and you can not do incorrect because transmit a link between the threads without the marshalling dangerous and can lead to glitches, besides event processing is performed in another thread. The example I have left as a demonstration of multi-threading, and not for use in everyday tasks.
3rd: demonstration of the shared variable values change in one thread and read it from the other.
Good luck to everyone!
Download.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Update: 27.05.2015
In IDE optionally is launched in main thread.
Added 4 test - get prime numbers in new thread.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Update: 01.06.2015
Added native dll that exported vbCreateThread function and added changes to code which depend from this feature.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Very nice great work! I enjoy seeing people dig deep into the internals of vb programs.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
@The trick: In `ThreadProc` you use `lpVBHeader` as a parameter to `CopyMemory` and expect this global variable to be initialized from the calling thread. How is this supposed to work provided that appartment globals in VB6 are TLS based? Why is not `lpVBHeader` "reset" to NULL on the new thread in `ThreadProc`? I'm simply trying to figure out why is this working at all?
cheers,
</wqw>
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wqweto
@The trick: In `ThreadProc` you use `lpVBHeader` as a parameter to `CopyMemory` and expect this global variable to be initialized from the calling thread.
What do you mean "global variable to be initialized from the calling thread"?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wqweto
How is this supposed to work provided that appartment globals in VB6 are TLS based?
As far as i know TLS is used only for objects. Each TLS cell belongs to thread therefore each thread have own copy of TLS values.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wqweto
Why is not `lpVBHeader` "reset" to NULL on the new thread in `ThreadProc`?
What do you mean 'reset'?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wqweto
I'm simply trying to figure out why is this working at all?
It just reload project in new thread.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
In vbCreateThread this is executed on main thread
Code:
Line 73: lpVBHeader = GetVBHeader()
In ThreadProc this happens in the newly created thread
Code:
Line 116: CopyMemory ByVal lpNewHdr, ByVal lpVBHeader, &H6A
Variable lpVBHeader is declared with global scope in the module. Global variables in VB6 are TLS based. So each appartment has "a copy" of the global state. So lpVBHeader on the main thread is a different variable than lpVBHeader on any other thread. Or am I wrong?
cheers,
</wqw>
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wqweto
Global variables in VB6 are TLS based.
What variables do you say about? User variables isn't TLS based, except objects. All variables are shared between all threads, thread-specific variables have local copy based in TLS index if i don't wrong (i research it ago).
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wqweto
So each appartment has "a copy" of the global state. So lpVBHeader on the main thread is a different variable than lpVBHeader on any other thread.
I'm creating copy because inside the runtime MSVBVM checks all loaded project. If EXE-project is already loaded it isn't initialized.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The trick
User variables isn't TLS based, except objects.
What does this mean? Does it mean that this variable
Code:
Line 19: Private lpVBHeader As Long ' Pointer to VBHeader structure.
is shared across threads, and this variable
Code:
Line 20: Private g_oObject As Object ' A reference to an instance.
is not shared?
cheers,
</wqw>
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
No. I'll answer later in more detail when research it exactly.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
:) Seems like code we was working on few years back on one chinese forum.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wqweto
What does this mean? Does it mean that this variable
Code:
Line 19: Private lpVBHeader As Long ' Pointer to VBHeader structure.
is shared across threads, and this variable
Code:
Line 20: Private g_oObject As Object ' A reference to an instance.
is not shared?
cheers,
</wqw>
Both of variables will be shared. I mean some object variables like Err are not shared.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
izero76
:) Seems like code we was working on few years back on one chinese forum.
That's interesting. Can you show this code?
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The trick
That's interesting. Can you show this code?
There is it, there is a thread about multithreaded exe, we also uses vbheader to initialize thread, stable from 2010. :)
http://www.vbgood.com/thread-93124-1-1.html
There is some modified version:
http://www.dotnetzone.gr/cs/forums/thread/59912.aspx
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
izero76
I am not a fan of MT.
I download the file and remove the exe and attach the Zip file.
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
izero76
There is it, there is a thread about multithreaded exe, we also uses vbheader to initialize thread, stable from 2010.
It is the interesting method. My solution uses other way.
You do use the CreateIExprSrvObj function for initialize some internal structures.
I actually emulate a new project by copying the VBHeader and changing some data.
BTW, do you release IExprSrv object after termination of a thread? I've seen an application in the debugger and i've figured out CreateIExprSrvObj returns COM object. I'll investigate your method.
