Calling XP/Vista/Win7 Manifest Creator from VB6 Add-Ins

[Karim Wafi]

This is 99% LaVolpe's code, based on this thread: http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=606736

New feature: Auto replace StartUp Object.

Special thank's to LaVolpe.



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[LaVolpe]

If you give this thing a more complete description of what it does, I'll link to it from my project

[Karim Wafi]

Before use it, compile and name the component with ManifestCreator.dll
Click install.bat for registering the addins file.

How to use:

1. In your VB6 Application click Add-Ins menu >> click Manifest Creator menu.
2. Adjust any settings in the Manifest Creator.
3. Click Create Manifest button. Finish.

Note:

When you click the Create Manifest button. This Add-Ins application will automatic:

1. Adding modManifestResource.bas file.
2. Adding XP.manifest.res file.
3. Change your Startup Object to Sub Main, and the code in modManifestResource.bas look like this:

    ' Code
    On Error GoTo 0
    '... show your main form next (i.e., Form1.Show)
    frmMain.Show 'assume StartUp Object is frmMain.
    If hMod Then FreeLibrary hMod
    ' Code

What would happen if you already have:

1. Sub Main() procedure?,
2. Resource file do not already have manifest?,
3. Resource file already have embedded manifest?

1. Sub Main() procedure will change to Sub OldSubMain() and the code in modManifestResource.bas look like:

    ' Code
    On Error GoTo 0
    '... show your main form next (i.e., Form1.Show)
    OldSubMain
    If hMod Then FreeLibrary hMod
    ' Code

2. The Add-Ins will add manifest and merger it with the existing resource.
3. The old manifest will be replaced with the new manifest

Thank's LaVolpe for the very handy tools.

[afdoal]

thanks for share this addin....
1 rate 4 you bro.........

[yogiyang]

It is possible to add facility for RegFree way of registering ActiveX DLLs in by this Manifest Creator?

[Karim Wafi]

thanks for share this addin....
1 rate 4 you bro.........

You are welcome, Mas Bro.

It is possible to add facility for RegFree way of registering ActiveX DLLs in by this Manifest Creator?

Yes,to make it simple, you can use "Make My Manifest Project", follow step by step as described bellow:

1. Download MMM (Make My Manifest) source code.http://mmm4vb6.atom5.com/
2. Open MMM.vbp, in the modMain, replace all code with this:

Option Explicit

'----- Public Data -----

'----- Public Constants -----

'----- Private Methods -----

Sub Main()
    With App
        G_Product_Identity = _
            .ProductName & " " & CStr(.Major) & "." & CStr(.Minor) & "." & CStr(.Revision)
    End With
    G_Product_Settings_Path = GetProductSettingsPath()
    
    If Len(Command$()) > 0 Then
        frmMain.OpenVB6Project Command$
    Else
        'GUI mode.
        AppEx.InitCommonControls
        frmMain.Show vbModeless
    End If
End Sub

3. In the frmMain of MMM.VBP replace Private Sub mnuFileOpenVBP_Click() procedure with this:

Private Sub mnuFileOpenVBP_Click()
    OpenVB6Project
End Sub

Public Sub OpenVB6Project(Optional strVB6Project)

    If Not IsMissing(strVB6Project) Then
        G_VBP_FQFileName = strVB6Project
    Else
        G_VBP_FQFileName = GetProjectFile()
    End If
    
    If Len(G_VBP_FQFileName) > 0 Then
        Load frmLog
        mnuViewLog.Enabled = True
        tbrMain.Buttons(GC_TBBTN_LOG).Enabled = True
        
        With frmLog
            .Log G_Product_Identity
            .Log FormatDateTime(Date, vbLongDate) & " @ " & FormatDateTime(Time(), vbLongTime)
            .Log
            .Log "Host OS = Windows " & FormatNumber(AppEx.OSVersion(aioVersion), 2) _
               & " " & AppEx.OSVersion(aioServicePackString) _
               & " (Build " & CStr(AppEx.OSVersion(aioBuildNumber)) & ")"
            .Log "Host = " & AppEx.ComputerName
            .Log "User = " & AppEx.UserName
            .Log
            Set G_Product_IniDOM = _
                IniDOMFromFile(G_Product_Settings_Path & GC_PRODUCT_SETTINGS_FILE)
            If G_Product_IniDOM Is Nothing Then
                .Log "Missing settings file " & GC_PRODUCT_SETTINGS_FILE
                MsgBox "Missing settings file " & GC_PRODUCT_SETTINGS_FILE, _
                       vbOKOnly Or vbCritical
                mnuFileOpenVBP.Enabled = False
                mnuFileOpenMMMP.Enabled = False
                tbrMain.Buttons(GC_TBBTN_OPEN).Enabled = False
                sbMain.SimpleText = "Fatal error: missing " & GC_PRODUCT_SETTINGS_FILE
            Else
                G_VBP_Path = PathOfFQFileName(G_VBP_FQFileName)
                G_VBP_FileName = SimpleFileName(G_VBP_FQFileName)
                Caption = G_VBP_FileName & " - MMM: Make My Manifest"
                
