Guru Question!

[CyberSurfer]

Does anybody know how to register a .dll file IN VISUAL BASIC without using the P&D wizard? The reason for asking is that my Application is only 120K and the P&D Wizard swells it to over 1.7 MB.

Thanks in Advance!

[Jop]

Hmmm, you can register it...

...but still have to ship it

Which will still make your app a lot bigger than just the exe (even more than with the P&D Wizard because it compresses the files)

anyway, you can register it via VB like:

Shell "c:\windows\regsvr32.exe MYDLLFILE.DLL"

if you want to be sure of the exact directory get the windows dir via the api.

But I think you'll get dissapointed with the answer because it's not about registering, but about shipping it

[Mad Compie]

A program called "Fusion" generates only one stand-alone .EXE from any VB project.
Visit http://www.bit-arts.com

[Jop]

I heard Fusion is kinda buggy and sometimes doesn't include all depencies and the main executable will be still quite big

[CyberSurfer]

Also, fusion costs lotsa money!!!

[Mad Compie]

I don't know about bugs, I recently downloaded their latest evaluation version and all my converted VB projects ran well.

[Jop]

But how big are the exe's created by Fusion. It's near the size of a D&P wizard created zip file I think, so it's of no use

[Mad Compie]

Example:
831 KB fusion version and 1732 KB original version (VB6 dll included in fusion version)
Of coarse, the .EXE size is a little bit bigger: from 348 KB to 832 KB...

[Jop]

Not that bad at all I have to admit, maybe I'll download a copy myself!

[DiGiTaIErRoR]

Originally posted by CyberSurfer
Also, fusion costs lotsa money!!!

You pay for programs?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, ETC.

=D funny!

[Jop]

You pay for programs?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, ETC.

=D funny!

If you sold progs, would you me to pay for your (made with an illegal copy of VB) prog?

[DiGiTaIErRoR]

No one smart(IQ above 100) would buy a VB prog. NO ONE! unless they're stupid, IQ below 100.

[KENNNY]

hmm anyway, problem about not using a setup prog is that you cant write your file copying/registering util in VB cos it needs the VB runtimes..well p&d basically copies vbruntime and some other dlls and then runs the main setup.exe (written in VB, cos u can edit the project as shown on wbworld). but the first bit that copies the runtimes is written in C/C++ cos no runtimes are needed (assuming no MFC). So...if u know a little C++ just write a simple automatic installer, and your prog can be quite small.

actually, just realized all the above is irrelevant cos the VB runtime DLL is the thing taking up the space neway

oh well
me =mule

[Mad Compie]

"Edwin", a professional PCB layout app, is written in VB. I surely can't make this on my own! Nevertheless, the price is (very) huge but compared with what you get...

Fusion does not include running dependencies like OLEAUT32.DLL

[Edited by Jorgen on 09-19-2000 at 03:54 AM]

DIGITAL-ERROR!!!

You use a stolen prog?

Now, I use a LEGAL COPY, LICENSED BY MICROSOFT, AND FREE COPY OF THE ENTIRE VS6, Professional, and that means my IQ is above 249!

Correct?

[Kc0bfv]

You realize that the bigger your program is, the cooler? After it's installed, it's no big deal because the instalation program is not gonna copy it's entire self over, just the necessary not already existing files. If I was to send my programs out on a floppy disk, that would look pitiful, so I send my programs on CD because it's much cooler CD's are a more impressive package.

On the other hand, if ou plan to have people download this file, you would want the smallest one possible so I can see why you want to do what you are trying to do.

Also, I resent the fact that you said VB programs suck (okay, so that wasn't ure exact wording). I've made plenty of very usefull VB programs, and many people that know other languages prefer it for quick, trivial tasks.

[da_silvy]

i think if you are going to sell your program, you might as well buy the bitarts program.

[CyberSurfer]

I don't want to sell my program, I just want to make the download as small as possible. Does anybody know how much .dll files are compressed by WinZip?

BTW I own a PAID FOR AND LICENSED copy of Visual Studio v6.0!! This seems to be a strange thing nowadays!

[VJD]

VB P&D is a steaming pile of man biscuits. Use the Windows installer version 1.1. Available on the Windows 2000 readiness kit or download it from Microsoft.

This treats deployments as a project allowing you to control the content of the deployment. It allows you to determine what gets deployed and to where. Registry entries, desktop updates, quick launch bar updates are all available in the Windows installer.

I don't think your going to have any luck getting any size program to deploy on one floppy.

[CyberSurfer]

But how much does Winzip compress .dll files? The app will be downloadable from my website, not distributed on floppy disks. I just want to decrease the P&D'd size of 1.7Mb to nearer the 120 Kb of the actual code.

[Kc0bfv]

Why don't you try it and find out???

It has never compressed DLLs or non-VB programs much for me.

You do realize that the only reason that your program is

120 bytes is because it relies on those huge DLLs to work (you may have already known this, not to insult your intelligence or anything).

Having the DLLs in a separate zip file may be a good idea because people might not need them, so they wouldn't have to download them if they didn't.

Hmmm...

The DLLs are big, but you can eliminate the entire use of the stupid OLE32 and OLEAUT32 TLBs by disabling OLE Automation (Did you know you could?), but that also disables OLE, so if it's worth it, you might...

[Kc0bfv]

Interesting, I'd never tried that before... duhhhh, oops, guess I shoulda :)

Actually, there are a lot of the Seven Origional DLLs that are not needed, experiment with them, BUT REMEMBER that without MSVBVM60, you can't run anything.