Using icons, images, strings from other .dlls and .exes (this be kinda resolved)

[Colonel Klink]

ok... here is the scenario... say for example, i wanted the default file icon from shell32.dll (which is the first icon) or a picture strip from that same dll

how would one get it in VB? I mean straight from the DLL in code... not using a thing like resource hacker

[kleinma]

look at the extracticon and extracticonex API functions

if you dont have it already go to allapi.net and download the API guide

[Colonel Klink]

thx and what about picture strips/bitmaps and strings?

[kleinma]

what extracting them from DLLs and EXEs?

[Colonel Klink]

i mean using them without saving them to the HD.... like Shell32.dll,1 kinda referencing

[kleinma]

i think you are talking about resource files if Im not mistaken... you can hold bitmaps, strings, etc in resource files that will be compiled with your exe so you dont have to worry about them sitting on the HD

[Colonel Klink]

nah... i know what ya talkin about... but im talking... which isnt what im talking about (try to ya get ya mind around that one :P heh)

i meant just say, for example, i needed to get a windows logo bitmap from different vesions of windows... in XP the windows logo looks different from the win98 one for example

but dont worry about... i mainly wanted the icon one... the other 2 were just out of general curiosity

[Eyes.Only]

actually i think your looking for some api functions more along the lines of LoadResource, LockResource, and FreeResource. Its a bit complex but some searches on those should get you going in the right direction.

Those are for loading the resource module of an exe or dll at which point you can get data from it using the appropriate functions...