                'Create MMM package settings DOM, begin populating Sections.
                Set G_Package_IniDOM = New IniDOM
                With G_Package_IniDOM.Sections
                    .Add , "MMM package settings."
                    .Add
                    .Add "MMM"
                    !MMM.Keys.Add "Version", CStr(App.Major) & "." _
                                           & CStr(App.Minor) & ".0." _
                                           & CStr(App.Revision)
                    .Add
                    IniDOMCloneSection "Redist", G_Product_IniDOM, G_Package_IniDOM
                    .Add
                    .Add "VBProject"
                    With !VBProject.Keys
                        .Add "File", G_VBP_FileName
                        .Add "Folder", G_VBP_Path
                    End With
                    .Add
                    .Add "MMMPackage"
                    .Add
                End With
                
                mnuViewProject.Enabled = True
                tbrMain.Buttons(GC_TBBTN_PROJECT).Enabled = True
                tbrMain.Buttons(GC_TBBTN_PROJECT).Value = tbrPressed
                With frmProject
                    .Show 'And Load.
                    .AddProp GPP_PROJPATH, G_VBP_Path
                    .AddProp GPP_VBPROJFILE, G_VBP_FileName
                End With
                .Log GPP_PROJPATH & " = " & G_VBP_Path
                .Log GPP_VBPROJFILE & " = " & G_VBP_FileName
                .Log
                
                sbMain.SimpleText = "Scanning VBP file and dependencies"
                
                'Disable Open options.
                Dim intButtonMenu As Integer
                
                With tbrMain.Buttons(GC_TBBTN_OPEN)
                    .Enabled = False
                    For intButtonMenu = 1 To 2
                        .ButtonMenus(intButtonMenu).Enabled = False
                    Next
                End With
                mnuFileOpenVBP.Enabled = False
                mnuFileOpenMMMP.Enabled = False
                
                'Start scanning.
                Load frmScan
            End If
        End With
    End If
    'Else canceled open.
End Sub

4. Recompile.

5. In the Manifest creator Project:
Add Button name cmdRunMMMExe

6. In the frmMain, add code:

Private Sub cmdRunMMMExe_Click()
    Dim strExeName As String
    
    If Not DoesFileExists(App.Path & "\mmm.exe", True) Then
        MsgBox App.Path & "\mmm.exe" & " not found", vbInformation, "File not found"
        Exit Sub
    End If

    If Not IsProjectSaved Then
        MsgBox "Please save the project first", vbInformation, "Information"
        Unload Me
        Exit Sub
    End If
    
    strExeName = VBInstance.ActiveVBProject.BuildFileName
    If Not DoesFileExists(strExeName, True) Then
        If MsgBox("You have no EXE file, compile project?", vbQuestion + vbYesNo, "Compile Confirm") = vbYes Then
            VBInstance.ActiveVBProject.MakeCompiledFile
            VBInstance.ActiveVBProject.SaveAs VBInstance.ActiveVBProject.Filename
        Else
            Exit Sub
        End If
    End If
    
    Dim strMMMFileName As String
    strMMMFileName = VBInstance.ActiveVBProject.Filename

    If DoesFileExists(strMMMFileName, True) Then
        Shell App.Path & "\mmm.exe " & strMMMFileName, vbNormalFocus
    Else
        MsgBox "The file " & strMMMFileName & " does not exist", vbInformation, "File not Exist"
    End If
    
End Sub

[yogiyang]

First of all Thanks for your help.

5. In the Manifest creator Project:
Add Button name cmdRunMMMExe

6. In the frmMain, add code:[/INDENT]

Private Sub cmdRunMMMExe_Click()
    Dim strExeName As String
    
    If Not DoesFileExists(App.Path & "\mmm.exe", True) Then
        MsgBox App.Path & "\mmm.exe" & " not found", vbInformation, "File not found"
        Exit Sub
    End If

    If Not IsProjectSaved Then
        MsgBox "Please save the project first", vbInformation, "Information"
        Unload Me
        Exit Sub
    End If
    
    strExeName = VBInstance.ActiveVBProject.BuildFileName
    If Not DoesFileExists(strExeName, True) Then
        If MsgBox("You have no EXE file, compile project?", vbQuestion + vbYesNo, "Compile Confirm") = vbYes Then
            VBInstance.ActiveVBProject.MakeCompiledFile
            VBInstance.ActiveVBProject.SaveAs VBInstance.ActiveVBProject.Filename
        Else
            Exit Sub
        End If
    End If
    
    Dim strMMMFileName As String
    strMMMFileName = VBInstance.ActiveVBProject.Filename

    If DoesFileExists(strMMMFileName, True) Then
        Shell App.Path & "\mmm.exe " & strMMMFileName, vbNormalFocus
    Else
        MsgBox "The file " & strMMMFileName & " does not exist", vbInformation, "File not Exist"
    End If
    
End Sub

Have I to past code in Manifest Creator or in Manifest Creator Add-in?

I am asking this because when I past code in Manifest Creator and try to run it I get variable not defined message for IsProjectSaved.

[Karim Wafi]

Have I to past code in Manifest Creator or in Manifest Creator Add-in?

I am asking this because when I past code in Manifest Creator and try to run it I get variable not defined message for IsProjectSaved.

Ok, in the attachment you can see the modified files.

[Edit: compile both MMM.EXE and ManifestCreator.dll in the same folder]

But .... XML file (regfree manifest) generated by MMM.EXE is not working at all. Even if I make a very simple application, that's using comctl32.ocx and comdlg32.ocx. I don't know why? and I can't fix it for now.

And the error (cause by XML manifest) look like this:
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[yogiyang]

Also I have been facing the same problem when I try to modify manifest file by hand.

[morbid.ivan]

This is 99% LaVolpe's code, based on this thread: http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=606736

New feature: Auto replace StartUp Object.

Special thank's to LaVolpe.



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Its not working for dtpicker

[Krool]

Its not working for dtpicker

The DTPicker from the Microsoft Windows Common Controls-2 6.0 can't be themed.

Try CommonControls (Replacement of the MS common controls) instead.