ADDED:
I'm testing your application and found a bug that i had encountered when i was developing the method in this article. When you call VBDllGetClassObject with VBHeader runtime launches new copy of project with the its startup object. If you add MsgBox to the Form_Initialize event it'll appear this MsgBox. In order to bypass this behavior you should change the startup object in the header, but there is a problem - the runtime does not load a changed header because there is a collection of loaded project inside runtime. When you try to load a project the runtime searches this project in the collection by the pointer of VBHeader. Due to the behavior, i did the copy of header and passed this changed copy to VBDllGetClassObject.
Combining your method with mine it is possible to create a nice multithreading without TLB i think. It is also needed to do releasing of IExprSrv object in order to release its memory.
Attachment 136387
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Yes, it's long time. I was working on idea (vbheader etc) and some starting code, it's not finished. We also found problem with startup object, but I am not sure if somebody fixed it, I leaved project soon because I worked on another project :) Use it for your inspiration, I like your MT code.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
izero76
Yes, it's long time. I was working on idea (vbheader etc) and some starting code, it's not finished. We also found problem with startup object, but I am not sure if somebody fixed it, I leaved project soon because I worked on another project :) Use it for your inspiration, I like your MT code.
I can combine both methods (your and mine) if you don't mind. My method does not cause problems with startup objects, for example - stable multithreading.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The trick
I can combine both methods (your and mine) if you don't mind. My method does not cause problems with startup objects
Yep, do it :bigyello:
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Trick, could you publish tlb source? I am interested in GetMem and I don't want to decompile your tlb :) Thanks.
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
izero76
Trick, could you publish tlb source? I am interested in GetMem and I don't want to decompile your tlb :) Thanks.
Yes, of course.
Code:
[uuid(0000000E-0000-0000-0300-000000003AAB),
helpstring("API declarations for support multithreading in Visual Basic 6.0 by the trick"),
version(2.00)]
library EXEInitialize
{
[dllname("msvbvm60.dll")]
module msvbvm60
{
[entry("VBDllGetClassObject")]int VBDllGetClassObject([in] int lpHinstDLL,
[in] int Reserved,
[in] int lpVBHeader,
[in] void* CLSID,
[in] void* IID,
[out] void* ppObj);
[entry("GetMem1")]int GetMem1([in] void* Src,
[out] void* Dst);
[entry("GetMem2")]int GetMem2([in] void* Src,
[out] void* Dst);
[entry("GetMem4")]int GetMem4([in] void* Src,
[out] void* Dst);
[entry("GetMem8")]int GetMem8([in] void* Src,
[out] void* Dst);
}
[dllname("ole32.dll")]
module ole32
{
[entry("CoInitialize")]int vbCoInitialize([in] void* pvReserved);
[entry("CoUninitialize")] void vbCoUninitialize(void);
}
[dllname("oleaut32.dll")]
module oleaut32
{
const int CC_STDCALL = 4;
[entry("DispCallFunc")]int DispCallFunc([in] void* pvInstance,
[in] int oVft,
[in] short cc,
[in] short vtReturn,
[in] int cActuals,
[in] void* prgvt,
[in] void* prgpvarg,
[in] void* pvargResult);
}
[dllname("kernel32.dll")]
module kernel32
{
const int PAGE_EXECUTE = 0x10;
const int PAGE_EXECUTE_READ = 0x20;
const int PAGE_EXECUTE_READWRITE = 0x40;
const int PAGE_EXECUTE_WRITECOPY = 0x80;
const int PAGE_NOACCESS = 0x1;
const int PAGE_READONLY = 0x2;
const int PAGE_READWRITE = 0x4;
const int PAGE_WRITECOPY = 0x8;
const int MEM_COMMIT = 0x1000;
const int MEM_RESERVE = 0x2000;
[entry("RtlMoveMemory")]void CopyMemory([out] void* Dst,
[in] void* Src,
[in] int Length);
[entry("CreateThread")] int CreateThread([in] void* lpThreadAttributes,
[in] int dwStackSize,
[in] int lpStartAddress,
[in] void* lpParameter,
[in] int dwCreationFlags,
[out] int* lpThreadId);
[entry("CloseHandle")]int CloseHandle([in] int hObject);
[entry("HeapAlloc")] int HeapAlloc([in] int hHeap,
[in] int dwFlags,
[in] int dwBytes);
[entry("HeapFree")] int HeapFree([in] int hHeap,
[in] int dwFlags,
[in] void* lpMem);
[entry("GetProcessHeap")]int GetProcessHeap();
[entry("VirtualProtect")] int VirtualProtect([in] void* lpAddress,
[in] int dwSize,
[in] int flNewProtect,
[in] int* lpflOldProtect);
[entry("VirtualAlloc")]int VirtualAlloc([in] void* lpAddress,
[in] int dwSize,
[in] int flAllocationType,
[in] int flProtect);
[entry("TlsAlloc")]int TlsAlloc();
[entry("TlsSetValue")]int TlsSetValue([in] int dwTlsIndex,
[in] void* lpTlsValue);
[entry("TlsGetValue")]int TlsGetValue([in] int dwTlsIndex);
[entry("TlsFree")]int TlsFree([in] int dwTlsIndex);
[entry("GetModuleHandleW")]int GetModuleHandle([in] void* lpModuleName);
[entry("GetProcAddress")]int GetProcAddress([in] int hModule,
[in] lpStr lpProcName);
}
}
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Thanks for your great VB6 multi-threading solution. I tested your solution and it seems that it works well. I would like to have full source code of project which generates TrickMultithreading.dll . Thanks a lot.
