Vat is a DLL?

[VBAmateur]

Will someone define what a DLL (data link library - I know that part) does, is and any other important detail about what I can do with it or them? Hey thanks.

[Ianpbaker]

On a very basic level a DLL is piece of code that can be used over and over again in a project. Hang on a minute you are probably saying that I can use a module to do the same, but where DLL's come into there own is that you can create a DLL and use it in any project you want and all you have to do is make a reference to it.

For example

You have a set of custom string functions that you need to use in 4 apps. Instead of creating a module or a class for each project, you can create a dll to store all these functions and make each app reference the DLL. This saves both Space and Time.

Finally you can create DLL's to do just about anything you can think of. Most programs use Dll's because they dont't take up much space and also because when compliled dll's go down to almost machine code level and makes it virtually impossible for other people to find out how they were made. Thus keeping company secrets.

Hope This helps

Ian

[Al Smith]

Hi,
Although the following is not refering to VB or Windows apps, it gives a basic definition of DLLs.
Al.

In BAAN IV Tools, Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs) are implemented. This
means that functions for common use can be programmed in a library and
linked to the object at function call at runtime.
By implementing DLLs, the size of objects can be reduced to a minimum,
because the standard program is no longer merged with each 4GL program
script.

To understand what DLLs means, consider for a moment the familiar 4GL
function sprintf$(). In older versions, every program that uses sprintf$
has a copy of it linked right in with the rest of the program. Just
imagine how many programs are out there with copies of sprintf$ compiled
inside them! So a lot of memory is wasted when each program has its own
copies of sprintf$ and all the other standard functions. Since the
copies are 100 per cent identical for all programs, why not find some
way to share them? This is exactly what dynamic link libraries provide:
a way to share functions among several programs running at the same
time.

DLLs provide other benefits besides sharing code. You can, for example,
upgrade a function within a DLL without recompiling all the applications
that use it.

[VBAmateur]

Thanks for your good replies.

[PRGRMR]

hi vbAMATEUR ( cause thats really what you are )

A .dll-file is a library full with functions which is used by Windows. Everytime you, for example, click on an icon Windows load a function from, in this case, user32.dll.

Best regrets PRGRMR

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