Help!! 5 megs of dll's!

[remvs]

Hi all,

im rather new at this, maybe someone can help me out a little.

ive made a small application using a few forms and a Datacontrol. after compiling i ran the package&deploy tool. The result was a 80K EXE and a whopping 5 megs of dll's etc.!! is there a way to not needing to ship the huge ammount of dll-datawith my appie, the app. probably uses just a few tiny bits of it.




please point me the right direction.

thnaks in advance
Remvs / The Netherlands

[crptcblade]

I don't think that there is too much you can do about that, I'm afraid...There is a program called Fusion, that wrapps up all the dll's and the exe into one exe. But I dont think that makes it any smaller. What you can do is, if you have one specific customer that you are dealing with, make sure that they have the dll's on their computer(s) already. Then you don't have to package them in.

[Vlatko]

Actually Fusion compresses the files a little.

[crptcblade]

Originally posted by Vlatko
Actually Fusion compresses the files a little.

Cool, I'll have to remember that. Thanks

[remvs]

thanks for the explaining. i hoped it was possible to 'copy' the needed functions from the dll into lets say the .exe
but well, life's a ***** sometimes

Remvs

[chrisjk]

Of course if you know the end-user will already have those DLL's then you don't need to include them. However, if you don't then you can either risk it or just include them in a zip to compress them.

Also, Fusion compresses more than a little bit, I get 70% out of it sometimes (usually 50-60%).

[Megatron]

Welcome to the downside of VB

[overhill]

What do C++, Delphi, etc. programs do that causes them to not need runtime files?

Also, if VB programs have to have the runtimes, why aren't they installed with Windows? They could even be an optional adition available on the Windows Update site, but nooooo, they are no where to be found.

Finally, another quick question. If I create an .exe with no added references or controls, will it run on most computers with Windows? I have heard that IE installs some of the basic controls. True?

[chrisjk]

The VB runtimes aren't installed by windows or IE. Some control are done by IE (the webbrowser control, the coolbar control) etc but not the runtimes.

Windows XP is apparently going to have the VB runtimes installed as standard (maybe they did with 2000, can't rmember)

[Conogelato]

i are sure that all of yours dll are NOT windows dll?
i make some program but for now i dont'have distribuite anytings...
But i belive that if your program need the vb 6 runtime you can said in radme file thet your program need windows, internet explorer, maby a pentium provcessor, AND the vb6 runtime.
Like this yours user not take scher
Also if you call a lot of api YOURS USER HAVE IT ALLREADY if it have windows.......
Or i'm are wrong? said me

[parksie]

Originally posted by overhill
What do C++, Delphi, etc. programs do that causes them to not need runtime files?

Because they call the API directly rather than through a "layer". Actually, that's not 100% true because they do have a runtime library (msvcrt.dll) but due to the nature of C++ you can link whatever you use of that directly into your program.

Also, if VB programs have to have the runtimes, why aren't they installed with Windows? They could even be an optional adition available on the Windows Update site, but nooooo, they are no where to be found.

My copy of 98 (gold) has the VB5 runtimes on, but not VB6. I agree, they should be available. On MS's FTP site there is a self-installing download you can get.

Finally, another quick question. If I create an .exe with no added references or controls, will it run on most computers with Windows? I have heard that IE installs some of the basic controls. True?

Subject to the earlier caveats, yes.

[Megatron]

Originally posted by overhill
What do C++, Delphi, etc. programs do that causes them to not need runtime files?

They are all compiled languages, whereas VB is interpreted.