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cuongch1980
Thanks for your great VB6 multi-threading solution. I tested your solution and it seems that it works well. I would like to have full source code of project which generates TrickMultithreading.dll . Thanks a lot.
I glad that you find it useful. I attach the source of DLL:
Code:
' modMultiThreadingDll.bas - The DLL-Wrapper of module provides support for multi-threading.
' © Krivous Anatolii Anatolevich (The trick), 2015
Option Explicit
Private Type uuid
data1 As Long
data2 As Integer
data3 As Integer
data4(7) As Byte
End Type
Private Type threadData
lpParameter As Long
lpAddress As Long
End Type
Private tlsIndex As Long ' Index of the item in the TLS. There will be data specific to the thread.
Private lpVBHeader As Long ' Pointer to VBHeader structure.
Private hModule As Long ' Base address.
Private lpAsm As Long ' Pointer to a binary code.
Public Sub Main()
End Sub
' // Dll entry point
Public Function DllMain(ByVal hInstDll As Long, ByVal fdwReason As Long, ByVal lpvReserved As Long) As Long
DllMain = 1
End Function
' // Create a new thread
Public Function vbCreateThread(ByVal lpThreadAttributes As Long, _
ByVal dwStackSize As Long, _
ByVal lpStartAddress As Long, _
ByVal lpParameter As Long, _
ByVal dwCreationFlags As Long, _
lpThreadId As Long) As Long
Dim InIDE As Boolean
InIDE = GetModuleHandle(ByVal StrPtr("vb6.exe"))
If InIDE Then
Dim ret As Long
ret = MsgBox("Multithreading not working in IDE." & vbNewLine & "Run it in the same thread?", vbQuestion Or vbYesNo)
If ret = vbYes Then
' Run function in main thread
ret = CallByPointer(lpStartAddress, lpParameter)
If ret Then
Err.Raise ret
End If
End If
Exit Function
End If
' Alloc new index from thread local storage
If tlsIndex = 0 Then
tlsIndex = TlsAlloc()
If tlsIndex = 0 Then Exit Function
End If
' Get module handle
If hModule = 0 Then
hModule = GetModuleHandle(ByVal 0&)
End If
' Create assembler code
If lpAsm = 0 Then
lpAsm = CreateAsm()
If lpAsm = 0 Then Exit Function
End If
' Get pointer to VBHeader and modify
If lpVBHeader = 0 Then
lpVBHeader = GetVBHeader()
If lpVBHeader = 0 Then Exit Function
ModifyVBHeader lpAsm
End If
Dim lpThreadData As Long
Dim tmpData As threadData
' Alloc thread-specific memory for threadData structure
lpThreadData = HeapAlloc(GetProcessHeap(), 0, Len(tmpData))
If lpThreadData = 0 Then Exit Function
' Set parameters
tmpData.lpAddress = lpStartAddress
tmpData.lpParameter = lpParameter
' Copy parameters to thread-specific memory
GetMem8 tmpData, ByVal lpThreadData
' Create thread
vbCreateThread = CreateThread(ByVal lpThreadAttributes, _
dwStackSize, _
AddressOf ThreadProc, _
ByVal lpThreadData, _
dwCreationFlags, _
lpThreadId)
End Function
' // Call function in same thread
Private Function CallByPointer(ByVal lpStartAddress As Long, ByVal lpParameter As Long) As Long
CallByPointer = DispCallFunc(ByVal 0&, lpStartAddress, CC_STDCALL, vbEmpty, 1, vbLong, VarPtr(CVar(lpParameter)), CVar(0))
End Function
' // Initialize runtime for new thread and run procedure
Private Function ThreadProc(lpParameter As threadData) As Long
Dim iid As uuid
Dim clsid As uuid
Dim lpNewHdr As Long
Dim hHeap As Long
' Initialize COM
vbCoInitialize ByVal 0&
' IID_IUnknown
iid.data4(0) = &HC0: iid.data4(7) = &H46
' Store parameter to thread local storage
TlsSetValue tlsIndex, lpParameter
' Create the copy of VBHeader
hHeap = GetProcessHeap()
lpNewHdr = HeapAlloc(hHeap, 0, &H6A)
CopyMemory ByVal lpNewHdr, ByVal lpVBHeader, &H6A
' Adjust offsets
Dim names() As Long
Dim diff As Long
Dim Index As Long
ReDim names(3)
diff = lpNewHdr - lpVBHeader
CopyMemory names(0), ByVal lpVBHeader + &H58, &H10
For Index = 0 To 3
names(Index) = names(Index) - diff
Next
CopyMemory ByVal lpNewHdr + &H58, names(0), &H10
' This line calls the binary code that runs the asm function.
