How to determine whether a VB6 code file is encoded in ANSI or UTF-8 ?

[SearchingDataOnly]

In my code editor, I usually use RC6.New_c.FSO.ReadTextContent(sFileName, , CP_UTF8) to open VB6 code files. That said, my code editor opens all VB6 code files in UTF-8.

However, if the VB code file is encoded in ANSI, then when the VB code file is opened using the UTF-8, the Chinese characters in the VB code files will become garbled.

I'd like to know, how to get the encoding format of the VB6 code files before opening them? Thanks!

[Elroy]

If it's an ASCII file, then there's some confusion because ASCII is a perfect subset of UTF-8. If it's truly ANSI (with some of the characters using the 8th bit), but being interpreted as UTF-8, that can be problematic.

But, are you sure you don't mean UTF-16?

To my understanding, without a BOM marker, there's no bullet-proof way to differentiate ANSI from UTF-8. It's best if you just know which it is beforehand, and treat it as such when you read/write it.

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Just to say it, there are certain bit-sequences that wouldn't be allowed in a UTF-8 file. So, at certain times, we can detect that a file is not UTF-8. However, pretty much all bit-sequences are allowed in an ANSI file. So, an ANSI file that doesn't use the non-allowed UTF-8 bit sequences, may be erroneously interpreted as a UTF-8 file. That's the problem.

[SearchingDataOnly]

Thank you, Elroy.

I uploaded a test code, please check.

[Elroy]

Thank you, Elroy.

I uploaded a test code, please check.

Sorry, but I don't do any RC#'ing. You may want to ask Schmidt.

[SearchingDataOnly]

Sorry, but I don't do any RC#'ing. You may want to ask Schmidt.

You can use any method you are familiar with to read ModANSI.bas into a TextBox

[SearchingDataOnly]

https://github.com/thetrik/Vector06C.../CTextFile.cls - class with autodetection encoding.

Hi The trick,

I've just tested your CTextFile.cls and it seems to be able to automatically determine the format of the code file. But this class needs to use Vec06BAsConv.tlb. Could you provide a version that doesn't use Vec06BAsConv.tlb? Thanks.

[Elroy]

You can use any method you are familiar with to read ModANSI.bas into a TextBox

SDO, this is confusing. I'm not having any problems reading ASCII/ANSI/Unicode files. I'm aware I can read ModANSI.bas as a data file. Not sure I have any need to though.

[SearchingDataOnly]

SDO, this is confusing. I'm not having any problems reading ASCII/ANSI/Unicode files. I'm aware I can read ModANSI.bas as a data file. Not sure I have any need to though.

Elroy, could you correctly display the Chinese characters in theModANSI.bas in the TextBox?

[Elroy]

Sure, VB6 is inherently ANSI:

[Elroy]

Not sure that those are actually "Chinese" though, as I don't know Chinese. I suspect they're not.

However, VB6's code window is never Unicode of any "brand". So, I'm quite unclear as to what you're trying to do.

[SearchingDataOnly]

Not sure that those are actually "Chinese" though, as I don't know Chinese. I suspect they're not.

However, VB6's code window is never Unicode of any "brand". So, I'm quite unclear as to what you're trying to do.

Here's the test screen on my computer:

[SearchingDataOnly]

The trick's CTextFile.cls seems to be able to automatically determine the encoding format of the vb6 code files, but it needs to use Vec06BAsConv.tlb. I don't want to use an external tlb.

Private Sub CmdTheTrick_Click()
    Dim oFile As New cTextFile
    oFile.LoadTextFile App.Path & "\ModANSI.bas"
    Text1.Text = oFile.Content
End Sub

[VanGoghGaming]

Those Chinese characters will display correctly only if your Windows is in Chinese! For everyone else they will display as garbage as in Elroy's screenshot!

[SearchingDataOnly]

Those Chinese characters will display correctly only if your Windows is in Chinese! For everyone else they will display as garbage as in Elroy's screenshot!

Yes. However, if these files are not read using the correct encoding format, Chinese characters will appear garbled even on Chinese computers.