VBDllGetClassObject VarPtr(hModule), 0, lpNewHdr, clsid, iid, 0
' Free memeory
HeapFree hHeap, 0, ByVal lpNewHdr
HeapFree hHeap, 0, lpParameter
End Function
' // Get VBHeader structure
Private Function GetVBHeader() As Long
Dim ptr As Long
' Get e_lfanew
GetMem4 ByVal hModule + &H3C, ptr
' Get AddressOfEntryPoint
GetMem4 ByVal ptr + &H28 + hModule, ptr
' Get VBHeader
GetMem4 ByVal ptr + hModule + 1, GetVBHeader
End Function
' // Modify VBHeader to replace Sub Main
Private Sub ModifyVBHeader(ByVal newAddress As Long)
Dim ptr As Long
Dim old As Long
Dim flag As Long
Dim count As Long
Dim size As Long
ptr = lpVBHeader + &H2C
' Are allowed to write in the page
VirtualProtect ByVal ptr, 4, PAGE_READWRITE, old
' Set a new address of Sub Main
GetMem4 newAddress, ByVal ptr
VirtualProtect ByVal ptr, 4, old, 0
' Remove startup form
GetMem4 ByVal lpVBHeader + &H4C, ptr
' Get forms count
GetMem2 ByVal lpVBHeader + &H44, count
Do While count > 0
' Get structure size
GetMem4 ByVal ptr, size
' Get flag (unknown5) from current form
GetMem4 ByVal ptr + &H28, flag
' When set, bit 5,
If flag And &H10 Then
' Unset bit 5
flag = flag And &HFFFFFFEF
' Are allowed to write in the page
VirtualProtect ByVal ptr, 4, PAGE_READWRITE, old
' Write changet flag
GetMem4 flag, ByVal ptr + &H28
' Restoring the memory attributes
VirtualProtect ByVal ptr, 4, old, 0
End If
count = count - 1
ptr = ptr + size
Loop
End Sub
' // Create binary code.
Private Function CreateAsm() As Long
Dim hMod As Long
Dim lpProc As Long
Dim ptr As Long
hMod = GetModuleHandle(ByVal StrPtr("kernel32"))
lpProc = GetProcAddress(hMod, "TlsGetValue")
If lpProc = 0 Then Exit Function
ptr = VirtualAlloc(ByVal 0&, &HF, MEM_RESERVE Or MEM_COMMIT, PAGE_EXECUTE_READWRITE)
If ptr = 0 Then Exit Function
' push tlsIndex
' call TLSGetValue
' pop ecx
' push DWORD [eax]
' push ecx
' jmp DWORD [eax + 4]
GetMem4 &H68, ByVal ptr + &H0: GetMem4 &HE800, ByVal ptr + &H4
GetMem4 &HFF590000, ByVal ptr + &H8: GetMem4 &H60FF5130, ByVal ptr + &HC
GetMem4 &H4, ByVal ptr + &H10: GetMem4 tlsIndex, ByVal ptr + 1
GetMem4 lpProc - ptr - 10, ByVal ptr + 6
CreateAsm = ptr
End Function
Private Function MakeTrue(value As Boolean) As Boolean
MakeTrue = True: value = True
End Function
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Thanks. I appreciate your help.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
@Trick Are you going to post the combined method here, or another thread? Regards,
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DEXWERX
@Trick Are you going to post the combined method here, or another thread? Regards,
Hi DEXWERX. I'll plan publish this method here. I can't do it now maybe later. One who want do it can do it yourself because it is very simply. You need slightly change ThreadProc procedure.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
@Trick We would like to pass parameters between threads. I want to pass parameter to Test4 function. How can we do it? Thanks
Public Function ThreadProc(ByVal frm As form1) As Long
Test4
End Function
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cuongch1980
@Trick We would like to pass parameters between threads. I want to pass parameter to Test4 function. How can we do it? Thanks
Public Function ThreadProc(ByVal frm As form1) As Long
Test4
End Function
You should not pass an object variable between thread without marshaling. Please read this thread.
If you want to pass a variable excepting an object you should ensure sharing of variables.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
@Trick I tried to use your multi-thread approach in the separate testing project and it works well. Unfortunately, when I tried to apply to my company project, it runs well in the first call of ThreadProc function . For second call, the program crashed before calling ThreadProc function. I would like to hear your advice on this issue. Thanks in advance.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Hi, cuongch1980. Can you send me an EXE file, or a crash-dump of an EXE file that causes crash? This module has a bug you should replace the GetModuleHandle function to App.hInstance. I've not fixed it yet.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The trick
Hi, cuongch1980. Can you send me an EXE file, or a crash-dump of an EXE file that causes crash? This module has a bug you should replace the GetModuleHandle function to App.hInstance. I've not fixed it yet.
I will try to replace the function. Our project is quite big. I will try to break down code and send you the executable file later. Thanks.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Hi Guys,
I need to solve a problem in VB6 project using .Net C# Library. The application works successfully in VB6 IDE, But the EXE doesn't work when getting data and update the form controls.
We can use invoke method in .Net or Synchronize method in Delphi for thread safe. But I can't find any solution for VB6. Do you have any solution for this issue? Thanks
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Hi metin.
Quote:
doesn't work when getting data and update the form controls.
Show an example.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The trick
Hi metin.
Show an example.
Code:
OptionOption Explicit
Explicit Public foo As FOOClient.foo
Public comWrapper As FOOClient.comWrapper
Sub Start()
Set foo = New FOOClient.foo
Set comWrapper = New FOOClient.comWrapper
Set foo = comWrapper.SpiInit()
comWrapper.Main foo, AddressOf TxFlowStateChanged, AddressOf PairingFlowStateChanged
foo.Start
PrintStatusAndActions
End Sub
Private Sub TxFlowStateChanged(ByVal e As FOOClient.TransactionFlowState)
frmActions.Show
PrintFlowInfo e
PrintStatusAndActions
End Sub
Private Sub PairingFlowStateChanged(ByVal e As FOOClient.PairingFlowState)
frmActions.Show
frmActions.listFlow.Clear
frmActions.lblFlowMessage.Caption = e.Message
If e.ConfirmationCode <> "" Then
frmActions.listFlow.AddItem "# Confirmation Code: " + e.ConfirmationCode
End If
PrintStatusAndActions
End Sub
Foo is .Net Assembly
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
TxFlowStateChanged is called from the other thread? Each call is in the different thread or the same one?
If so, you need to initialize the thread before work with it, you should call ThreadProc from your callback function. You also can't call the methods of the VB6 controls from the different thread without marshaling. You need to pass the queries to the main thread using the messages queue, APC, etc. If you can change the sources of the .Net assembly it's simpler to ensure marshaling from that assembly using a callback interface and the typelib-marshaller.
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Re: [VB6] - Multithreading in VB6 part 4 - multithreading in Standart EXE.
Code:
Public Function UninitializeRuntimeForProject( _
ByVal hInstance As Long) As Boolean
Dim pNewHeader As Long
' // Check if the module is initialized
pNewHeader = VBDll.TlsGetValue(mlTlsSlot)
If pNewHeader = 0 Then Exit Function
VBDll.CoUninitialize
UninitializeRuntimeForProject = True
End Function
hInstance ，Can this parameter be deleted?
Code:
sub UninitializeRuntimeForProject( _
ByVal hInstance As Long)
Dim pNewHeader As Long
' // Check if the module is initialized
pNewHeader = VBDll.TlsGetValue(mlTlsSlot)
If pNewHeader = 0 Then Exit Function
VBDll.CoUninitialize
End sub
